Club Times Fall 2024 by wexford.hhi

In This Issue

Message from the GM, 2

Letter from the Board

President, 3

Welcome New Members, 4

Foundation News, 6

Message from the Nominating Committee, 7

Clubhouse Corner, 8-13

Golf, 14

Tennis & Pickleball, 15

Harbour/Yacht Club, 16-17

Security, 17

Croquet, 18

Book Club, 19

Calendar, 19-20

Welcome

Wexford Owners,

Howdoyouuseyourlaptop?

Wexford Briefly

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:

President: Stephen Carter

Vice President: Gary Crandall

Treasurer: Keith Poisson

Secretary: Lynn Looby

Directors:

Bob Cherichella

Michael Fajgenbaum

Paul McEvoy

Michael McKelvey

Harry Mellon

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE:

Monday – Friday

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

843-686-6950

A month ago, my wife and I returned from a week-long family vacation. This has been an annual tradition where we reconnect with extended family in the quaint seaside town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. We were a bit out of our usual routine, having relocated to the Lowcountry from Vermont in 2022, so we saw this as a great opportunity to catch up. Our days were filled with visits to arcades with the family, plenty of sun and surf, and a round or two of golf. One activity I attempted to master, but failed miserably at, was sunbathing. I spent three days lounging aimlessly, trying to change my natural hue. Growing bored of this non-activity, I eventually found a cool spot in the shade with my companion — my laptop. On the last day of vacation, while lounging on the beach with my wife, I sat next to a gentleman who appeared to have perfected the art of sunbathing, evident by his leathery, bronzed skin. He stood out among others who were fully covered in protective clothing and lotion, resembling hazmat team members. After some time, he turned to me and mouthed something. I removed my earbuds and asked him to repeat his question.

“Are you on vacation or just changing your work environment?” he asked with a curious smile. I guiltily replied, “Actually, I’m not really working. Having time to reflect and think is a luxury for me, so I’m using this opportunity to plan for some exciting projects at work. We have a multi-million-dollar clubhouse and harbour center renovation project to begin early in 2025. Between design documents, permitting, town meetings, and how we communicate to the membership, there is plenty to ponder and plan for. As if that were not enough, we are strategizing on what happens to our golf course over the next few years. There are a lot of moving parts.” He then asked me why I needed a getaway to think and plan during my vacation.

Patrick McGuire General Manager

I explained to him that I work in the eventful world of club management and shared my enthusiasm for my work at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. In contrast, he expressed anticipation for retirement after 17 years with the same company, eagerly awaiting the freedom it would bring. He emphasized the value of his vacation time as a break from work, a sentiment I found interesting.

Reflecting on our conversation, I turned to my wife for her perspective. Surprisingly, she highlighted that not everyone shares the same passion for their work as I do, and for some, vacations are a much-needed escape from unhappiness or indifference towards their jobs. She pointed out that my choice to plan projects during vacation indicated my contentment with my work and the people I interact with daily.

Her words resonated with me, reminding me of my fortune in loving my job and the responsibilities that come with it. While I do take vacations and enjoy my time off, I don’t feel the need to completely disconnect from my work as it brings me fulfillment.

As the vacation concluded, I wished I could have another conversation with the gentleman on the beach to share my perspective. Instead of feeling sorry for me, I would explain that my planning time away from home isn’t considered work at all. I would emphasize that I find happiness in my work for most of the year and use vacation time to plan for even greater happiness.

In the end, the question remains — how do you use your laptop? Is it merely a tool for work or a vessel for selfdiscovery?

Enjoy the day!

Letter from the Board President

Hello Neighbors,

Right around the time that this newsletter is published, we will see the return of our neighbors who sought refuge from the heat in cooler climes, and for my part, I admit that it is a little strange to be writing about the late summer and fall when on vacation in the middle of August.

Stephen Carter President

We have a big three months coming up with everything from the men’s and the ladies’ member guest golf tournaments to the beginning of the interclub pickleball and tennis leagues amongst a ton of other activities that are more fun to indulge in when it is not 90 degrees and 90% humidity. Personally, I am looking forward to resuming the Nine and Dine evenings.

Our Construction Task Force will be making some substantial progress during the next quarter. At the time of writing, we have received Final Approval from the Town of HHI DRB (Design Review Board). We still await Final Approval from DHEC. When received, we should be able to obtain our Final DPR (Development Plan Review) Approval from the Town as the final step before submitting for the projects’ Building Permits. Pricing of the project is currently well on the way to being finalized and with just a little bit of good fortune, I will be able to talk about actual demolition and construction in your Winter Club Times.

On a less parochial note, by the end of this newsletter’s life, we will know the results of our upcoming elections, the football season (American style and English Premier League) will be well underway, and Halloween and our Thanksgiving celebrations will be over. We will also know whether or not the “Fed” has reduced interest rates once or twice and in turn that will give us clues to look at funding costs and also investment returns over the following year.

So that was my attempt at a smooth transition to the business side of things. The fall is our budget season,

and while it is too early for me to speculate on any numbers, I can tell you that management is already well on the way to getting their first drafts together.

One factor that is going to make the task more complex than usual is the clubhouse and harbour center project. The project itself is complicated but is budgeted as a standalone plan. On our annual operating budget side, however, one of our main revenue sources outside of our annual dues is Food and Beverage. We have been very pleased to see a healthy increase in the usage of our restaurant this year, and while we are confident in forecasting that this trend will continue into the early part of 2025, we know that once the clubhouse has to close for construction, it is bound to affect restaurant utilization no matter how nice the temporary dining room and kitchen facility is.

Your Finance Committee and your Board will be actively working on this and the rest of the budget throughout September and October, with a target to approve a proposed 2025 plan in November and to circulate the ballot for both the budget and to set the annual dues in December. We are just about to launch our third annual owner’s survey and as in previous years, the results and analysis will be available to us in November. The timing is deliberate to allow us to look at trends and results and if necessary to make any late but necessary changes to next year’s plan. The more owners that provide input, the more meaningful the statistical results will be, so please help us by responding to the survey.

There is a lot of work to do between now and the beginning of December, but also a lot to enjoy. I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood as we all enjoy our community’s beauty and the varied amenities that Wexford offers.

Sincerely, Stephen

Thank you to Wexford Member Heather Cherichella, who captured this beautiful sunrise over the Harbour.

Welcome New Members

Joel & Natalie (Talie) Harris 48 Yorkshire Drive

Stephen & Leslie Long 21 Wexford Circle

Michael & Katherine McDonnell 58 Wicklow Drive

New Message Board for Wexford

Introducing a new way to stay connected to your neighbors, recently we have added a NEW Message Board on the Wexford mobile app. Looking for recommendations for local landscapers, pet sitters, or a set of new bikes? Ask your Wexford neighbors! Navigate to the “Menu” button in the bottom right corner and select “Message Board” from the list.

2025 Green Book

With the number of new members who have joined us so far this year, we encourage you to visit our online Member Directory for the most accurate member contact information. While there, please take a minute to review your listing to ensure all information is up to date for the 2025 Member Handbook, also known as the “Green Book.”

Christopher & Kathleen Quatrochi 55 Yorkshire Drive

James & Carol Sheppard 13 Wexford Club Drive

Shredding Day

Wexford has organized a secure document shredding event for members on Tuesday, September 24th from 9:00-11:00am at the Security Gate parking area. Any types of colored paper, file folders, or envelopes are acceptable. Staples or paper clips do not need to be removed.

Foundation awards Major Impact Grants

The Wexford Foundation is proud to award four local charities Major Impact Grants totaling $188,000. The deserving recipients are the HHI Recreation Center, Neighborhood Outreach Connection, Sandalwood Food Pantry, and Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton. These four non-profits have all demonstrated a history of sound management and were selected after careful review of the projects they brought forth to the Foundation.

HHI Recreation Center - $60,000. The HHI Recreation Center grant will enable the purchase of a fourteen-passenger minibus that will provide transportation for a host of audiences. Often summer camp, after-school field trips, and programs at the senior center are missed due to the lack of transportation. This minibus will positively impact many youths and seniors in our community.

Neighborhood Outreach Connection - $52,000. Neighborhood Outreach Connection will receive funding to fully renovate their flagship New Oaks Learning Center. The grant will be used to paint, carpet, furnish classrooms, and equip New Oaks with the latest technology. This transformation will allow New Oaks to truly be a center of excellence with high-quality learning spaces and improve the overall experience for children and adults.

Sandalwood Food Pantry - $53,000. The Sandalwood Food Pantry grant is for a new utility truck to assist with food deliveries and to transition stored food & sundries to their pantry. The truck will also be used for on and off-island food pickups, donations, and other pantryrelated activities. A new truck will ensure Sandalwood can continue to provide food to those that so desperately depend on their support.

Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton - $23,000. The grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton will provide funding for a new storage area and scissor lift at their facility. This will enable existing storage rooms to be used for programs and create an overall better experience for the children. The scissor lift will provide a safer and more effective alternative to reach high places and ensure best practices can be maintained.

“The Wexford Foundation is honored to partner with these charities in their steadfast efforts to make our community a better place for everyone,” said Chairman Jim Hicks. “These Major Impact Grants are in addition to the Foundation’s 2024 annual sustaining grant awards of over $400,000 to 39 local charities made earlier this year.”

Message from the Nominating Committee

Farewell to our outgoing Board members

In November, Wexford members will be given the opportunity and the responsibility to elect three new directors to replace the Board members who will be completing their terms. It is important to think about your choices because your vote will determine who will be making the key decisions that can affect your lives. Are they problem solvers? Do they work well with others? What experiences do they bring to the Board? Do they have the time to devote to the betterment of the community? This year our retiring Board members are Stephen Carter, Lynn Looby, and Harry Mellon. We thank them all for sharing their precious time, talents, and knowledge to keep our community fiscally stable and a fabulous place in which to live and raise our families. As you consider this year’s candidates, please appreciate the roles and the contributions that Stephen, Lynn, and Harry made during their time on the Wexford Board.

STEPHEN CARTER

Stephen is a qualified Accountant who has had a long career as a CEO and as a professional board member who brought a wealth of ‘for profit’ and ‘non-profit’ experience to the Wexford Board. Prior to running for the Board he served on the Finance Committee, the Governance Committee and the Amenities Committee, as well as spending six years as a Trustee of the Wexford Foundation, with two years as Chair.

process, to name but a few. He says he is satisfied that he will be leaving the Board in capable hands and that the Finances, Governance and Administration of Wexford has never been stronger.

LYNN LOOBY

Lynn is a retired corporate attorney who lives full-time in Wexford with her husband Larry. Lynn initially ran for the board because of her love of Wexford and her desire to contribute to our community in a positive and meaningful way. Her tenure on the board enabled her to apply her analytical legal skills as well as her organizational and communication strengths to help draft policies, FAQs, and other communications. During her three years, she also developed an appreciation of the complexities involved in running a healthy homeowners association and gained a perspective about Wexford that she would not have otherwise had. As a result, it strengthened her belief that Wexford is a great place to live! One of Lynn’s strengths is her ability to collaborate with others to reach consensus. She greatly valued the opportunity to work with three different boards to advance significant Wexford initiatives including increasing the NPOIF to competitive levels with other premiere communities, the General Manager search and the passing of the Enhanced Clubhouse and Harbor Center.

group play. As a result, participation in this historic sport has grown significantly so that members of all levels can enjoy our premier lawn which is one of the best in the Lowcountry.

HARRY MELLON

Harry is currently completing his 12th year as a member of the Wexford Board of Directors. Having over 50 years of experience in the Construction industry, Harry has helped develop, implement and guide our infrastructure and amenities renewal program. During his tenue on the Board of Directors, Harry has served as the Association President, Vice President, and as Chairman of the Infrastructure, Governance, Amenities and Security Committees. In addition, he is currently serving as the Chairman of the Construction Task Force overseeing the renovation of the Wexford Clubhouse and Pro Shop as well as the construction of our new Harbour Center.

Since his election he has served as Treasurer for one year and as our Board President for the last two years. During his tenure there have a number of major events including major management structural changes, the purchase of Pier 8, the passing of the vote for our current Clubhouse and Harbor Centre project and the Covenant change to our NPOIF

Lynn served as Secretary for two years and was Chair of the Governance committee, Tennis and Pickleball committee, and the Croquet committee. As the first chair of the Croquet committee, Lynn is especially proud of her committee’s work in expanding this amenity and growing croquet participation in Wexford to include Holiday events and regular

Harry’s contributions include successfully developing and implementing the New Property Owners Initiation Fee (NPOIF), prevented the Town of Hilton Head from annexing the 16th hole of Wexford’s golf course for construction of a storm water pumping station, provided planning and oversight for the construction of the multi-million dollar Broad Creek pumping station, Wexford Tennis Center and the new Security Gatehouse.

Harry has agreed to continue serving as the Co-Chair of the Construction Task Force until the projects are complete.

Harry is extremely thankful for the confidence and trust that the Wexford owners have expressed in him by allowing him to serve their interests as a member of the Board of Directors.

Robert Wysong

Executive Chef

(843) 715-0915

rwysong@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Clubhouse Corner

Michael Johnson

Clubhouse Manager (843) 715-0913

mjohnson@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Robert Mosco

Food & Beverage Mgr. (843) 715-0914

rmosco@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Michael Johnson joins staff as Clubhouse Manager

We are thrilled to introduce Michael Johnson as the new Clubhouse Manager of Wexford.

In our pursuit to find the best candidate for this role, we enlisted the expertise of RCS Hospitality, the same agency that assisted us in securing our Executive Chef. Following a comprehensive search process that involved evaluating a pool of over one hundred candidates, Michael emerged as the ideal choice for the position.

Michael brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, specializing in club management, staff development, and club renovations. Most recently, he held the position of Assistant General Manager at The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers, Florida. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of clubhouse operations, including

food & beverage services, event management, maintenance, and administration. Prior to his tenure at The Club at Renaissance, Michael served as the Director of Food and Beverage operations at Vasari Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida, a community boasting 1,500 members. During his time there, he successfully elevated the member experience and played a pivotal role in a significant $9 million club renovation and expansion initiative. Michael has also held leadership positions at several other esteemed private clubs in Southwest Florida, such as The Forest Country Club, Copperleaf Golf Club, and The Legends Golf Club. Furthermore, Michael is an active member of the Club Management Association of America and is currently pursuing his CCM certification (Certified Club Manager).

Make sure to give Michael a warm welcome to Wexford when you see him around the club.

CLUBHOUSE CLOSURES

Thursday, Sept. 12th:

WWGA Fall Opener

— Clubhouse Closed for Lunch; Waves Open Regular Hours

Sept. 18th-21st:

Men’s Member Guest — Clubhouse Closed All Day; Waves Open Regular Hours

Sept. 27th: Private

Member Event –Clubhouse Closes at 2:00pm; Waves Open Regular Hours

Oct. 11th: Ladies

Member Guest — Clubhouse and Waves Closed All Day

Oct. 12th: Ladies

Member Guest — Clubhouse and Waves Closed for Lunch

Nov. 16th: Foundation Gala – Clubhouse Closed All Day; Waves Open Regular Hours

Vivienne Smith

Asst. Food & Bev. Mgr. (843) 686-8810

vsmith@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Hours of Operation

CLUBHOUSE DINING

Monday — Closed

Tuesday & Wednesday

11:30am – 2:30pm Lunch Only (*Bar service until 5pm)

Thursday-Sunday

11:30am – 2:30pm Lunch; 5:00pm – 8:30pm Dinner

CLUBHOUSE BAR

Monday — Closed

Tuesday & Wednesday

11:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday-Sunday 11:00am - Close

WAVES

Monday-Wednesday — Closed

Thursday-Sunday

11:00am – 8:00pm (*Beverage Service only from 7-8pm)

TO GO HOURS

To find out the Daily Specials or to place To Go orders, call 843-715-0912 during the listed Clubhouse hours

EVENT REQUESTS

Contact Michael Johnson at mjohnson@wexfordhiltonhead.com with any requests for events.

BECOME A

Interested in introducing new neighbors & prospective members to the Wexford Community?

Member Services is recruiting volunteers to help new and prospective members experience what it truly means to live at Wexford.

For more information or to apply to become a Wexford Ambassador email memberservices@wexfordhiltonhead.com.

Fall Cocktail Recipe: Apples & Pears

When summer transitions into fall, picture the warm hues of the season. With vibrant reds burnt oranges and deep yellows of autumn sunsets over the Calibogue Sound, we begin to crave seasonal flavors and turn to ingredients like apples and pears. These fruits are delicious eaten fresh or used in baked goods, particularly when combined with spices like nutmeg. Of course, you don’t need to bake a pie to enjoy such things, especially when you can drink it.

Apples & Pears is a cocktail that calls for pearflavored vodka, lime juice, Angostura bitters, and apple cider, plus a DIY vanilla-nutmeg syrup that really caps off the seasonal theme. Put it all together, and you get a cocktail indicative of autumn.

RECIPE

1 ½ ounces of pear flavored vodka, 1 ½ ounces of apple cider, ¾ ounce of vanillanutmeg syrup*, ½ ounce of fresh squeezed lime juice, 5 dashes of Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with apple slice and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

• Vanilla-Nutmeg syrup: Combine 2 cups of sugar, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 6 vanilla beans cut lengthwise, and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let the syrup cool and strain into a closed container.

Scott Hunter Director of Golf

(843) 686-8812, ext. 141

shunter@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Bobby Blanken

1st Asst. Golf Professional (843) 686-8812, ext. 142

bblanken@wexfordhiltonhead.com

A Golf Pro’s Tips for Preparing for Events

Summer was long and hot, and we are thrilled to be past the heat and into the cool fall months. This means the big events are here, and with that comes pressure. Everyone hopes to strike gold, play that perfect round or rounds, and win the big event. So, I thought it best to give my advice on how to prepare for that event that you desperately want to win.

First is knowing your game and where you need to improve. If you spend a little bit of time analyzing

BOBBY’S BASICS

your game, you may find that you need to focus on putting, or the short game, or the full swing.

The second would be how you practice. Too often, I see people working only on the swing and not diversifying the practice to include everything. Let’s be serious; the pressure comes from making a 3-foot putt and not from hitting a 7-iron. So, practice everything.

Third, don’t be afraid to test yourself at the practice facility. Try to hit a

Pine Straw Problems

I frequently get asked about how to hit shots from the pine straw, and the best way to make clean contact. The main keys to success are assessment, club selection, and balance.

First, look at the lie and the area around your ball. Are there any pinecones or large sticks you may be able to move out of the way (without moving your ball)?

Then, assess what you can do with the shot and see if you can make a full swing. For this tip, I will assume we have the ability to make a full swing and can get the ball back in play without many tree issues. I’d usually recommend clubbing up to help you keep the swing a little

more compact and less likely to slide around.

At set up, try to widen your stance slightly, to promote better stability and a ‘sweeping motion’ through the impact zone. Try to have your ball positioned in the middle or slightly towards the back of your stance, almost ensuring you make ‘ball first’ contact.

As you make the swing, focus on just rotating your upper body while keeping your lower body stable. This will prevent you from sliding out and give you a better chance to make clean contact. We hope to not be in these scenarios too often, but these few pointers will help you be more confident and recover much easier.

September 2: Course Open – Labor Day

September 12: WWGA Fall Opener “The Nautical Nine”

September 18-21: Men’s Member Guest

shot to a flag that is a similar shot to the course. Put some pressure on yourself when practicing.

Lastly, I would like to see you balance the preparation between playing and practicing. One needs to play to know where the tendencies are, and one needs to practice fixing those errors.

In summary: know your game, change up your practice methods and test yourself so you are ready for that big moment.

Notice the setup. My stance is slightly widened, and the ball is slightly behind center. These are two key components to set yourself up for success.

The wider stance has helped me ‘sweep’ the ball off the pine straw and you’ll notice very little dirt kicking up from this shallow angle of attack. Also, my feet have remained quiet, and I was able to maintain balance.

October 10-12: Ladies’ Invitational

October 18-20: Club Championship

October 25: Halloween Nine & Dine

November 8-9: Ringer Ringer

Patrick Mason Director of Tennis

(843) 686-8816, ext. 150

pmason@wexfordhiltonhead.com

TENNIS TIP

Tennis & Pickleball

30 minutes a week to take your game to the next level

Did you know that in the average 2.5 hour match the ball is only in play about 20 minutes? Take into consideration there are 3 other players on the court, you have to ask yourself how many shots you are actually hitting? The key to getting better is repetition! Try taking a 1 30 minute lesson each week and focus on 1 different shot each week. In a 30-minute lesson you can hit up to 400 repetitions of the shot of your choice.

TENNIS TRIVIA

Q: Who is the only player to win the same grand slam on different surfaces?

A: Jimmy Connors won the US Open on ALL three different surfaces — grass at Forest Hills in 1974, clay at Forest Hills in 1976, and hard court in 1978 at Flushing Meadows.

Mike Pollard Head Tennis Professional (843) 686-8816, ext. 152

mpollard@wexfordhiltonhead.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 6 | Wexford HOSTS Long Cove: Join us for a fun and social Tennis and Pickleball round robin 4:005:30pm. Drinks and appetizers will be served. $25 per player

September 13-15 | Fireball Open Tennis and Pickleball Tournament: Join us for a competitive tournament weekend. Grab a partner and sign up for your chance to compete against players from ALL over the state.

October 4 | Friday Night Lights College/Pro Football night 4:00-6:00PM: Come on out for a super fun and social Tennis and Pickleball round robin. Come dressed in your favorite football team gear! Food and Drinks will be served. $30 per player.

October 25 | 25th annual Tennis and Pickleball Pro Am: Join us for our 25th annual PRO-AM. We will have 12 of the Island’s best tennis pros to play with the members in a fun round robin in the morning. In the afternoon, join us for the Pickleball Pro-Am. We will have 12 of the island’s top pickleball pros playing with the members in a fun round robin! Lunch will be served in between the morning and afternoon rounds at the Tennis Center.

November 29 | Work off the Turkey Tennis and Pickleball Round Robin: Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Tennis and Pickleball round Robin. $25 per player.

PICKLEBALL TIP

How do I prevent Pickleball injuries?

1. Ease into the activity.

2. Stretch before and after play.

3. Wear appropriate shoes.

4. Add variety to your exercise regimen.

5. Let injuries heal before play.

6. Listen to your body.

Mark Dryden Harbour Master

(843) 686-8813

mdryden@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Harbour/ Yacht Club

4th of July Recap

It was great to see the enthusiasm around the celebration of our Independence Day carry well into Friday.

We had about 15 participants show up for the annual Kids Fishing Tournament hosted by the Wexford Yacht Club. Lines went in the water at 10:00 sharp and Emilia Hicks was crowned the winner of this year’s tournament having caught and landed five fish! Way to go, Emilia!

We also had eleven separate teams participate in the 2024 Wexford Family Scavenger Hunt. Teams were sent all over Wexford to complete missions including a pie-eating contest, reenacting the battle of Iwo Jima, and even decoding clues written in invisible ink! Team Hoosier Daddy brought home this year’s trophy but it was a very tight race. Gilliane Mossing’s enthusiastic rendition of Yankee Doodle put her team over the top and across the finish line.

Thanks to all the participants. We hope you had a ball.

wmarshall@wexfordhiltonhead.com

One of the Big Three: Boat Commissioning

The Yacht Club hosts three major events during the year and the second one is coming up: the Boat Commissioning. Join us on October 13th, 2024 as we welcome this year’s new boats into Wexford Harbour. Cocktails start at 5:00pm, followed by the ceremony, and then Dinner in the Clubhouse.

Make your reservations early to ensure you get a seat at the always-sold-out event.

Boys and Girls Club

Outing

It was a pleasure to host the Boys & Girls Club recently for a boat ride on the Broad Creek! Thank you to those members who donated their time to make it a memorable day for these kids.

Marvin Morrison Chief of Security (843)

686-8817

mmorrison@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Security

Steven Williams

Security

Captain

(843) 686-8817

swilliams@wexfordhiltonhead.com

Awareness of Children on Electronic Devices

With the Wexford membership expanding with many families over the last several years, I thought a bit of information for parents would be an excellent security topic to provide this quarter.

The internet is an integral part of a child’s life in school, at home, and wherever they spend their free time. The various devices that connect to the internet can benefit learning, enhance social relations and allow children to keep connected to their friends and family. As they can be a source of danger and concern for parents or grandparents, it is important to protect children from these everyday dangers of inappropriate content and the availability of contact by those who prey on our children. Studies identify that by eight years old, children average four to six hours per day watching or using these devices. Teenagers average more than four hours a day just using social media.

You should be aware that most apps have some level of parental control, which can be effective for young children needing to be more closely monitored. Older children who are technically savvy may be able to bypass such controls, which can take them into a troubled area without your knowledge. As children grow older, critical thinking and a healthy foundation of behavior are most important to navigate through the many online security threats.

So, a periodic check of the devices, providing them with security awareness and best practices can help them take ownership of their online privacy and security, and keep them safe from the negative contacts that these devices can bring.

Stay safe,

Chief Morrison