Protect Your Kids on the Internet with McGruff!

New software is available from the National Crime Prevention Council and ParentsOnPatrol -- McGruff SafeGuard. You can use the free version, or upgrade to a subscription:

See below for link...

Below are some questions about McGruff SafeGuard:

What is it ?

McGruff SafeGuard is a service that intelligently monitors kids' internet activity, including: website visits, chat and instant messaging, search engine phrases, social network profiles on MySpace, Facebook and many others. The Service alerts parents to problems such as Internet predators, dangerous behavior, underage/illicit sexual activity, suicide, drug use, credit card abuse and crime.

Why do I need it? I already block porn sites...

Blocking/filtering websites is great for kids age 5 - 9. But eventually, kids want or need the freedom to roam the Internet.

We liberate parents from fear and worry by intelligently monitoring WHAT kids are doing on the Internet and WHO they are doing it with....which is more effective than trying to control WHERE they go.

How does McGruff SafeGuard work?

1. Parents sign up for a free account at GoMcGruff.com
2. Download and install the McGruff software on each PC they want to safeguard
3. Once the software is installed on the child's PC, their activity is automatically transmitted back to the McGruff website and stored for parents to review in private

Why is McGruff SafeGuard free?

The National Crime Prevention Council believes that the Internet should be a safe and educational experience for all ages. We are providing a version of McGruff SafeGuard to families to help them stay safe online. When you upgrade to a McGruff SafeGuard Plus subscription you'll have even more ways to protect your children. For example, McGruff SafeGuard Plus emails you all conversations every day, and lets you view old instant message and chat conversations (not just recent conversations).

What makes McGruff SafeGuard so unique?

McGruff SafeGuard is an authorized, licensed product of The National Crime Prevention Council and McGruff The Crime Dog. McGruff SafeGuard is also the first and only service to electronically connect parents with law enforcement in their common battle against Internet sexual predators.

Click below to try out McGruff SafeGuard today!

http://www.myparentime.com/shop/mcgruffsafeguard.html

PrintableChecklists.com undergoes updates!

We just wanted to let you know, that we are updating PrintableChecklists.com -- hundreds of checklists that have never been available as a PDF file, will soon be reformatted and available to you! PDF checklists are easy to download, better formatted, and a greater use of space for an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper. You will see all of our older checklists converted to this format, as well as every checklist that has never been available as a PDF. Older pages that were once available, will soon be removed, as they will no longer be necessary to display a checklist. When linking to pages on our website, be sure that you link to the checklist page that has the description of each checklist.

We appreciate your patience during our conversion process, and hope you enjoy the new format and consistency of PrintableChecklists.com. Those of you who have sent us checklist requests -- we appreciate your patience as well -- as soon as we complete our updates we will get right to work on completing your checklists as well. Stay tuned -- we will send you an email once they have been completed.

Thanks so much for all of your support, and we hope you continue to enjoy our FREE and useful checklists. As always, please do continue sending us your comments -- we love to hear from you!

May's Updates Online! Main article: The Stormy Days of Middle School

It's huge compared to anything an elementary school child has ever experienced. To many children, entering middle school is a defining moment. But does middle school set the stage for problems to arise? Are you aware of all the issues your child has to deal with each day? Even if you're an involved parent, you can't possibly know everything that happens in your child's school. This month's article highlights just a few of those issues that teenagers encounter in middle school.

Read on...