What’s With 8th Grade Proms & Glamorama Tween Diva-ization?

April 3, 2009 “Myths & Realities of Eighth Grade Graduation/Dance: Students may wear something nicer than normal school clothes. However, we strongly discourage formal dresses and tuxedos.” Well, it’s too late for April Fool’s, so I’m guessing this very surreal statement is indicative of the point being made in Newsweek’s recent article, “Are we turning our tweens into … [Read more...]

Get Out of Your Own Life! Environmental Influence on Kids

Mar. 30, 2009 Mea culpa for the unannounced vanishing act, but I’ve been out of town interviewing teens in a different ‘pocket’ of the greater Bay Area, exploring how environmental influences (peers, nature, geography) shift the volume and decibel level of media intake among kids and where we might learn some 'best practices' to leapfrog into a healthier place for the … [Read more...]

Like Taking Candy From A Baby: Camel Trots Out Nicotine Tricks (Again)

Mar. 16, 2009 Gotta put my cranky pants on again…. R.J.Reynolds is lighting the fuses of frustrated parents by offering Camel nicotine laced ‘orbs, strips, and sticks’ coming at kids in the mints and gum portion of the candy aisle right near the checkout. That’s right, dissolvable nicotine. Cigs are off limits, Joe Camel is kaput, so now we’ve got fresh breath-freshener … [Read more...]

NPR: Do1Thing and Sell For A Cause Marketplace on Facebook

Mar. 11, 2009 Heads up on two youth-focused National Public Radio blurbs this week: First is the NPR Weekend Edition clip, 'What's For Sale? Check Facebook all about our ‘Sell for a Cause' launch at midnight tonight when Celebrities for a Cause kicks in on the Facebook Marketplace powered by Oodle…Want to help Shaping Youth make a difference in the world without opening your … [Read more...]

“Better for You” Foods in the Snack Aisle?

Mar. 8, 2009 "Lately all this low-fat health talk has been taking the fun right out of snacking, not to mention the flavor," reads the Popchips all natural bag I’m chomping on from a Costco impulse buy... Gotta hand it to ‘em, as a copywriter, this verbiage appeals, and, after trying Popchips at the Teens Turning Green summit (where Whole Foods Markets provided the goodies) … [Read more...]