A Virtual World to Be Wild About: Elf Island Tweens Help WildAid

Feb. 18, 2009 As reticent as I am to bring MORE media into kids’ lives, when I’d rather they be outside in non-electronic natural environs, I’m firmly convinced that it’s all about balance, content, values, messaging, and leveraging the power of media in positive ways. No secret that I’ve had my eye on Elf Island (fact sheet here) ever since Izzy Neis gave a heads up on this … [Read more...]

Turning Up the Heat: Green Teen Videos On Climate Change

Feb. 16, 2009 There seems to be a slew of  green teen contests kicking off this week, along with National Engineers Foundation Week, and 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering' day on Feb. 19. I love the way new media is making STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs more fun and participatory so kids can come together halfway around the world in the spirit … [Read more...]

A Challenge: Love Yourself. Share Your Story. Find Beauty.

Happy Valentine’s Day dear readers! Like my 'Luvicon?' (You can make one too!) Little did I know when I wrote about ‘thinspiration’ that there was an actual term for sidewinders and commentary that dings so deeply in the developmental recesses of kids’ minds. "Bodysnarking." Dare to share the body image stories that stuck in your childhood mental relay and lend a hand with a … [Read more...]

How Now, Green Cow?! sMOOch! Valentine’s Day e-Cause Cards

Feb. 13, 2009 Other than the fact that this cute lil’ cow looks in dire need of Prozac, this “cause-marketing” green Valentine’s Day idea is uplifting, customizable, and fun/fast delivery for all you guys and gals that didn’t get MOOOOOOOving in time to send greetings to loved ones before Cupid’s arrow left the quiver! The cool lil' carbon offset e-card from TerraPass costs … [Read more...]

Counter-Marketing Thinspiration: Killer Media Cues

Feb. 12, 2009 Media literacy rule number one: Watch for extreme headlines that command attention. I could've gone with 'Fatal Attraction' or any other number of sensationalist eyecatchers. As you can surmise, this is about the role of media feeding the pop culture zeitgeist like the Venus Flytrap plant in the Little Shop of Horrors, singing, "Feeeeeeed me." Valentine’s Day … [Read more...]