April 14, 2016 Most know Superman and Supergirl are adopted, along with Peter Parker as Spiderman, Dick Grayson as Robin, and heck even Bamm Bamm Rubble from the Flintstones...but all too often in … [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 2 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...]
Graduation, Prom, Pressure, Stress? Keeping Up With The Joneses
June 1, 2012 by 2 Comments
June 1, 2012 Personally, I don’t think 8th grade and ‘cocktail dress’ should be uttered in the same sentence, but alas, there are entire websites ratcheting up the ‘kids getting older younger’ (KGOY) … [Read more...]
Rachel Simmons Chats About Mythbusting “Mean Girl” Media
August 31, 2011 by 7 Comments
Aug. 31 2011 Transitioning back to school is tough, especially when media and marketing blitzes the ‘what could be’ fear dynamics of peer acceptance based on what you wear, how you look, and who you … [Read more...]
Tips From the Trenches: Re-Imagining Youth Activism, SPARK Change!
October 18, 2010 by 6 Comments
October 18, 2010 Ancient Chinese proverb: “The best soldiers are not warlike.” Welcome to youth activism 21st century style. (pithy "model waiver" for American Apparel street theater protest at … [Read more...]
Raising Authentic Girls: Rachel Simmons’ “Be You! The Real Girl Tour”
August 31, 2010 by 7 Comments
August 31, 2010 “Be you!” Riiiiight. In a media environment that cynically exploits how to act, what to wear, why to buy and who to be, girls are repeatedly told to "be themselves." GirlsHealth … [Read more...]
This Valentine’s Day, Fall Madly In Love With Yourself
February 12, 2010 by 14 Comments
Feb. 14, 2020 An entire decade has passed since I wrote this and the 'self love' movement has blossomed, reminding all that social media showboating of relationships is not intimacy, and "love … [Read more...]
Author Rosalind Wiseman Brings Youth Editors Into YA KidLit Process
February 8, 2010 by 7 Comments
Feb. 8, 2010 I bought a copy of the new YA novel by renowned author Rosalind Wiseman of Queen Bees & Wannabes bestseller fame, called “Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials” ...As soon as it … [Read more...]
Hey Dads, Watch Your Language: Girls Are Not For Sale!
February 4, 2010 by 3 Comments
Feb. 4, 2010 Today Senator Scott Brown (R) was confirmed in the Senate... ...And I confirmed not all that much has changed from yesteryear...Especially when girls and women are reduced to chattle … [Read more...]
USC Media Student Bryn Kressin & Packaging Boyhood Book Winners!
January 1, 2010 by 2 Comments
Jan.1, 2010 Happy New Year! This joyous photo of youthful exuberance is Bryn Kressin, at left; one of our Shaping Youth winners of yesterday’s Packaging Boyhood book drawing where we pulled names … [Read more...]
Twitter “Women2Follow” Dedicated to Inspiring Girls!
November 6, 2009 by 31 Comments
Update March 8, 2019, Int'l Women's Day (Previous update: 2015 Mother's Day:) Found this flashback of a post written half a dozen years ago, when I was new to Twitter and seeking out like-minded … [Read more...]
Attention KMart Shoppers: Dating Violence on Aisle3
October 11, 2009 by 21 Comments
Oct. 11, 2009 This morning I was in a Sunday reflective sprawl, dogs piled atop the bed, newspaper everywhere, family away, foggy S.F. Bay keeping me nuzzled into my comforter, when I checked in on my … [Read more...]
Rachel Simmons Tonight at GunnHS, Palo Alto!
September 24, 2009 by 2 Comments
Sept. 24, 2009 S.F. Bay Area readers, reminder Rachel Simmons is speaking TONIGHT for free at Palo Alto's Gunn High School (details here) about her new book The Curse of the Good Girl (living proof of … [Read more...]
Curse of the Good Girl: Interview with Rachel Simmons
August 29, 2009 by 22 Comments
August 29, 2009 “Aw, mom, it sounds boring, why do I have to hear some ‘expert’ talk about stuff I already know…Are any of MY friends going to be there?” Those were my ten year old daughter’s words … [Read more...]
