Internet Parenting, Parental Controls, & Online Safety Blog - WebCurfew

Unfortunately, our kids don’t have the same idea in mind. With the many temptations – such as Xbox, cell phones, and iPads – kids are easily compelled to stay inside all summer. Most of them are spending their time glued to some sort of screen for hours on end – which is why we call them  “screenagers.” They were born into a generation of multiple screens.

Many companies – WebCurfew included – are trying to tackle the challenges parents face when their children are glued to screens. Earlier this month I attended the Chicago Wilderness Congress in downtown Chicago to learn more about the “Leave No Child Inside” initiative. Since WebCurfew shares a common theme with Chicago Wilderness, I also had the opportunity to showcase how WebCurfew can be an excellent technology tool to help parents. We provide an effective way to turn the internet off to ANY of their kids’ devices, so they can go outside, enjoy nature and have fun outdoors.

According to Chicago Wilderness, outdoor play helps children manage stress and become more resilient. Natural spaces stimulate children's limitless imaginations and nurture creativity. Children who connect with nature may be more inventive and better problem-solvers due to the hands-on learning that nature provides. Chicago Wilderness has designated June as “Leave No Child Inside” month, and has posted the following map on Pinterest where you can discover the various programs that are scheduled. For more information you can contact Emilian Geczi, Chicago Wilderness Youth and Community Engagement Manager, who is really knowledgeable on this subject.

For those of you that live in other areas of the country, here are ten useful links to organizations similar to Chicago Wilderness that promote initiatives to get kids to go outside to enjoy the environment:

• No Child Left Inside Connecticut: http://www.ct.gov/ncli/site/default.asp
• Maryland No Child Left Inside: http://www.cbf.org/maryland-no-child-left-inside/landing
• National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature.aspx
• NY State Kids GO (Get Outside): http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/69.html
• The Conservation Fund: http://www.conservationfund.org/our-conservation-strategy/focus-areas/children-nature/
• Children & Nature Network: http://www.childrenandnature.org/
• New York & New Jersey Trail Conference: http://www.nynjtc.org/content/member-clubs
• Leave no Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati: http://www.lncigc.org/
• The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org
• Outdoors Empowered: http://outdoorsempowered.org/