Vamp Tramp Toys: A Monster Problem

Mar. 16, 2011 Show and tell time on this  Wordless Wednesday. Not going to give them the pleasure of naming names here to add to their search engine buzz, since  research has shown that one of mega-marketer's favorite ploys is now baiting parents for "outrage" ...(yes, there are even strategic microsites like "your mom hates this" to serve as catnip for older kids, sigh, … [Read more...]

Quaking Kids and Headline News: How Much is Too Much?

Oct. 29, 2012 Update: Nice reminder on talking tips to quell anxiety about Hurricane Sandy, from the Child Mind Institute.  Mar. 14, 2011 When I was a child living in Japan through the 8.0 Tokachi-oki earthquake, I remember coming out of hiding to find my pet goldfish had vanished (found across the room under my dollbed weeks later, having sloshed out of the bowl from the … [Read more...]

Digital Detox: Checkin Out For A Shaping Youth Founder’s Retreat

Mar. 6, 2014 This year the sundown to sundown National Day of Unplugging is Friday March 7, 2014 through Sat. Mar. 8. Join me? For more digital detox beyond media management and awareness raising, (which is a regular ritual for me) please check out the upcoming Screen Free Week challenge May 5-11, 2014. Definitely "not for beginners"...but always very worthwhile.More posts on … [Read more...]

Youth Ask Award Shows: Who’s Calling The Shots?

Feb. 26, 2011 Last Sunday in the New York Times, a full page paid “open letter” from 20-year music industry veteran Steve Stoute lambasted the gaming of the Grammys with full tilt incredulity for the “What was that all about?" outcome we witnessed last week, with almost 'canned' performances as the teens with me stated wryly, "You can tell who's gonna win by who's performing on … [Read more...]

Shaping Youth is Expanding: Sneak Peek and Needs Please?

Feb 22, 2011 Breaking into The Power of Play series for a sneak peek into what's occupying so much of my time...expanding Shaping Youth's web presence. No secret that I’m a media maven that's media phobic on the soundbite circuit of talk shows...Also that as a writer/producer I'm more comfy behind a cam than in front of it. So for those who lobbied hard to "go with video, … [Read more...]