Aug. 27, 2015 “I can make or break you” may sound more like a line from Good Fellas than a children’s app review site, but the skullduggery and reticent storytelling seeping out of the industry cracks … [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...]
Tech with Kids: Developing Media That Matters
June 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
June 9, 2015 As a diehard infovore with a “what’s behind the media curtain” critical thinking lens, I’m fascinated by the scads of kids’ conferences I can’t afford and have no time to attend, usually … [Read more...]
Can Digital Kids Click With Nature, Wildlife?
October 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Aug. 25, 2016 Update Celebrate 100 Years of our National Parks with FREE admission today! In honor of this centennial milestone, a quick roundup of children's media designed specifically to get … [Read more...]
Gaming: A Battle Over Anorexia In World of Warcraft
June 6, 2014 by 4 Comments
June 7, 2014 This coming week I’m attending the colossal gaming #Gsummit in S.F., a four-figure fee fandango (won in a drawing) that I’m eagerly sweeping my slate for in order to learn from ‘the … [Read more...]
Nat’l Wildlife Federation’s Ubooly Toy Deal + New Digital Kids Report
January 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Jan. 2, 2014 From the amazing Explore.org livestream media and National Geographic critter cams to the gaming immersion into the world of wildlife via Animal Jam I’ve been thinking a lot about the … [Read more...]
The Nature Principle: Experience the Earth Beyond Instagram
April 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
April 22, 2015 Update Recycling my resource roundup of eco-literacy quizzes on greenwashing, nature apps in a wired world, and games for good like TiltWorld that build on green media themes of kids' … [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...]
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...]
Digital Detox, Blog Hiatus, and Fresh New Focus for 2013
January 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Jan. 2013-Shaping Youth has taken a first ever, full month long blog hiatus until Feb. 1, 2013. You can follow our posts on Twitter in the interim while we unplug the blog to repower the system … [Read more...]
Media Messages and Binge Drinking Influence On Teens
December 31, 2012 by 1 Comment
Dec. 31, 2012 Prequel to New Year's Eve... Long gone are the days when I could host a “New Year's at Noon Bubble Wrap Stomp” and watch little kids gleefully squirt silly string at each other in … [Read more...]
CCFC: A Positive Pick, Even When Calling Out Negative TOADY Toys
December 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Dec. 4, 2012 No question I continue to land hard on watchdogs that aren’t woofin’ when it comes to media and marketing’s impact on kids, but nobody does it better than Campaign for a Commercial Free … [Read more...]
Blizzard’s Snow Job: Security About As Tight As Parental Controls
November 14, 2012 by 2 Comments
Nov. 14, 2012 Call it karma, payback, or just ‘got caught,’ the class action lawsuit against Blizzard Entertainment (makers of mega-hits like Diablo, World of Warcraft, Starcraft etc) is really about … [Read more...]
Life 360: Testing Family Safety Apps With Teens (Part 2)
October 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Oct 21, 2012 Any parent who has ever ended up in a glorified game of ‘Where’s Waldo’ hunting for their offspring after temporarily ‘sliding off the grid’ with whereabouts unknown (homecoming, prom, … [Read more...]
Life 360: Family Locator Apps-Mapping the Shades of Grey (Part 1)
October 15, 2012 by 5 Comments
Oct. 15, 2012 Teens call them ‘trackers,’ parents call them ‘tools,’ and the telecom industry refers to GPS and LBS (location based services) as sheer “growth” in a mobile market that’s booming with … [Read more...]
Stop Texting While Driving: Will People Learn To Steer Clear?
September 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
Feb. 4, 2015 Update! Tomorrow on Blog Talk Radio, impaired survivor of texting and driving Liz Marks shares her truth in a powerful show to get teens to LISTEN about putting down the phone. Lauren … [Read more...]
Unplug: On Summer Hiatus For Digital Detox (Again)
August 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
August 17, 2012 Long time readers know I'm a huge fan of 'digital detox' to give writing a break, focus fully on family at the end of summer, and regroup for the back to school scene... I've … [Read more...]
Dark Knight Rises: Resources to Reassure Kids
July 20, 2012 by 10 Comments
July 20, 2012 “Some Joker has to ruin it all,” a young ticket holder shaking his head fumed as news of the Batman movie premiere tragedy shot through every media channel from mobile to … [Read more...]
Trekaroo iPhone App: Kid-Friendly Travel Spots On The Fly
June 29, 2012 by 3 Comments
June 29, 2012 Anyone with small children knows parents need to pack a lot of patience for pit-stops and play time when it comes to logistics of summer travel, but now “there’s an app for that” to make … [Read more...]
