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...]

Lessons From Rudolph That Are Shaping Youth…

I’ve been waiting to profile Glenda Watson Hyatt, who inspires me beyond words for her dedication to blogging despite her use of only her left thumb. I met Glenda via Facebook, through one of my Age of Conversation co-authors, and became mesmerized by her clarity of vision to educate the public about cerebral palsy and end the ‘pity party’ with her fabulous … [Read more...]

Digital Media: Light Scoop Invention from Prof. Ken Kobre

Ever so slight departure from exclusively kids' media (this appeals to ALL snap happy photo buffs): Photojournalist/author and SFSU professor Ken Kobre, partner of my dear friend and fellow writer pal, Betsy Brill of Hand Up Congo, has hit the big time with his invention of the light scoop to take out the 'white flash' factor in digital camera … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth Through Philanthropic Fun

Update: 2013 Along these lines, check out StartEmpathy.org with clever little videos by "Empathy Explorer" Ed Stockham; a visual media depiction of our peer to peer "in her shoes" exercise in this 2007 post below. My media ‘avatar’ is more Murphy Brown than Mother Teresa, so I need to redirect those of you who envision me as idyllically sealing organic preserves, leading the … [Read more...]

Marketing Mindfulness to Kids: Giving vs. Receiving

There’s lots of seasonal blog fodder about “Taming the Gimmes” (nice pdf download of activities/tips from MediaWise, and ways to "Simplify the Holidays" from New Dream)...And even Shaping Youth's article, "Can Somethin' be done about all this consumption?" But let’s face it... Parents are "people pleasers" too, and when it comes to granting junior … [Read more...]