Amazon's New Echo Dot for Kids and Manners

I am guessing that it will be love at first sight when Amazon starts shipping the new Echo Dot Kids Edition for 5-to-12-year-olds. Although it hasn’t been released yet, we’re told it will be similar to the traditional Echo that many of us have in our families, but it will reply differently and offer child-friendly content. 

Why Amazon’s Echo Dot Kids Edition Probably Won’t Talk Back 

What is super exciting to me, a Manners expert, is that Amazon has added a "positive reinforcement" feature for politeness. If your child says "please" or "thank you" to the Echo Dot Kids, the device will thank them for being polite. 

Technology has impeded with our manners in this digital age. We’ve lost the ability for both children and adults to interact with acceptable manners and respect. The Echo Dot could be a practical solution to reinforcing good etiquette. 

Children get tired of being nagged by their parents. What better way for kids to get reminders from a neutral source than the Echo Dot! Hopefully there’s a homework reminder on this version! Did someone say “homework?”

One of the best features of this new gadget is the parental controls. With the Alexa app, parents can track requests that their children have made of Alexa content! Parents can set time limits on when and how much the Echo Dot Kids can be used in a day. You’ll even be able to pause access for periods of time if desired. 

Another helpful feature called FreeTime on Alexa will block out certain Alexa features, such as news, shopping and making actual purchases. 

The Echo Dot Kids is a win-win for parents and kids. It encourages politeness, while giving kids what they really want: music, jokes, and more. The best way to teach children manners is to subtly integrate reminders into the things that kids love. There’s good reason to think that the Echo Dot Kids can do just that.

Having the opportunity to develop good habits at an early age is priceless.  The kids with a solid core of manners allows them to stand apart more than ever. This device must just be the first everyday product to finally promote politeness in kids.

Users of the Echo Dot Kids may give more commands to the small gadget than they do to their pet dogs. But if the new device can help to encourage good manners and increased learning, there’s a good reason to think that parents might know their child’s next birthday gift.

All Things Halloween

ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN!  

NEED AN OUTFIT? NEED SOME INSPIRATION? MAYBE JUST WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HYPE THAT GOES INTO THIS WILD HOLIDAY?

 KEEP READING!!

            What holiday encompasses millennials trends, fun and a day to dedicated to social media? Halloween could most definitely be that holiday. It allows the millennial generation to be unique, to be completely whoever they want to be for a night, and have a little too much fun with their peers. What millennials love so much about Halloween is that they can dress as wild and out there as they want, and put effort into having fun with their costumes. Pinterest, Instagram, and even YouTube Tutorials are all popular outlets online to find ideas on creative Halloween costumes (and a lot of times for very cheap!) 

Halloween has become a mainstream holiday, as a day to celebrate being “different” or being exactly who you want to be on a daily basis but can’t. It is also a way for millennials to feel more connected to one another, with group costume ideas, team costume contents and even the dynamic duo costume that never get old, it forms a similar interest. Costumes embody popular trends in today’s culture, and millennials love to set trends and show their individuality.

            A huge reason why Halloween is so popular, is because these clever and unique costume ideas can be showcased on all social media platforms. Millennials love to post about what they are doing with their lives, and get attention and validity after posting pictures from their friends and family.  Don’t believe me? I know you’re sitting on your phone right now so go onto Instagram and in the search bar type in #halloweencostumes, and you will see results in minutes!

            Millennials have options from different apps on their smartphones to find costume ideas, and purchase them. However, a lot of millennials like to create unique costume ideas on their own budget, and use items from their closet and create a “do-it-yourself” costume. It allows for them to be more creative, and really come up with a fun idea, and not have to worry about buying a costume that will only be worn a couple of times. Some of the best Halloween costumes come from those who picked up some fabric from Michaels and had an idea.

Halloween is a holiday that is the millennial generation love, because of the experience of wearing a fun costume, going out with your friends, and most importantly taking a selfie and documenting the entire thing on snapchat…...kidding.  It does not require, in most cases, to spend a lot of money. There are also little obligations to celebrating the holiday, unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, and there are no real “traditions other than the tradition of dressing up. The day is spent to have fun, stay out late, and wear whatever your heart desires in order to show off one’s personality, character, and individuality. All of these aspects of Halloween are perfect for the fun, creative, social media sharing, experience loving people that millennials have constantly shown themselves to be.

What will you be this year? Wonder Women? Miley Cyrus? Or an infamous Dynamic Duo?

Networking: College Grad Edition

Blog Three Networking: College Grad Edition

College Grads! You did it! You graduated! But now, you’re looking around thinking -what is the next step? How do you get your foot in the door and make the most out of networking? Well, we have your step by step guide to making the most of your networking!

Step 1-Make Business Card: You never know when you might run into a future boss in a coffee shop, Grocery Store, or even at the Bar! Make sure you always carry business cards with you wherever you go with all the CORRECT and up to date information.

Step 2- Meeting New People: Stay professional when meeting someone for the first time. Example: saying “Hello Mr. Smith” instead of “Hey Dave how’s it going?”

Step 3-Watch your body language: When you are looking to talk to someone or even waiting to break into a conversation, be mindful of your body language when you are just standing around. Don’t cross your arms or be sitting on your phone texting; look inviting and open to new conversations!

Step 4-Making those connections: Sometimes you just click with someone. That is great, until someone else is waiting to connect with the same person. Be mindful of others waiting around you and don’t hog someone’s entire time. As networking is about you making those connections with individuals, it is also about helping others make those meaning connections as well.

Step 5- BE YOURSELF AND BE AUTHENTIC: This might be the most important step of all. As you want to put your best foot forward, you also want to be true to yourself. Don’t lie or exaggerate things you have accomplished or done. Be yourself and be real. It can be difficult when you are trying to network on your own so be prepared to maybe step out of your shell and be outgoing! You can always go to your first networking event with someone else who works in your office, a friend looking to do the same thing, etc..

Finals Steps: Once you receive business cards from individuals you connected with, sometime within the next 48 hours, connect with them on LinkedIn! You don’t want them to forget they talked to you when you connect 3 months later J Always dress appropriately and don’t forget to smile!! You’re now ready to nail it!

Are you “THAT GUY” in the airport?

With summer travel still in high gear, you, or most likely someone you know, needs a gentle reminder on their airport etiquette. There is always that traveler who is in group 8 but camped out at the gate from the moment they started boarding. Or, the one who waited in the security line for 25 minutes and they STILL don’t have their photo ID out when they get to the front of the line. 

Whether you are traveling for pleasure or for business, your manners (should) travel with you.  Take this quiz and find out if you are “that guy” at the airport before your next flight!

Question 1:  Do you put your feet up in the waiting area?

Yes or No

Question 2: Do you save an unnecessary amount of seats before boarding?

Yes or No

Question 3: Do you bring a full course meal onto the plane? (Even worse if it is something that has a strong odor like tuna)

Yes or No

Question 4: Do you crowd around the gate excessively before your boarding zone?

Yes or No

Question 5: Do you talk extremely loud on your cell phone in the terminal and tarmac?

 Yes or No

Question 6: Do you take too long and are unprepared going through security?

Yes or No  

Did you answer yes to 3 or more of these questions? Most likely you are “that guy” in the airport- the one we all dread.

We are all just one of the thousands of travelers trying to get to our final destination. Technically difficulties will occur, delays and unexpected turbulence per say, so remembering that the airport doesn’t “revolve around you” and your needs, will take your airport etiquette to the #NextLevel!

Grab a good book or download one to your Kindle before leaving your house, find a snack and lean back in (one seat of course) and enjoy the airport hustle and the non-stop people watching!! J

Catch flights not dirty stares and murmured words from unhappy travelers!