Who Won the Debate? Kids’ Focus on Appearance Mirrors Our Country

Oct. 4, 2012 Ask any kindergartener to assess the debates last night and you’d probably hear simple reactions like: “He smiles more” or “He looks nicer” or “He looks like he didn’t study”…and frankly, they wouldn’t be too far off the national polls, from a stagecrafting and telegenic reverb perspective. Of course, if you focus on content, Romney would quickly lose the … [Read more...]

A Humorous Approach to Student Debt: Credit Cartoons

Two million kids voted in the Kids Pick the President mock elections and they nailed the outcome. (that's 4 out of 5 of the last Presidential elections, per Nickelodeon news) Now, Consumers Union is getting out the vote AGAIN, this time for a cartoon contest for credit card reform on a one month timeclock: Nov. 5-Dec. 5, 2008! Dangers of Debt Cartoon Contest uses a … [Read more...]

A Bear Votes.org: Flash Animation Eco-Messages Kids Love!

Yep. Free Range Studios (once again!) produced this cute little animated critter tale. (Pretty soon I'm going to sound like I'm shilling for them!) I've already covered their Uncaged" pig-tale for California's Yes on 2...That said, support for the environment is NOT a partisan issue, and just like the NCLI eco-literacy act, this represents a bipartisan, national coalition for … [Read more...]

Media Simulations Where Kids Cast Their Vote: Silly or Sage?

I vote sage. But you probably figured that. Sunday's Kids Pick the President Nickelodeon News special fell off my radar...even with Linda Ellerbee’s encouragement to get in the practice of voting, “because the next four years affects your future as much as any adult.” (ahem, maybe more, kidlets!) Truth is, I missed posting yesterday because kids were … [Read more...]

Stage-Crafting Politics: Media Literacy Tips for Kids

Aug. 22, 2016 Update Excellent post by Diana Graber at Cyberwise "What to Tell Kids When Adults Behave Badly" which sadly validates, via Southern Poverty Law Center, how we've unraveled 15 years of anti-bullying education in schools with the crass, raunchy bluster of our current political climate. See "The Trump Effect: The Impact of the Presidential Campaign on our … [Read more...]