Here's another thought provoking article on Sesame Street's move to HBO. I particularly like this quote from Michael Rich at CMCH: Rich expressed potential concern, not about Sesame Street itself, but the Sesame spin-off to come. “Will the HBO interest in tapping the children’s television market drive a different philosophy, in terms of program development for Sesame Workshop?” he said. “Are we going to start gettingSesame Street lite? Copying the things that are attractive about Sesame Street and putting it into more entertainment and commercially-motivated programming, as opposed to programming that is really aimed at teaching children?”

Click here for the article:

Do you know what your teens are doing online??

It's challenging to keep up with all the different ways that young people interact with each over social media.  Many parents may not even know what all the apps on their children's phones do.  Big mistake.

Recently, a 13 year old Connecticut girl met up with a 29 year old man she met while chatting on Kit. After sexually assaulting her, he planned to bring her back to Colorado with him.  Luckily she had been reported missing and was discovered before the rest of the plan could play out.

Here's the rest of the story:

Quiet you!

A recent content analysis has found that Disney movies are actually getting WORSE in terms of gender balance in the amount of time that characters speak.

Here's the article:

Talking with your kids about Star Wars

Have you seen the new Star Wars movie yet?  There has been much debate about what age kids should be to see the new movie (no spoilers here!).

Here's an interesting article with some thought provoking questions if you do chose to let your children watch.

5 conversations to have with your kids about Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Parents....it's up to YOU to know what your kids are doing online.  

If you don't know every what every single icon on your child's phone or tablet does, find out NOW before they get themselves into trouble. 

Read this article from a young high-school teacher to learn more.

Researchers have wondered for years about the relationship between media use and the rising incidence of ADHD in children.

Here is a summary of Sanne Nikkelen’s doctoral research from the Center for Research on Children, Adolescents and the Media, University of Amsterdam. 

How does media use relate to sexual behavior in young people?

Here's an interesting article from the Center for Media and Child Health.

http://cmch.tv/parents/sexual-behavior/

East Los High brings "Edu-tainment" to a new level.

Check out this NPR article on "East Los High" an original show that streams on Hulu. It represents what they call in the article: "a science experiment, conducted by a team of social scientists and health workers in cahoots with screenwriters and studio executives."  

To read the article, click here.

Where's Rey? The Force Awakens and the gender backlash.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I was thrilled with the latest installment, The Force Awakens, particularly with the more diverse cast.  I was so thrilled, in fact, that I couldn't wait to buy some merchandise. I was soon shocked to find not a single Rey toy or action figure of any sort in any store, even the Disney store. Were they afraid of spoiling the plot or was this some sort of sexist logic where boys wouldn't want to play with a girl action figure (because, you know, girls don't like Star Wars right?).

Here are two articles on that very topic:

Yes, J.J. Abrams, girls can like Star Wars

And, Where's Rey?