Fun, Free Virtual Valentines Trump Pricey Pink Ipod Nanos

Or not…But let’s face it, Apple can plunk pink posies on a hot little screen and I’m still not kickin’ in $200 smackeroos even if it IS as their e-note says, “love at first sight.” (Cute promo though) Maybe a $15 itunes gift card…or a $5 hot pink cell gel case on ebay, but sheesh, since when did ‘pink think’ for kids … [Read more...]

Kool-Aid Man Teams With Reebok in Kids’ Fashion Flavors

In the ‘what will they think of next’ category comes an alliance inspired by Superbowl New England Patriots’ Laurence Maroney, known as Kool-Aid since childhood, teaming the retro favorite kids drink with fruit juicy scented sneakers and all the requisite "promo stuff" therein (beach towels, pitchers, smiley tees). “The second-year running back … [Read more...]

Will Kids Pick the President? Shaping Youth Through Politics

Not sure how many of you have been following the First-Ever Kids' Primary, which began Jan. 13 on Nickelodeon’s Kids Pick the President site, a Linda Ellerbee hosted series drawing younger kids into the voter process so they’re ready to roll at 18... Personally, I LOVE the concept of instilling civic concern and inoculating against voter apathy, even if … [Read more...]

Corporate Blunders Are A Dime (Bag) A Dozen…

C'mon now folks, Target goofed with their 'talk to the hand' Web 2.0 media message, but they're FAR from flying solo in poor choices... In another “what were you thinking?” moment of kids' marketing gaffes d’jour, Hershey has only now just decided to stop producing its new form of ICEbreakers Pacs, “nickel-sized dissolvable pouches with a powdered … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth’s New York Times e-Interview, Verbatim

Since I’m too swamped to post right now, dealing with flamethrowing yahoos missing the point of my original post altogether and now reacting to the New York Times article, I’ll simply post my verbatim comments (sent with a high degree of reticence to the NYT reporter's request) and deconstruct the nuances when I can breathe a bit. So here ya go: "Just the facts, … [Read more...]