August 16, 2007

Friday, the jump-for-joy picture of high school life continues with Disney's eagerly awaited premiere of High School Musical 2. But another popular series, The N's Degrassi: The Next Generation, offers a different perspective.

Far grittier than the candy-colored world of High School Musical, Degrassi examines issues that are much closer to the situations that most real teens face these days. Drug use, sex, social problems, and more are all portrayed realistically -- not in the over-the-top, sensational way that shows like The O.C. and the forthcoming TV series of the Gossip Girl books would treat them. On Degrassi, actions have consequences and alternatives to iffy behavior are debated and shown. Obviously, it's edgy -- it does depict teen sex and substance abuse -- but it tries to be responsible in presenting the dilemmas that really face high school students. If you're intrigued but cautious, preview some episodes or watch with your kids.

Families who do watch will find plenty to talk about. What sets Degrassi apart from other teen shows. Does the fact that the teens look like regular teens make it more realistic? How does Degrassi life compare to life in other teen-oriented TV shows and movies? Finally, because Degrassi shows the consequences of drinking, sex, and social dynamics, it offers a safe way to get into difficult discussions about teens' daily lives and the pressures they face.

Yes, we love the High School Musical world, but we also know that our kids probably aren't going to go to school and dance on the tables. For the times when depression or drug use leaves real-life kids without a song in their hearts, Degrassi can offer a way to sort through thorny problems in a realistic but responsible way.

For more tips on parenting and the media, visit http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/ .

June 21, 2007

Two new games coming from Rockstar video -- Grand Theft Auto IV (rating pending) and Manhunt 2 (rated AO, "Adults Only," for "prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity") -- are SO not for teenagers, in any way. They pair gore and sex graphically, violently, and gruesomely. Nintendo and Sony have refused to have the games available for their systems due to corporate policies against AO ratings. And Manhunt 2's the gratuitous violence has also led to it being banned in both Britain and Ireland -- the first such action in 10 years.

We urge parents to both heed the ESRB ratings and drill more deeply into the content of these games by reading our reviews when the games are released later this summer. These are not casual ratings. And the ESRB is to be commended for its AO rating (one of only 23 given so far, out of 13,460 titles). Now it just needs to stick to its guns as the appeal process ensues -- and an appeal is inevitable, given that an AO rating virtually guarantees that chain stores like Wal-Mart won't carry the game.

In a letter to ESRB President Pat Vance, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood urged her to stand by the AO rating, citing a reviewer for IGN.com who called Manhunt 2 the goriest, most violent game he's ever seen. Players can saw their enemies' skulls in half with a saw, mutilate them with an axe, castrate them with a pair of pliers, or kill them by bashing their head "into an electrical box, where raw power surges through it and eventually blows his head apart.".

In the meantime, GTA IV has a new trailer coming out June 28. Your kids will be able to see it on game sites and call it up with a simple Google search. Although the game isn't officially rated yet, we're sure it won't stray from earlier M-rated installments. (And, remember, a study found that 42% of purchasers were able to buy M-rated games without an adult present.) Anything that pairs graphic sex and violence shouldn't be played by kids who don't yet have the perspective and experience to understand what they're doing, as well as the social and developmental implications of those actions. It only gets worse when physical movement is involved in hitting, kicking, throwing, or shooting -- as is the case with many new interactive consoles.

Parents: Like the age-bracket creep in movies -- i.e. kids now see content in PG-13 movies that's the equivalent of stuff that would have earned an R rating 15 years ago -- games are also on the move. And this time, it's literal. New console play turns the thumb jockey into a brutal killer which commits the player more deeply emotionally and morally. This isn't a gamer; it's your child. Don't let him or her play these titles.

Go to Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood for more information about what you can do.

July 3, 2007

Books by J.K. Rowling:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
Quiddich Through the Ages

Related Book:
MuggleNet.com's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7

The Movies:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Video Games:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: PC Version
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter: Quiddich World Cup
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Web Sites:
JKRowling.com
Mugglenet.com
The-Leaky-Cauldron.net
The Harry Potter Lexicon

Related Articles
Hogwarts: A Mini Glossary
Help Kids Avoid Spoilers
Is Harry Potter All Hype?
They've Finished Harry Potter, Now What?

July 9, 2007

Are you ready to go back to Hogwarts for the fifth movie and seventh book? Get reacquainted with your favorite students, teachers, clubs, ghosts, and magical creatures with our mini-glossary.

School Houses
Gryffindor: Harry's house; named for Godric Gryffindor, a Hogwarts founder; Professor McGonagall is head of house; Gryffindors are known for being brave; colors are scarlet and gold; mascot is a lion.
Hufflepuff: Named for Helga Hufflepuff, a Hogwarts founder; Professor Sprout is head of house; Hufflepuffs are known for being loyal and hard-working; colors are yellow and black; mascot is a badger
Ravenclaw: Named for Rowena Ravenclaw, a Hogwarts founder; Professor Flitwick is head of house; Ravenclaws are known for their intelligence; colors are blue and bronze; mascot is an eagle
Slytherin: Voldemort and Malfoy's house; named for Salazar Slytherin, a Hogwarts founder; Professor Snape is head of house; Slytherins are known for their cunning; colors are green and silver; mascot is a serpent

Students
Major Characters
Harry Potter: Our hero
Ron Weasley: Harry's best friend; Gryffindor house prefect
Hermione Granger: Harry's other best friend; Gryffindor house prefect
Draco Malfoy: Harry's enemy; Slytherin house prefect
Fred Weasley: One of Ron's older brothers, a twin, and a DA member; co-founder of Weasleys' Wizard Weezes joke shop
George Weasley: One of Ron's older brothers, a twin, and a DA member; co-founder of Weasleys' Wizard Weezes joke shop
Ginny Weasley: Ron's little sister and DA member
Neville Longbottom: Harry's friend, fellow Gryffindor, and DA member

Members of Dumbledore's Army
Harry Potter: Leader and teacher
Elite Members: Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom
Meeting Regulars: Hannah Abbott, Lavender Brown, Katie Bell, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Cho Chang, Michael Corner, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, Marietta Edgecombe (Cho's "sneaky" friend), Justin Finch-Fletchley, Seamus Finnigan, Anthony Goldstein, Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, Ernie Macmillan, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Zacharias Smith (most annoying member), Alicia Spinnet, Fred Weasley, George Weasley

Hogwarts Classes
Apparition: Teaches students about to turn 17 how to "beam" themselves from one location to another. Taught by a Ministry of Magic official.
Ancient Runes Arithmancy: Magical uses of numbers
Astronomy
Care of Magical Creatures
Charms
Defense Against the Dark Arts: How to defend against evil creatures and magic
Divination: Lessons in fortunetelling using many methods (tea leaves, crystal balls, etc.)
Herbology: Study of magical uses of plants
History of Magic
Muggle Studies
Occlumency: Defense against mind reading
Potions
Transfiguration: Turning one object into another

For the full Hogwarts Glossary, please visit http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/commonsense_view/index.php?id=247 .

July 19, 2007

At a recent media briefing during the E3 Media & Business Summit, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime delighted in announcing that the Wii "has proved itself the video game system for everyone." If that's so, then why are they introducing a gun-like accessory for shooting games?

In the middle of previewing several new family-friendly offerings (Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart Wii among others) and a promising new active-play title called Wii Fit, Nintendo introduced the Wii Zapper (name not final), a controller that looks and plays like a gun.

The Wii Zapper will come packaged with games like the upcoming bloody first-person shooter Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and will also be available for purchase as a stand-alone accessory. Users will now have the all-too physical experience of actually pulling a "trigger" (there is also a joy stick element to the Zapper) when they shoot someone. This is not a great development for kids.

While we understand Nintendo's thinking -- they want to bring hard-core gamers to the Wii --we have to wonder what a family-friendly platform is doing adding a tool so intimately violent and imitative of real-life violence. After reaching out successfully to non-traditional gamers -- young women, moms, dads, and grandparents -- they risk sullying a family-friendly game system with a gun.

Best Animal Shows

Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures

Travel the world with a famous animal expert.

The Jeff Corwin Experience

Travel the world with a fun-loving biologist.

Nature

Stunning glimpses of our natural world.

The Dog Whisperer

Doggie therapy that's fun for the whole family.

Croc Files

Wacky Australian teaches kids about wild animals.

The Crocodile Hunter

Crikey! Zany Aussie oozes wildlife learning fun.

Jeff Corwin Unleashed

Lions and tigers and cobras, oh my! Kids OK.

Amazing Animal Videos

Animals' tales are fun for the whole family.

But wait, there's more!  For more top pick animal shows, please visit:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-lists/Animal-Shows.html#RLists .

Rugrats in Paris

Eighty minutes of visual surprises and clever comedy.

The Sandlot

Field of Dreams for tweens.

Aquamarine

Charming tale of two girls and a mermaid learning about love.

My Girl

Coming of age tale deals with death. Best for older kids.

Grease

Musical phenomenon is great fun, but racy.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Sensitive portrayal of four girls' friendships.

National Lampoon's Vacation

Classic 80s family comedy.

For more Common Sense Media Top Picks, visit:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/recommended_list.php .

March 22, 2007

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton are going to be counseling overweight campers on the fifth season of The Simple Life. According to an Us.com spokesperson: "The camp has five different themes. And yes, one week is a weight loss/fitness camp. It's not a fat camp."

When are the media going to take weight issues seriously? Here are two young women with body image issues (Hilton has admitted to bulimia, and Richie has had a public struggle with her weight) matched up with a group of children struggling with being overweight. And while neither extreme is healthy, there's no question whose issues will appear more glamorous. Our society worships the super skinny. But what about kids who are either overweight or obese? They're the object of scorn and ridicule -- not sympathy. One third of children in this country are either obese or at risk for becoming so. And what they watch plays a real role in their condition. Take a look at this quick video for more on childhood obesity. Also watch our practical tips to help offset the media's pressures to be thin.

For the original article, please visit:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/commonsense_view/index.php?id=214 .

April 5, 2007

Unless you've been on a desert island for the past decade, you've probably heard about the publishing phenomenon that is the Harry Potter series. Harry mania among both kids and adults has swept around the globe since the first book burst on the scene in 1997. The books -- and their subsequent movie versions -- have made pots of money and become cultural touchstones.

Debates have raged all over the Internet and in thousands of related articles and books about the Potter books' metaphorical meanings, the finer plot points, and how the saga will end. The July 21 release of the series finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- coming just a week after the release of the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -- will be the media event of the year.

So what’s a parent to think about all this? Has it been overblown? Is it all just clever merchandising targeting vulnerable children? Is there real value to this phenomenon? And is it really worth all this massive hype?

The answer, in a word, is yes. It is worth all this hype, and then some. Never have the needs of kids, parents, teachers, and commerce coincided so perfectly. Unless you object to stories involving magic, it's hard to see a downside. Here are just a few of the beneficial effects of this stupendously successful series:

• It wouldn't be unreasonable to say that the Harry Potter series has single-handedly raised the reading level of an entire generation of kids.
• Unlike so many other children’s fads (think Goosebumps more than a decade ago), the Potter series has accomplished the above with high-level, complex, densely intellectual, wildly exciting literature with strong values.
• In libraries and bookstores around the world, kids who've never shown any interest in books are lining up for the Harry Potter series, then begging for more books just like them.
• This series proves that you don’t have to give kids trash to get them to read, and that it's not just bookworms who love great stories.
• It's spurred a resurgence of the fantasy genre. What's so great about that? One of the biggest problems in finding books for kids in grades 4-8 is that their reading level is often far beyond their emotional level. Fantasy is one of the few genres -- perhaps the only one -- in which advanced young readers can reliably encounter rich, complex literature that doesn't bring in the kinds of issues (sex, drugs, alcohol, adult emotions) that they aren't developmentally ready to deal with yet.

For the full article, please visit:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/commonsense_view/index.php?id=218 .

Juxtaposed against the recent uproar conservative provacateur Ann Coulter caused recently by calling John Edwards the same word, you can see how far we've come in terms of our sensitivity to the reality that words can hurt.

We've also come amazingly far when it comes to the visibility of gay and lesbian teens. Gay/straight alliances have proliferated in high schools across the country and popular teen dramas like The O.C. and South of Nowhere (and others) have had gay or lesbian storylines. But as visibility has increased so has harrassment and bullying of gay, lesbian, bi and transgender youth at school.

At a recent bookstore event in Austin, two staff from Out Youth attended -- and I was so glad they did. In chapter two of Totally Wired, I talk about the risks involved in coming out online.

The Internet has provided a lifeline to gay/lesbian/bi/transgender/questioning teens whose parents may not be understanding. Many of these teens are depressed and can suffer in silence, especially if they live outside of large cities. Being able to connect with other youth going through a similar experience online can often be the only thing that keeps them going.

At the same time, the anonymity and distance the Internet can offer can create a false sense of security when teens decide to open up about their sexuality on a blog or MySpace. Even if they do it under an assumed name, they can still be discovered and "outed" in very cruel ways by their peers.

What I advised the Out Youth staffers and anyone working with young people who may be struggling with these issues is to warn teens of the dangers of revealing this type of information online before they have come out or discussed these issues with parents and friends. If they are not ready to come out to the offline world, they probably shouldn't come out online on a blog or profile that can be traced back to them.

There are many organizations like Out Youth and Lyric where young people can reach out confidentially for support as well as places online where young people could chat anonymously -- this is different from speaking openly about these issues on a blog or profile.

This article originally appeared on the Totally Wired blog.

Butterfly Flier

Just an empty toilet paper tube, some crayons, and a loop of yarn make this clever butterfly really “fly!”
view web site

Bunny Mask

Make the cutest rabbit mask ever! It takes two paper plates, some pink construction paper, a stapler, crayons and a piece of elastic. All that's missing is the carrot!
view web site

World of Peter Rabbit

Hop into a delightful meadow of rabbit-based games, coloring games, and other activities. Click on “Fun!”
view web site

The Frog Game

Move the frog to one of three lily pads and eat the letters of the alphabet as they fly by. The catch is you have to eat them in alphabetical order!
view web site

Lamb Collage

Print this loveable lamb, and then give her a fuzzy coat of cotton balls.
view web site

Egg-catching Game

How many eggs can the bunny catch? None, without your help!
view web site

Fantasia: Fantasia Bariino

American Idol delivers sass on her second album.

The Return: Ruben Studdard

American Idol goes for sexier "teddy bear" image.

Daughtry: Chris Daughtry

Idol rocker is derivative yet powerful.

The Real Thing: Bo Bice

American Idol fans will enjoy. For tweens and up.

Some Hearts: Carrie Underwood

Classic-sounding country-pop for tweens and up.

Taylor Hicks: Taylor Hicks

American Idol with experience and soul.

Blue Skies: Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo's big voice is the star here.

Katharine McPhee

Idol alum covers teens' emotional ride.

Soulful: Ruben Studdard

Here's a truly gifted singer who deserves far more than he got from his producers.

Small Town Girl: Kelly Pickler

Idol gets down with a good-natured country chirp.

A Thousand Different Ways: Clay Aiken

Sentimental ballads made for hopeful romantics.

Kingdom Come: Jay-Z

Inconsistent "comeback" full of big-name cameos.

B'Day: Beyonce

Beyonce keeps getting better. Teens OK.

Back to Basics (Double CD): Christina Aguilera

Xtina flirts with jazz, blues, and soul; fans 14+.

Alright, Still: Lily Allen

This Brit's sharp tongue brings honesty and fun.

The Sweet Escape: Gwen Stefani

Clever lyrics about the twists and turns of love.

Broken Boy Soldiers: The Raconteurs

Jack White's side project rocks the house.

FutureSex/LoveSounds: JT

Danceable songs more steamy/sexy than super.

Game Theory: The Roots

Hip-hop band makes powerful music with a message.

These Streets: Paulo Nutini

Scottish soulful singer is wise beyond his years.

At War with the Mystics

Alt rock group talks trash about state of affairs.

Wincing the Night Away: The Shins

Poetic indie rock that's smart and unobtrusive.

Katharine McPhee: Katharine McPhee

Idol alum covers teens' emotional ride.

Dreamgirls Soundtrack

Terrific singing captures old-school Motown.

Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing: Keith Urban

Keith can't stop loving you!

Elebits

Little beings electrify gameplay on the Wii!

Excite Truck

Outrageous, high-flying auto racing for all ages.

Rayman Raving Rabbids

Exciting minigame mayhem, but too short.

Madden NFL 07 (Wii version)

A great new control scheme puts you in the game!

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Party hardy with Wario's 200 microgames on a Wii.

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii Version)

Glitches make this Zelda just short of perfect.

Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Medical simulation game is bloody but educational.

A Cinderella Story

Funny and sweet update of the Cinderella story.

The Cheetah Girls

Singers celebrate diversity and independence.

High School Musical

A modern-day Grease for tweens.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Sensitive portrayal of four girls' friendships.

Never Been Kissed

A genuinely sweet and romantic story for teens.

Grease

Fun, fun, fun. A bit racy in places so you might see it first.

Bring it On

Smart and sassy movie marred by unnecessary raunchy humor -- but still fun.

Pretty in Pink

A girl from the "wrong side of the tracks" goes for a rich kid -- an 80s classic.

Dirty Dancing

A hip-shaking guilty pleasure.

Mean Girls

Some fresh material, some teen comedy cliches.

Real Women Have Curves

An earnest and heartwarming teen drama.

The Secret of Roan Inish

A quiet film, filled with lovely images.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Tweens and teens will be drawn in by this imaginative story.

Millions

A rare family film that's not just for kids.

Waking Ned Devine

Some funny parts, although kids may not be interested.

In America

Moving, somewhat graphic movie for mature young teens.

Bloody Sunday

Powerful retelling of 1972 demonstrations.

Gangs of New York

Brilliant but devastating. High schoolers and up.

February 21, 2007

Q: Can my kid read The Higher Power of Lucky? I heard some librarians are banning it.

A: This year's Newbery Award winner is recommended for 9-11 year olds. It tells the story of a plucky girl who must triumph over her circumstances and who's fascinated by 12-step meetings and finding a higher power. On the first page of the book, her dog is bitten on the testicles by a rattlesnake, and the author uses the word "scrotum" in the text. It's that word (which gets repeated because the heroine, Lucky, finds it fascinating), that's caused the objections.

The incident in the book was inspired by a true story, and the author wasn't being inflammatory when she used the word, merely descriptive. Some families may not be comfortable with anatomical references, and others may have no problem with it. If your child does read the book and asks questions, we recommend simply stating that the word "scrotum" refers to a part of the male anatomy. At the age of 9, many kids won't ask more questions once they're satisfied with a simple, clear explanation.
Check out our complete list of this year's book honorees here.

March 1, 2007

Sort of. Although the site does have people monitoring contributions, each entry is only as good as the people who contributed to it. And since anyone can write anything, that means that the information isn't necessarily reliable. Recently, one of the monitors -- a man who supposedly had a Ph.D. in religion and was only known as Essjay -- was revealed to be a 24-year-old with no teaching or educational credentials.

Middlebury College recently banned its use as a proper source; all users should view each entry critically and double check with credible sources. Take a look at our review of the site for more plusses and minuses.

The media is buzzing about the new season of The Simple Life in which scary skinny rich girls Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton take on the role of camp counselor, including counseling kids at a fat camp (or as E! prefers to call it, a weight loss/ fitness camp).

From the Boston Herald: "So what on earth will Richie, who has admitted to having weight issues, promote to the roly-poly kids? Bulimia? Anorexia? And the only fitness Hilton seems to get is walking the red carpet."

From Us Magazine: "You have to hand it to E! There's a subtle genius to hiring a celebrity who's admitted to suffering from an eating problem to counsel people at a weight loss camp -- one who was hospitalized two weeks ago because she forgot that she's supposed to drink things.

But seriously, isn't Paris Hilton the spokestard for a burger chain? This plan is full of conflicts of interest."

From The New York Post: "Sources say Richie and her equally slender partner-in-crime, Paris Hilton, will be strutting around in short shorts."

What's our take? Tune out The Simple Life and tune into tips for helping our daughters create healthy body images. Here is some advice from our new guide, Keeping Kids Healthy in a 24/7 Media World:

• Watch media with your kids. Point out when someone is selling them something that isn’t good for their bodies. Point out how much effort (stylists, trainers, image editing, etc.) goes into celebrities' looks -- it's their job, after all. Point out product tie-ins, advergames, and placements and how they're embedded in media.
• Explain the basics of eating disorders. See if you can find examples of behaviors in media that could lead to any of these diseases.
• Be careful when discussing weight with your kids.They can easily feel criticized, since it's natural for them to be hyper-sensitive about their bodies. Keep the emphasis on health rather than appearance.
• Keep information age appropriate. With elementary school kids, explain how diet and exercise keep them healthy. Middle schoolers can absorb information about obesity, eating disorders, alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes. Teens should understand that stars look the way they do thanks to Photoshop, makeup artists, strict diet, and tons of exercise.
• Limit or avoid exposing young kids to commercials. Kids 2-7 often can’t distinguish between ad messages and reality.
• Don't let young girls immerse themselves in fashion magazines -- without giving them some healthy perspective. Studies show that teens who read lots of diet articles are more likely five years later to practice extreme weight-loss measures such as smoking cigarettes, abusing laxatives, and fasting.

OK, so probably almost every parent of a girl under 5 is getting pretty tired of the whole Disney princess phenomenon. How many tiaras and sparkly wands does one child need?

But when Disney announced last week that it created its first black princess -- the star of the New Orleans-based animated musical The Frog Princess, we said: Phew. It's about time.

Black girls need more positive images of girls that look like them. Here's some scary proof: When a 17-year-old filmmaker named Kiri Davis made her award-winning film A Girl Like Me, she recreated the famous doll test from the 50s, asking black children to look at both white and black dolls. Even today, nearly three fourths of the children picked the white doll over the black doll.

So, we congratulate Disney for creating Maddie, The Frog Princess -- even if the motivation has something to do with pushing new products, not just pure altruism. Hopefully, Maddie can do math, too. We'll see when the movie comes out in 2008.