Green Media & Electric Cars: New Energy Shaping Youth

Update Mar. 22, 2013: Just stepped into the future in a silent Tesla sedan that zoomed 0 to 60 in 3 seconds like a 007 James Bond stunt car, piloted by a neighbor pal of mine (who happens to be a pilot, go figure). I'm completely floored by the design, engineering, eco-efficiency...and er...custom 6-figure hot off the assembly line price tag. Fast Company just featured the … [Read more...]

Can Somethin’ Be Done About All This Consumption?

Does a stuffed animal REALLY need its OWN designer camera cell phone, ipod, silver sequined belt, 'pawsport' to travel, sneakers, underpanties, headband, matching outfit and gazillion accessories? Every time I see the master marketing behind Build-A-Bear (complete with barkers at the door to entice people inside and computerized ‘birth certificates’ to capture kids’ data) I … [Read more...]

Inconvenient Truth Meets Digital Earth: Marketing ‘Hope’

The New York Times’ Stuart Elliot wrote that “A Procession of Penguins” was arriving on the advertising scene, and referenced Shaping Youth’s article where we admonished pharmaceutical giant Roche for tredding on thin ice by using animated kiddie flicks to mine pocketbooks of parents to promote their flu elixir.Nothing against Happy Feet, just the penguin pill-pushing policy. … [Read more...]

Media Savvy Kids & Nature Deficit Disorder

Young kids may be getting media savvy earlier, but many have never seen a campfire or been on a hiking trail, and wouldn’t know a wilderness experience if it bit ‘em on the backside. In fact, a British study akin to the 'Ronald McDonald vs. the President' face recognition phenom where kids could name the clown but not the nation's leader found that 8-year-olds … [Read more...]

The nature of tweens: Wired worlds & outdoor ed

Update 2013: National Parks Traveler reports NPS is considering adding Wi-Fi. This is a classic point/counter-point debate in terms of perpetuating the disconnect with nature or 'bridging' worlds w/safety-GPS techno tethers as modern day carabiners. Weigh in w/your thoughts? Here's more from Children and Nature Network. (Original Post 2006/Tweens and "Outdoor Ed") … [Read more...]