“Ni Hao, Kai-Lan” Chinese Skype, & Mandarin Media

It seems China is finally getting some much-needed positive media coverage, with the official 2008 Beijing Olympics site up, more people using Skype media to learn Chinese with authentic accent integration, and now, some preschool positives to bring Mandarin into the home. Nickelodeon’s diversity programming is enriched with the debut of the "play along, think-along" cartoon … [Read more...]

Top 10 Teen Sex Education Videos: You Decide Who Wins!

“Was sex ed at your school a total drag or did you love it? If you could design a whole new system to for teens to learn about sex and its consequences, what would you create?” Advocates for Youth sent me that blurb in a December call for video entries from young people aged 15-30. Two cute lil’ squiggly cartoon sperm were talking to each other, saying, … [Read more...]

MC Milker Reports on New Digital Toys for Shaping Youth at CES

Shaping Youth continues our series of guest commentary by MC Milker at the Sandbox Summit which wrapped up yesterday in Las Vegas. (full CES media coverage here) Figure I'd better cut to the chase and offer her academic and marketing bio at the end of this piece so you can jump right into browsing the 'new era of play,' what's new in digital content...and see who earned … [Read more...]

Using Social Media For Kids’ Causes: Finite Funding & Friendships

Social media maven Beth Kanter turns 51 today, and for her present, she’s asking 51 people in 51 hours to donate ten bucks a piece to the Sharing Foundation's America's Giving Challenge over at Global Giving to help seriously disadvantaged kids in Cambodia. (you may have read about the contest in PARADE? Here's a video 'bethkast') Notice Beth's NOT asking for $51 or $510…just … [Read more...]

Digital Babies & Techno Toys At The CES Sandbox Summit

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we're privileged to have coverage at the International Consumer Electronics Show Sandbox Summit via MC Milker, who we'll no doubt be hearing more from as she navigates the early phases of motherhood amidst a plethora of new beeping, blipping, (some would say bleeping!) toys and products commanding childrens' mindshare. (hear keynote & … [Read more...]