5 Valid Reasons to Spy on your Kid’s Cell Phone Activity
5 Valid Reasons to Spy on your Kid’s Cell Phone Activity
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with content supplied by a third party listing reasons to spy on your kid’s cell phone activity. The message is important.
You often provide your kid with a cell phone to keep in touch and reach out in case of emergency. While the cell phone is a portable source of communication, it also exposes your kid to inappropriate communications and objectionable web searches.
No matter how open you are with your kids and you might think they share everything with you, there can be a few things your kid might hesitate to share.
After all, kids are kids and they are not mature enough to predict the outcomes of misusing cell phones.
Spying may sound unethical, but here are some valid reasons to spy your kid as a responsible parent:
1. Save Your Child From Sexual Predators:
There are many people on social media with fake identities. They are not who they claim to be. So it’s really essential to keep an eye on your child’s connections on social media and phone. Many online sexual predators appear to be physically attractive. They target the kids who talk about sex or are involved in some kind of sexual activity online.
Predators usually communicate with kids through private messages and ask for friendship.
After some time, they may send exposed or nude photos of themselves and ask the kid to do so. Kids, being immature, may find this enticing and predators convince them to meet personally. The statistics show that 1 in 25 kids get sexual solicitation online where the predator wants to meet in-person. Beware! Predators are out there and your child can be the next victim.
2. Prevent Them From Cyber Bullying:
Many of the kids suffer from cyberbullying. They are bullied on social networks, chatting platforms or through text messages by the people they know or may not know. The effects can range from loss of self-confidence to suicide.
About 43% of kids have been cyberbullied online and over 25% of adolescents have been cyberbullied repeatedly on their smart phones.
Also, the kids being cyberbullied are 2 to 9 times more likely to commit suicide. You don’t want your child to be cyberbullied or to be a cyber bully. Hence, it’s a serious issue that can be prevented through monitoring your kid’s cell phone.
3. Prevent Their Exposure to Inappropriate Content:
Your kids are exposed to inappropriate and sexual content every day through social media and Google. In fact, the internet is full of all types of information but not everything is educational and informational or in any way appropriate for your kids. By monitoring the type of content your kid browses, you can prevent him from seeing unsuitable content. You surely don’t want your kid to be exposed to adult or sexual content at a very early age. You can restrict their search through parental control settings.
4. Make Sure Your Kid isn’t Going Down a Criminal Path:
By monitoring your child’s technology use, you can make sure he is not going down a criminal path, such as drug dealing, fighting, stealing, making threats and drug use and other illegal activities. Keeping a check on your kid’s cell phone through keylogger will not only protect him but others as well. This KidSecured App will allow you to monitor his text messages so you can save him from toxic connections.
5. Protect Them From Cyber Identity Theft:
As parents, you should know how much personal information your kid shares on social media and with whom. Cyber criminals steal identities from social media sites and use them in cybercrimes. Millions of kids had their identity stolen in the past few years, and around half of them were under six years of age. Keeping an eye on your kid’s smartphone will reveal how much personal data he shares online, so you can restrict the information vulnerable to identity theft.
Keep your kids safe by checking on them!
Summerside PEI Aquatics Centre
Summerside PEI Aquatics Centre
Imagine being in PEI and it being too cold or rainy to go to the beach!
Now, imagine our delight when we discovered the Summerside CREDIT UNION PLACE SPORT & RECREATION CENTRE!
We happened to be staying in PEI as part of our Confederation Trail bike tour. After a long morning of biking on a chilly day, the kids wanted to do something fun! This is when we discovered the Credit Union Centre (merely a block from where we were staying).
The complex is nothing short of jaw-droppingly impressive!
Credit Union Place serves to meet the sport, recreation, fitness and entertainment needs of Summerside residents and vistors, offering:
- Walking – Running Track
- Two ice surfaces in the Eastlink Arena & Ice Pad
- Bowling Lanes in The Lanes
- Aquatics Centre
- Gym & Squash Courts in The Fit Stop
David and the boys decided to go swimming, while my father and I explored the rest of the building! Impressive, to say the least, but for the purpose of this blog post, we are going to focus on the aquatics centre.
The Aquatics Centre at Credit Union Place has something for all ages and swimming abilities.
- 25 meter, six-lane lap pool
- Leisure pool with one of the fastest water slides on PEI and a mushroom shower
- Aquatic rock wall
- Accessible entry into both pools (ramp into leisure pool and chairlift into lap pool)
- Variety of programs from Parent & Tot swimming lessons up to Lifeguard and Instructor training
- Variety of Aquatic fitness classes
- Hot tub, sauna & steam room
In the distance, you can see the rock climbing wall, and all three had fun trying to reach the top before jumping back in the pool.
From the waterslide to the rock climbing wall and large area to swim, the boys had a great time, and loved going!
Please note:
Children 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the pool at all times.
Children ages 8-12 must have a parent or guardian on the deck of the pool at all times.
* A guardian is someone who is at least 16 years of age or older.
Hours and Admission
To be honest, I had a hard time finding hours of operation and admission fees on the website, so I just phoned to find out how and when everything worked.
1.902.432.1234 – Reception Desk (STC)
The waterslide is always open – you just have to ask a lifeguard to turn it on. This is the same for the rock climbing wall – a lifeguard needs to watch you, so, just let them know you want to use it. They were incredibly accommodating!
Weekly schedules can be found here
Admission Fees:
At the time, youth 12 and under were $3.90 and and an adult was $9.00 so it was cheaper to buy a family pass, which was less than $20. (STC).
I couldn’t find the prices listed online, another reason I phoned.
The best part is, though, admission lasts the whole day! So, if you want to leave and come back later in the day, just save your receipt! What a great deal!
Location
If you find yourself in Summerside and looking for a cool place to hang out and go swimming, definitely head to the Credit Union Place to the Aquatics Centre. Kids of all ages will have fun! Guaranteed!
Learn more about the Credit Union Place
The PEI Bottle Houses
Exploring the PEI Bottle Houses
Disclosure: Our family received free admission to this attraction so we can share with you great places to visit off the beaten path, like the PEI Bottle Houses, for your next family adventure!
The PEI Bottle houses have been on my bucket list to explore for over 10 years. Ever since one of my friends showed me her pictures from her visit, I knew it was a place I wanted to check out!
“Bottled sunshine: Retired carpenter, fisherman and lighthouse keeper Édouard Arsenault’s recycling project that began in 1980 has become a unique attraction in Cap-Egmont. The Bottle Houses village contains a six-gabled house, tavern, chapel and gift shop radiating a symphony of sunlight-powered colours in a tranquil garden setting.”
Together the 3 fantasy-like bottle buildings use over 30,000 glass bottles. They have been included in ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ and ‘1000 Places to See Before You die’.
The three buildings include a house, the tavern and the chapel. Following the self-guided tour, there are several things to search for during your visit, including the 4 blue bottles in the chapel!
Enjoy the gardens, the view of the Confederation Bridge and the art pieces scattered around the property.
Kids will love searching amongst the bottles, looking at the fish, or wandering the many paths around the gardens.
Planning your Visit
The Bottle Houses are located on the Western shore of Prince Edward Island, about 50 minutes from the Bridge or 30 minutes from Summerside.
It is a lovely drive along the shore to get there, so definitely worth heading off the beaten patch to check it out!
It takes about 30 minutes to tour the Bottle Houses, but you can spend much longer admiring the details, and enjoying the scenery.
Hours and Admission
The Bottle Houses and gardens are open from May to October.
Hours and admission fees can be found here.
The Bottle Houses were just as beautiful and fun to explore as I had imagined. I am so glad we went on a sunny day so we could see the light reflecting through the bottles!
This is an off the beaten-path well worth taking, and we highly recommend incorporating the PEI Bottle Houses into your next PEI adventure!
York Redoubt National Historic Site
York Redoubt National Historic Site
York Redoubt National Historic Site in Halifax has been on my bucket list for quite some time. We finally got to check it out, and this is our experience!
Here’s how Parks Canada describes York Redboubt:
High on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour sits a fortification that has helped protect this historic port throughout three centuries of Canadian history.
Part of Halifax’s formidable Defense Complex, York Redoubt was constructed in 1793 just as war broke out between Britain and France. Perched on a bluff at the narrowest point of the outer harbour, it offers superb views.
Originally built in 1793, the information boards guide you through how the fort changed with technological advances through to WWII. York Redoubt has long played a vital role in protecting this strategic port city.
York Redoubt is a fun place to explore. There are tunnels, underground shelters and out buildings throughout the site.
Walk along the walls, see the cannons, and catch a glimpse of the view!
Walking Trails
Around the site are a series of gravel paths and loops making up approximately 3km of trails.
However, nothing is marked, and there is no map of the trails.
After exploring the main section of the fort by the parking lot, head towards the Canada flag on the hill to find more out buildings to explore, and the path loops back around to the parking lot.
If you are interested in walking some of the trails, we highly recommend you get some hiking maps or apps before you go.
If you don’t have a map, make sure you have a good sense of direction!
One of the main trails leads from a path outside the main parking lot area, immediately to the left of the entrance before you enter the park.
York Redoubt Hiking Instructions
We use a hiking app called OsmAnd that has hiking trails everywhere!
Location and Hours
York Redoubt is open for a short period of time in the summer from June 25 to Sept 2 (STC).
It is tucked away on the coast off Route 253.
If you are looking for a unique place for your family to explore off the beaten path, then York Redoubt is for you!
Playground Family Fun: Jubilee Park Bridgetown
Playground Family Fun: Jubilee Park Bridgetown
There are so many great places to play in the Annapolis Valley! So, we intend to make our way across and let you know about the various playgrounds, telling you the best features and other important information about each one of them! Today, we are featuring Bridgetown’s Jubilee Park!
Here’s what Bridgetown’s website says about the park:
A group of Bridgetown area residents has created a Natural Playground in Jubilee Park. A natural playground is one that uses elements that you could find in nature – logs, boulders, hills, sand, stumps – put together to create a unique play area for children. The idea behind the Jubilee Park playground is that of a dry stream bed which winds around an island (the hill), through the trees, and empties into a large sand area.
Kids of all ages can enjoy the hill slide, the teeter-totters made from logs, the stepping poles and more.
The equipment
There is a small slide built into a hill, as well as several other structures to climb in and around.
Babies and Toddlers
This would be a great playground for really small children, as all the pieces are manageable, and kids can adapt depending on their mobility and age.
Shade, Benches and Tables
There is plenty of all of this! Lots of places for picnics, and to stay out of the hot sun!
Accessibility
There are no accessible components to this playground. The surface is gravel, and there is a step up to get into the playground area.
Amenities
There were no public bathrooms that we could find. However, in season, when the visitor information centre is open, there may be a public-use one there.
Also on site is a boat docking wharf, and when we were there, we saw youth swimming in the river.
Analysis
This is a great playground for really small children. Older children will be bored within minutes. It’s a great place for a picnic, to rent a kayak, or to relax by the water.
Location
Jubilee Park is in the heart of Bridgetown, right on the main street.
Playground Family Fun: Grant Potter Memorial Playground in Annapolis Royal
Playground Family Fun: Grant Potter Memorial Playground in Annapolis Royal
There are so many great places to play in the Annapolis Valley! So, we intend to make our way across and let you know about the various playgrounds, telling you the best features and other important information about each one of them! Today, we are featuring the Grant Potter Memorial Park in Annapolis Royal!
There are a lot of awesome things packed into this small area!
That was my son’s impression of this playground, giving it 2 big thumbs up!
The equipment
The main structure is a wooden boat, equipped with several climbing pieces to get up, and two slides to get down! The steering wheel inside the structure is great for imaginative play!
Underneath the structure, is a whole other world for little ones to crawl through, and invent all sorts of imaginary worlds!
Surrounding the main structure are several other play areas. There is a ramp for biking, running or rolling cars on, with a concrete tube to crawl through underneath.
At the back of the playground is a more natural area with a mini climbing wall, slide set into a hill, and some wooden balance pieces.
And, of course, my son’s favourite item from when he was little – the stone diggers!
There is also a set of swings on site. See! A lot of punch for a small space!
Babies and Toddlers
There is one swing designed for babies. Toddlers will have fun using the natural playground, playing under the structure, and running up and down the sloped run!
To get onto the main structure, they will need help to get up, and maybe navigating the multi levels inside.
Shade, Benches and Tables
Yes, to all! There is a gazebo for shade, or children can play beneath the structure on hot days! There are trees with benches and several picnic tables.
Accessibility
It is not possible for children in a wheelchair or with mobility issues to play on the main part of the structure.
Amenities
At the time of our visit, there was a port-a-potty on site.
Favourite features
I love that the whole playground is gated. Having had preschoolers who would dart off, in this playground, I know they are safe. Kids can push the gate open, but cannot push to get out.
Location
This lovely playground is located at the end of St. George Street in Annapolis Royal, down near the wharf.
