Is There A “Decline” In Kids Reading Or Is It Just Shifting Forms?

Nov. 16, 2010 When I lobbed the “what do you read just for fun” query at some middle and high school kids recently, reactions ran the gamut from quizzical, “what do you mean by “for fun” to disturbing, “I don’t have TIME to read for fun" or "I have too much school work”…and yet their nose-in-the-text-screen antics tells another story by sheer observation. Kids are CONSTANTLY … [Read more...]

Veteran’s Day Snapshot: Kids Speak About Military Family Life

Nov 11, 2010 As a global citizen coming from a lifelong military family background, Veteran’s Day is a touchy topic with me, as I’ve written before, “it’s not about mattress sales” and it’s not “veterinarians" day either, folks… So I was thrilled to see that New Moon Girls tween site had conducted a survey and published snippets of girls’ experiences growing up in active … [Read more...]

Kids & Voting: The Ultimate Show-n-Tell

Nov. 1, 2010 Everyone’s buzzing about getting out the vote, but if you’re under 18, what’s a kid to do, besides prodding parents to find their nearest voting spot? Google Election Center's gadget has a handy dandy mobile texting app that does NOT harvest address info, but DOES enable voters to text “where” to 30644 and find the nearest polling place online. Excellent use of … [Read more...]

Halloween Media: Fun For Free! Apps, Sendables, Playlists, Games

Update Oct. 31, 2016 Appy Halloween? 2016 freebies include a spooktacular JibJab 'story bot' to insert and personalize wee ones into Halloween kids' books...Our friends at Common Sense Media offer a slew of apps with ages and stages reviewed and noted, and a host of Streaming Scary Movies for insta-atmosphere media fun. For older teens and the selfie crowd, these … [Read more...]

Amy Jussel On Changing the Channel of Media Influence

Oct. 28, 2010 Tonight I’ll be speaking on Changing the Channel of Influence in media, at The Third Place.org. I need to reiterate to ALL that Shaping Youth is a nonpartisan, non-religious-based, nonprofit,  non-tethered, organization. The media literacy opinions shared are my own and NOT aligned with any other organization, affiliation, or agenda. Clear? Reason I’m … [Read more...]