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Xbox & Your Kids - A chat with Molly O’Donnell
Posted under Interview, Microsoft, Steve519, XBL Radio, Xbox, Xbox Live by Steven Artlip (Steve519)
A couple of weeks ago Microsoft announced a bus tour that kicked off in New York and would travel around the US to 19 other cities. If you didn’t catch our story on it, or Xbox.com’s official artical, then continue reading for a brief rundown and the link to our interview.
Microsoft was doing this because they wanted to educate parents on some of the valuable tools that Microsoft has made available, on the Xbox 360 and the PC, that would help parents protect young kids. To me, this was a great idea! So I contacted MS to get some more info and they warmley accepted my invitation.  Now since I don’t have any children, I took it upon myself to do this for friends and listeners of XBL Radio who do have kids.
So I want to share with you the entire interview that I had with Molly O’Donnell from Microsoft. She’s the head of the Xbox Public Relations Group.  We talked about the Parental Controls for the Xbox 360 and the 20 City Campaign Buss Tour. I hope you find this 16 minute audio very informative like I did.
Download Here (right click, save as… for best download experience.)
BTW, ultimately I think that it is the parents responsibility to monitor what their kids are doing online. But, I think that it’s cool how Microsoft is providing parents with tools to help protect their kids along with information and education about how to do so.
And if you have any further questions about this or about protecting your children on Xbox Live, you can contact me at Steve@xblradio.com or check out Microsoft’s website set up for this http://www.xbox.com/isyourfamilyset/.
Nice work Steve. I didn’t realize that DVD’s could also be blocked in the settings, very neat.
And Molley was really cool! O’donnell, that’s Irish right? Love that whack! And would certainly love to get her back on the show sometime.
-Rust.
Whether tragic events touch your family personally or are brought into your home via newspapers and television, you can help children cope with the anxiety that violence, death, and disasters can cause. Listening and talking to children about their concerns can reassure them that they will be safe. Start by encouraging them to discuss how they have been affected by what is happening around them. Even young children may have specific questions about tragedies. Children react to stress at their own developmental level.
The Caring for Every Child\’s Mental Health Campaign offers these pointers for parents and other caregivers:
* Encourage children to ask questions. Listen to what they say. Provide comfort and assurance that address their specific fears. It\’s okay to admit you can\’t answer all of their questions.
* Talk on their level. Communicate with your children in a way they can understand. Don\’t get too technical or complicated. * Find out what frightens them. Encourage your children to talk about fears they may have. They may worry that someone will harm them at school or that someone will try to hurt you.
* Focus on the positive. Reinforce the fact that most people are kind and caring. Remind your child of the heroic actions taken by ordinary people to help victims of tragedy.
* Pay attention. Your children\’s play and drawings may give you a glimpse into their questions or concerns. Ask them to tell you what is going on in the game or the picture. It\’s an opportunity to clarify any misconceptions, answer questions, and give reassurance.
* Develop a plan. Establish a family emergency plan for the future, such as a meeting place where everyone should gather if something unexpected happens in your family or neighborhood. It can help you and your children feel safer.
If you are concerned about your child\’s reaction to stress or trauma, call your physician or a community mental health center.
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