June 11, 2013 Update: Brave Girls Want.com is now live! Use the hashtag #BraveGirlsWant on Twitter and “like” the new Facebook site to add your voice and views on the impact of media and marketing messaging so we can all help corporations envision (and create!) a healthier worldview for girls. From the new Brave Girls Want.com site positioning statement: “We are here to ask … [Read more...]
Brave Girls Want: Change. That’s Not Merida, Disney. Be Brave and Fix It
Beyond Merida: Toy Industry Complicity in Marketing Vapid Values
Update May 11, 2015 Could the caped crusader cavalry be coming in the form of sheroes and indie offerings like IAmElemental and Roominate and Lottie Dolls? Sure hope so! If you need a bit of joy juice, here's a glimpse of some positive progress with brands avenging gender stereotypes in the toy aisle. And here's an overview of 'where we are now'...Two short videos I created for … [Read more...]
Talking to Kids About Headline News; The Positive Social Media Lens
Talking with Kids About Ukraine: Resource Roundup March 10, 2022 Update-Russia's Invasion of Ukraine As parents and educators grapple with urgent headlines, grisly visuals and untenable war crimes popping up on social media, one has to be especially mindful of this same level of saturation landing on children with equal horror. I've 'added' to this initial post far too … [Read more...]
Media Netiquette + Some Great Nature Apps In A Totally Wired World
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 to Help You Get the Most Out of Nature" to Shaping Youth's links and positive picks below. Have more favorites? Lob them into the comments section, please! Nov. 8, 2014 Update How … [Read more...]
Ground Hog Day: Super Bowl Sexism Keeps Popping Up
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 decibel levels, even among those not remotely interested in 'the big game.' KJ Dell'Antonia, lead author of the NYTimes parenting blog the Motherlode does some hilarious pop culture … [Read more...]