First try with new T3i please critique

Got a T3i a few weeks back and have been playing around. Been carrying the camera around as we do stuff to get a feel for different settings. I need some suggestions as to possible different settings to try. I've mostly been playing with the f settings looking for differences in depth of view, but also some with shutter speed at times. Other settings I am letting the camera take care of for now. Just using the kit lens and no changes in the computer.

1/80 f/8.0 ISO 320

Your shutter speed is a little low. At 1/60 and 1/80 you are going to get camera shake. Try to bring it up to 1/125 at least. If you want a more blurry background, choose a bigger aperture, most kit lens go to f4.0 or f5.6 I think.

To get your son into focus there's several ways but the simplest is to change your position.

Hold two fingers up like the peace sign, look at the finger on the right. You will notice your left finger is still in mostly in focus. Now move the left finger a little bit back and look at your right finger again, now your left one will be more out of focus.

Your lens acts the same way as your eyeball, so by just changing your shooting position and having them on the same plane they will both be in focus. Or for more of an artistic picture you can just change the aperture.

Also dont let the camera pick your focus point. I always use only the center focus point to give me more control and its also the only one thats a cross type for better focus.