June 12, 2019 Most of us remember the classic School House Rock, “I’m just a bill, yes I’m only a bill and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill…” but maybe we need a new version that talks about how a … [Read more...]
Youth, Vote! Step Up with Easy Digital Tools That Inform
November 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Update, Nov. 6, 2018: VOTE today! If you need to know WHERE, put your address into GetToThePolls.com and out pops all your nearby official voting hubs! Nov. 3, 2018 Instead of reliving the rage … [Read more...]
Media Literacy Week 2016 Spotlight: Camp Reel Stories
October 12, 2016 by 1 Comment
Oct. 31, 2016 Official first day of Media Literacy week which runs Oct. 31-Nov.4! Please share critical thinking tips and tools to create a more informed public, so we don't have a plague of fake … [Read more...]
Powered by Girl: Tips For Working in Tandem with Youth
September 14, 2016 by 1 Comment
Sept. 14, 2016 Warning! This book may fly in the face of how you’re working with young people, and jolt you into an awareness from which you may never see yourself or your work in the same way … [Read more...]
Children’s App Reviews: Does Money Talk?
August 4, 2015 by 10 Comments
August 4, 2015 Lately I’ve been deluged by email solicitations to publish "sponsored content," turning down so many advertising requests that I now have a template reply that goes something like … [Read more...]
Distractingly Sexy: Media Literacy Summer Fun
July 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
July 2, 2015 This summer has been heating up with a slow burn in social media maneuvers starting in June when female scientists set Twitter ablaze with the #DistractinglySexy hashtag in response to … [Read more...]
Media Literacy: 50 Talking Points for 50 Shades of Grey
February 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Feb. 13, 2015 Talk about Angry Birds. Parents have been swept into the viral vortex of a gazillion ambient ads piling on to the relentless hype of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie opening today.From sex … [Read more...]
Homework? Super Bowl Ads and Media Literacy
January 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment
January 27, 2015 After updating prior Super Bowl posts about the persuasion, impact, influence, and latest trends in Super Bowl Ads, (including this new NFL PSA against domestic violence) it's … [Read more...]
The Girls Q&A Book: 50 Ways to Fix A Friendship
November 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 13, 2014 "There is no girls’ friendship drama that can’t be made WORSE… through staying silent, venting behind a friend’s back, or pretending things are just peachy," writes tweens and teens … [Read more...]
Her Next Chapter: Media Literacy Puts Mothers-Daughters On Same Page
May 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
April 17, 2015 Update In honor of National Library Week as I put the finishing touches on my presentation tomorrow about gender stereotypes and navigating unhealthy cues to kids, I'm sending a loud … [Read more...]
Using “Frozen” as an Icebreaker For Meaningful Chats With Kids
March 2, 2014 by 2 Comments
Nov. 22, 2019 Frozen 2: With the opening weekend of Frozen 2 and a script laced with big topics from tribalism to ethnic genocide, there are icebreakers and family history springboards aplenty. … [Read more...]
Disney’s Frozen: Critical Thinking Skills to Ice Out Personal Bias
January 1, 2014 by 3 Comments
Dec. 29, 2013 “It was soooooooo booooooooo-tiful with snowfwakes evweeewhere wiff fweeedeee (3D) gwasses!” the five-year old’s eyes lit up and widened almost as large as the animated sheroes in the … [Read more...]
Brave Girls Want To Put Media On A Different Frequency!
October 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Oct. 10, 2013 Update: At the end is a newly minted press release/activities update, and this great post by Adios Barbie crams a lot into a small package involving some of the partner organization … [Read more...]
National Assoc for Media Literacy Education: Amy Jussel, Resource Roundup
July 9, 2013 by 2 Comments
July 8, 2013 Gearing up for speaking at my first ever National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) conference this coming weekend, I’m taming butterflies as I’m honored to be on a … [Read more...]
Talking to Kids About Headline News; The Positive Social Media Lens
April 15, 2013 by 2 Comments
May 19, 2016 Update-Egypt Air With May being mental health month, and speculation underway as to air crash news being tragedy or terrorism, the "help kids feel safe" touchpoint is falling flat for … [Read more...]
Youth Aids Day: First Gen Who’ve Never Known a World Without HIV
April 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 25, 2015 Update World Aids Day is coming up Dec. 1st, and Durex is promoting the creation of a "condom emoji" to be used via social media to shorthand safety messages for public health. April … [Read more...]
Media Netiquette + Some Great Nature Apps In A Totally Wired World
March 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
July 26, 2015 Update: Adding Washington Parent's list: Nature Apps, Life Beyond the Screen and DailyTekk.com's iPhone app specific picks for enjoying the outdoors, plus Mother Nature Network's "7 Apps … [Read more...]
Circle of 6 Campus Safety App: What It is And What it Isn’t
February 27, 2013 by 1 Comment
Update: March 7, 2013 It's official! The President Signed VAWA! Feb. 28, 2013 Finally! The Violence Against Women Act has passed both the House and the Senate and is moving on for final signing by … [Read more...]
Victim Blaming, “Asking For It” and Baiting Outrage-On the Radio
February 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Sept. 2, 2016 Update Today's early release of Stanford student/campus rapist Brock Turner (3 months off an already lenient 6 month sentence) prompted this pithy video indictment by Elizabeth Plank on … [Read more...]
Ground Hog Day: Super Bowl Sexism Keeps Popping Up
February 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Feb 2, 2013 It's Ground Hog Day and as reliable as Punxsutawney Phil, parents and pundits await to see what shadows will be cast on kids from the Super Bowl media hype blaring at surround sound … [Read more...]
