Tech Notes for Your Family #2

Each week on Thursday at 5:50 am PT, I have the pleasure of appearing for a short segment on the Son Rise Morning Show with Brian Patrick. Brian and I chat about the latest "tech" news that impacts upon Catholic families.  I’ve decided to begin regularly sharing the links and topics here at CatholicMom.com in case you have an interest in "wired family" topics.  To listen to the radio segment, click here.  Here are the topics I’ll be looking at for this week’s show:

• Kinect - One of this year's most popular gifts is the Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures! for Xbox360, which has already sold 2.5 million units in less than a month.  If you have a gamer in your house, there are some great websites to help you familiarize yourself with products before and after purchasing them.  I recommend:
  • GetGameSmart.com - Learn to set parental controls
  • PluggedIn.com - Game reviews from Focus on the Family
  • TheOnlineMom.com - Weekly video game reviews written by a "wired" mom
• Tech firms work online programs to keep kids safe - USA Today on Internet Safety for Kids
• Jumo - A Social Networking site aimed at letting users discover and support charitable causes, now in Beta
• Connecting with Youth Via Facebook - A great article for parishes and youth ministers looking to really reach teens with social networking efforts that work and have meaning
• A Parent's Pledge to Raise a Responsible Digital Citizen - Have you discussed this important part of your role as a parent?