This concept of having tablet computers for every student in a grade or an entire school is one that I've been wondering about. And now that my own school is considering having iPads for every ninth grader, I've decided to look into it, and figure … [Read more...]
Reflecting on terrorism, connection and media
April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
When the news reached us, we were on the West Coast, near the beach. Then, the messages came - by text, Twitter, Facebook and email. “Are you ok?” A friend of mine is serving in Afghanistan right now. Even she sent a concerned email last week. … [Read more...]
What can I do to help protect all children from harmful media messages?
March 26, 2013 By 6 Comments
I spent last weekend at a conference full of energetic and committed people working to protect children from corporate marketing practices that harm children’s health and well-being for profit. It was the 8th international Consuming Kids Summit … [Read more...]
Vote today in the bad toy contest
December 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
It’s the TOADY. I do enjoy this annual contest, to select the worst toy of the year, as a counterpoint to the Toy of the Year award – the TOTY – which is sponsored by the toy industry. Sometimes the choices in both contests are strikingly … [Read more...]
Screen time, Media Literacy and the preschool set
November 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
According to the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, estimates of how much time preschoolers spend on average with screen media range from at least 2.2 hours to as much as 4.6 hours per day. That’s a lot. Today, I am alerting teachers … [Read more...]
The ongoing great digital experiment on the brain development of children
November 7, 2012 By 2 Comments
Recently, two organizations surveyed teachers to learn their opinions of how digital technologies and media are effecting students, both academically and socially. The results were fascinating and if you have the time, take a look at the reports, … [Read more...]
Violent airplane movies and traveling with children
October 25, 2011 By 4 Comments
This is what US Airways thinks is ok for children of all ages to see while riding in its planes. That is someone's head he's got the gun held to. The movie contained this and many, many other images of violence. Also a provocatively dressed woman … [Read more...]
BOOK – Gender stereotypes: How boys are harmed by the media’s twisted portrayal of how to be a man
March 16, 2011 By 3 Comments
Book Review The Achilles Effect: What Pop Culture is Teaching Young Boys about MasculinityMy son picked up my copy of The Achilles Effect, by Crystal Smith, and started reading aloud about toy action figures that have bulked up to superhuman … [Read more...]
Internet porn: addictive, may have long-lasting ill effects on youth
December 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
After I read this disturbing article in Psychology Today about the potentially very harmful effects of today’s brutal, extreme and widely available internet pornography on a young person’s developing sexuality, I immediately gave it to my … [Read more...]
The best gift: A chance to grow up without limits.
December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Decades ago, little girls (my sister and I) were playing with Legos, and they weren’t even pink. We also enjoyed playing with trucks, and dressing up in mom’s old prom dress. My boys have found cars, trucks and construction toys under the … [Read more...]
