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“Me In A Tree” Brings Families Together Through Technology

 

Me-in-a-Tree homepage

The secret to a happy family is strong communication, and if you wait until  your kids are teenagers to make that connection, then, I’m sorry to say you have your work cut out for you. Maybe you’ll have better luck with your grandchildren. Kidding! Actually, luck has nothing to do with making lifelong bonds with your children. It takes a lot of work to create a happy family, just like a marriage, and the sooner you start the better.

One of the newest ways to build a strong family foundation is through technology.  (Even toddlers are potty-trained while using their IPads these days). The fact is, we spend so much time on  our computers, we might as well make it worthwhile, quality time together.

That’s the idea behind  “Me In A Tree,” an interactive, family friendly, online program designed to help busy families connect. The tree, for me, is symbolic because a tree has roots like a family. In the Jewish teachings, parents are responsible for planting the seed and growing the tree for the next generation.

So this computer program is easy to use and features lots of colorful, animated characters, apps, tools, and plenty of resources to make parenting easier, even though it’s the hardest job in the world. Families are encouraged to have regular “family huddles” or meeting times, even 30 minutes a week can make a difference.

 

me in a tree characters

 

A family that plays together, stays together, and “Me In A Tree” includes a variety of ways to get started, such as organize a calendar, plan fun activities, find places to volunteer in your community, create a motto, assign individual chores, keep a grateful journal, and even write your own blog. All of these strategies encourage important character traits, such as communication, organization, support, responsibility, gratitude, and family union.

So check out the website and take a family assessment to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, and start climbing the tree together! A video tutorial is provided, so it’s a no brainer. In fact, your kids will navigate their way through the maze much quicker than you!

 

me-in-a-tree-avatar

And as your family grows, you can change your goals and ideas.  Stay up to date on the latest developments and meet other fans on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe today for a 2 week free trial, and let me know how your family likes Me In A Tree!

‘Safe Surf’ Increases Awareness of Internet Dangers

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

In the good old days, this well-known childhood saying was usually a good enough defense against the meanest bully at recess, then again, so was “nah, nah ,nah, boo, boo” and sticking out your tongue and wiggling your fingers in the air before running for cover.

In today’s modern computer era where kids spend more time on the Internet than they do on the school playground, words actually can hurt worse than sticks and stones. In some cases, words even can kill. Continue reading

Text Messaging: Teen’s Foreign Language Baffles Parents

Kids seem to speak their own language. They always have; they always will. After all, young people sort of share the same tongue, and some of them pierce their tongues as well, but that’s another fad.

Sari calls her girlfriend at school “BFF”, (Best Friends Forever), and Jack constantly tells me, “TMI”, (Too Much Information), whenever I have to explain any kind of bodily function. Even the overused, full-of-attitude word, Whatever, is shortened to just “WE.”

The latest style of “QSO” (Conversation) seems innocent enough, but these abbreviations are actually derived from an even more bizarre communication called text messaging. This text-based lingo twists the alphabet into secret codes that encourage “KPC,” (Keeping Parents Clueless) and causes lots of “CSG,” (Chuckle, Snicker, Grin) toward anyone who doesn’t get it. Continue reading