Today is Tolkien Reading Day

Tolkien Reading Day!

Would you read Tolkien with young kids? Why or why not?

Calvin Klein Concept 2013 commercial

Thanks to Zach Lewis for sharing this commercial.  If you'll recall (and I don't for some reason?) this aired during the Superbowl which is watched by many families with young children.

What is your reaction to this ad,  particularly in light of our discussion about men and distorted body image? I feel like the model in the ad probably even feels bad about himself when he seems the "airbrushed" and "photoshopped" version.

Social Media and Social Impacts

Thanks to Shira Weinstein for sending along this video. This video really plays up how integral social media has become in our lives. I thought it was interesting that a very high percentage of children under the age of 2 have a "digital shadow." Anyone else familiar with that term? What are the ethical implications of posting so much information about your children online?

78% of teens now have a cell phone...

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx#.UUDBpH4xjOI.twitter

What do you think? What are the pros and cons?

Celebrity endorsements of food products spur kids' unhealthy meeting...

Kids eat more of a food product when it's been endorsed by a celebrity.

http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/3600-celebrity-endorsements-unhealthy-child-diets.html

Board games vs electronic games

http://www.bitescience.com/Knowledgedatabase/Article/tabid/81/ArticleID/149/ArticleName/MobileEducationalGamesMuchMoreFunandJustasEffectiveasTraditionalBoardGames/ChannelID/12/ChannelName/Homepagerotator/Default.aspx?utm_source=Labnotes+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5731c5ef3a-Labnotes&utm_medium=email

The argument here is that mobile educational games can transmit just as much knowledge as traditional board games. Kids find them more engaging and interactive.

But, traditional board games are about more than learning. They are about doing something together, engaged with another person.

What do you think?

Comics books good for kids?

My son loves graphic novels.  Here are his two favorite series:

I was dubious at first. But, he read over 1,000 pages of the Bone series. Since then he's written three of his own graphic novels.

This article makes the argument that comic books can be good for kids. What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/common-sense-media/comic-books-for-kids_b_2832507.html