In 1994, when my younger daughter was six years old, I saw firsthand that the commercialized media was impacting the environments of and affecting the attention of children her age. One example was when, at a Power Rangers birthday party for a classmate, the favors were only given if a child could answer questions about … Continue reading
When I was a kid, my father would retell familiar stories every Thanksgiving. We loved them. As I got older, there was some rolling of eyes. Now, I regret that we didn’t record that precious voice, those old stories, for my children and grandchild. Psychologists say that one of the gifts we can give our … Continue reading
There’s a lot of information flowing about some of our conceptions/misconceptions about the “digital divide” and what young children actually need. Articles in the NY Times point out some of the things those most involved with developing digital technology and media have to say about their own children. So, which organizations are trustworthy? Which give … Continue reading
Amazon’s advertisement: “We are the People With the Smile on the Box,” brought media ecologist Neil Postman to mind. On page twenty of his book Technopoly, he says: New technologies alter the structure of our interests: the things we think about. They alter the character of our symbols: the things we think with. And they … Continue reading
In the US, psychologists like Steven Stosny point to a link between anger and parental feelings of inadequacy. While the situations he cites will ring true to many of us as parents: the end of a bad day is likely to set off reactions, etc., I would advocate for a nuts-and-bolts, practical review of … Continue reading
This is one of those posts that address pieces that have appeared in the media and I didn’t address at the time. July 2, 2011: Virginia Heffernan’s piece How Games Steer Us Through Life appeared in the Opinionator section of the New York Times. I’d like to bring a few things to light about this … Continue reading
When I read the October 9, 2011 New York Times Article “Middle School Girls Unlock a World of Their Own, in Miniature” my first reaction was – well, to squelch my first reaction – repulsion. Taking offense at school locker decorations (and companies creating demand for certain kinds of “locker furnishings”) might mean I’m a … Continue reading
One of my regrets is that I never met or worked with Neil Postman, who died in 2003. Today would have been his 80th birthday. To me, he kept his eye on the ball – what was important in the whole conversation about media, messages, and culture. When I read one of his most famous … Continue reading
Healthy Media Choices™ 
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