March 3, 2015 It’s World Wildlife Day... And opportunity awaits.Can we bring kids closer to nature online in order to get them out IN nature offline?Is empathy and stewardship obtainable through a … [Read more...]
Can Digital Kids Click With Nature, Wildlife?
October 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Aug. 25, 2016 Update Celebrate 100 Years of our National Parks with FREE admission today! In honor of this centennial milestone, a quick roundup of children's media designed specifically to get … [Read more...]
Will Kids Reconnect With Nature…At School?
August 14, 2013 by 5 Comments
Aug. 7, 2013 “Wait, didn’t we already DO this?”That’s the refrain I hear constantly among parents, whether it’s supporting environmental education legislation, or getting junk food out of vending … [Read more...]
Media Netiquette + Some Great Nature Apps In A Totally Wired World
March 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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 … [Read more...]
Trekaroo iPhone App: Kid-Friendly Travel Spots On The Fly
June 29, 2012 by 3 Comments
June 29, 2012 Anyone with small children knows parents need to pack a lot of patience for pit-stops and play time when it comes to logistics of summer travel, but now “there’s an app for that” to make … [Read more...]
My Mommy Taught Me To Surf: Meaningful Media for Mother’s Day
May 8, 2012 by 8 Comments
May 8, 2012 Happy Children's Book Week all! (May 7-13 2012) No secret I prefer media that has a social enterprise tie-in or a deeper message than the vapid values of commercialism circulating in … [Read more...]
Tilt World’s Nicole Lazzaro (Interview) Putting Emotion Into Game Play
April 30, 2012 by 6 Comments
Sept. 2, 2016 Update Adding a few recent finds along these lines of 'putting emotion into game play' like "Shelter, Paws" and other empathy based critter care games to edge towards seeding compassion … [Read more...]
Oscar Is Worthy! See Chimpanzee, Support Jane Goodall’s Work
April 18, 2012 by 5 Comments
April 18, 2012 No secret I’m a fan of all creatures great and small, wildly applauding every effort to impart nature’s magnificence to 21st century kids. Whether it’s the brand new launch of … [Read more...]
Lessons From Youth On Screen Free Week: Perception Vs. Reality
April 20, 2011 by 2 Comments
Apr. 20, 2011 Screen Free Week April 18-24 If I’m "Captain of this Ship," then there’s been a mutiny and I’m walking the plank. Some of the youth crew have called me out and dressed me down for what … [Read more...]
Spring Break Sanctuary: Ideas To Celebrate Screen Free Week
March 23, 2011 by 12 Comments
May 6, 2015 This year, "Screen Free Week" has been hardest on me for work related immediacy, as Twitter and 'livestreaming' events have made me feel like Gumby with people pinging and pushing their … [Read more...]
Power of Play Pt3: Active Video Games In Schools?
February 15, 2011 by 8 Comments
Feb. 15, 2011 “What if…?” Those two words have ignited innovation for centuries, so what better way to harness the Power Of Play than pairing health science thought leaders and industry entrepreneurs … [Read more...]
Media Slave? ReShaping Habits For More Summer Fun
July 27, 2010 by 9 Comments
July 27, 2010 “Why aren’t you posting on Shaping Youth every day like you used to, Amy? Are you on summer hiatus like the networks?” Um, I guess that’s what you’d call it. Frankly, it never … [Read more...]
Meaningful Media for Father’s Day: My Daddy Taught Me To…
June 13, 2010 by 9 Comments
June 13, 2010 One week from Father’s Day and media is awash with ubiquitous tie and techie ads for Father’s Day finds. Meh. Better ideas? Experiential fun for memories in the making... How would … [Read more...]
Earth Day: 40 Eco Links Worth Recycling to Friends
April 22, 2010 by 12 Comments
April 20, 2020 Update: (How often does that happen 20-2020?) 4-21-2020: Amidst the "Contagion" concerns of COVID-19, take a moment to imagine what POSITIVE CONTAGION taking action on climate … [Read more...]
Green Toys and Fun Finds With Big Kid Appeal: Ten Under $10 Pt. 2
December 22, 2009 by 4 Comments
Dec. 23, 2009 Shhhhhh...I'm snagging one of the new "Smencils" that just arrived today 'cause I figure 'less is more' and 'variety is the spice' when it comes to stocking stuffers...She doesn't need a … [Read more...]
FCC Chair Receives Our Coalition Letter on Product Placement
September 24, 2009 by 2 Comments
Sept. 24, 2009 Shaping Youth is part of this coalition (15pp pdf here) joining over 50 signatories on "FCC Docket 08-90." As a nonpartisan, non-censorship, nonprofit recall I support two key … [Read more...]
Do Those ‘Take Action’ Causes and AutoFill Forms Really Work?
August 25, 2009 by 5 Comments
August 25, 2009 Ever wonder if those urgent ‘act now' e-mails from your favorite causes work? Last week I received an NCLI eco-literacy action alert, as Shaping Youth is a member of the consortium … [Read more...]
Nature Rocks: Reconnecting Families With Nature
June 5, 2009 by 15 Comments
June 5, 2009 It's World Environment Day...where you can Twitter for Trees, and 'green your routine' and engage in all kinds of green media pursuits and still miss the meaning of getting kids … [Read more...]
Get Out of Your Own Life! Environmental Influence on Kids
March 30, 2009 by 9 Comments
Mar. 30, 2009 Mea culpa for the unannounced vanishing act, but I’ve been out of town interviewing teens in a different ‘pocket’ of the greater Bay Area, exploring how environmental influences (peers, … [Read more...]
First Day of Spring! See It Through A Child’s Eyes
March 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
Mar. 20, 2009 It’s overcast here on the water today, which shifts my annual spring ritual into a different lens of wonder. Whenever things get too wacky in my world (and lately, that’s been hourly) … [Read more...]
