Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

Tips for gift-giving this holiday season.

One holiday, when my superhero-loving son was 4, a well-meaning family member gave him a DVD of Spider-Man 2. Perhaps they didn't realize that the movie was rated PG-13 -- or just didn't think it mattered. But nothing ruins the fun on Christmas morning like having to pry a new gift out of your kid's hands because you think it's inappropriate. I actually didn't go that far, but I did end up spending a lot of time and energy over the next few weeks telling my son, "You can watch it when you're older" (which was always followed by , "Whhhhyyyyyy?!").

Exchanging holiday gifts can be one of the highlights of the winter season, but ensuring that the process goes smoothly for everyone can take a little pre-planning on your part. Remember that not everyone is in tune with what your kids are interested in, what's appropriate for their age, or what your family rules are around media-related toys and treats. Here are some tips for helping out well-meaning gift-givers while also keeping

Gift ideas for kids of every age.

Looking for the perfect gift? You're sure to delight kids with DVDs, video games, apps, and books to get lost in. But how do you know what's best for each of the kids, tweens, and teens on your list? We've made it easy with our editors' top selections in movies, games, books, music, TV, apps, and websites. With these high-quality, age-appropriate choices, your kids will be entertained and enriched. And who knows? They just might learn something, too.
Click here to download and print the gift guide.

Movie Picks
DVDs make great media gifts for kids because they usually lead to a family movie night. So if you need some ideas this holiday season, look no further than our hand-picked list of the top DVD releases of 2011. There's a stocking stuffer here for everyone: true stories, action, animation (including The Lion King, which is out in a new 3D edition this fall).

Game Picks
What do kids want for the holidays? Cool games! Whether they're on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii,

Classic literature for kids.

Certain books stand the test of time -- true classics, they're enjoyed by each new generation of young readers. Some have been revamped with new covers or retooled for new platforms as eBooks or interactive book apps. Others have been made into movies or TV shows. From adventure tales to poignant dramas to funny bone-tickling comedies, this is an ultimate classic kids' library for every age.



The book cover for Cat in the Hat.
Cat in the Hat
Two children are moping indoors on a rainy day when in strolls the Cat in the Hat. Making one of the most unforgettable entrances in the history of children's literature, the lanky feline, stylishly dressed in a candy-striped stovepipe hat and oversized bow tie, creates a whirlwind of misbehavior that the kids are at first powerless to halt.

The book cover of Charlotte's Web.
Charlotte's Web
When Fern convinces her father not to kill the runt pig of the litter, she names him Wilbur and raises him with a bottle. Soon Wilbur goes to live in her Uncle Homer Zuckerman's barn down the road, where she visits him every

Teens and sex on TV - how does a parent handle this?

Brenda and Dylan, Joey and Pacey, Kurt and Blaine. Talking to teens about sex can be challenging enough, and when they see their favorite characters experience this intimacy for the first time, it can raise questions parents might not be ready to answer.

Whether kids actually watch or not, you can be sure they'll hear exactly what happened through social networks, friends in the classroom, or media coverage. As much as we might want to shield our kids from these sensitive topics for as long as possible, sometimes media pushes our hand. Here's how you can be prepared:

Acknowledge that sex and sexuality are part of our culture: Our kids are growing up in a world where teen sex, homosexuality, birth control, and teen pregnancy are all a part of our culture. No longer hidden, these topics pop up every day in movies and TV shows, as well as in schools and politics. Helping kids navigate these tricky waters is part of our job as parents. As loud as the media voices can

Did you read to your kids today? Did you park them in front of the television? Did you hand over your iPhone to keep them from whining at the grocery store? If so, you're not alone. A new study by Common Sense Media found that kids ages 0-8 spend an average of two hours a day with screen media like smartphones, video games, computers, television, and DVDs. And reading? They do that, too -- but not nearly as much as the other stuff.

Understanding how young kids use media and what it means for their health and well-being is the subject of Zero to Eight: Children's Media Use in America, the inaugural study by Common Sense Media's new Program for the Study of Children and Media. Directed by former Kaiser Family Foundation Vice President Vicky Rideout, Zero to Eight builds upon the Kaiser Family Foundation's landmark study, The Media Family: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers and Their Parents. That 2006 study found that kids ages 6 months to 6 years

If your kids like a little spookiness along with their tricks and treats, this list of scary (but not too scary!) Halloween movies is sure to hit just the right note.













Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie

After Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings) gobbles all the trick-or-treat candy (and immediately feels remorseful, on top of having one monstrous tummy ache), Lumpy (Kyle Stanger) and best friend Roo (Jimmy Bennett) embark on a brave quest to find the dreaded Gobloon.






It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It's almost Halloween, and the optimism is infectious. Linus (voiced by Christopher Shea) is crafting his letter to the Great Pumpkin (think Santa in a pumpkin patch), Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins) is thrilled about being invited to a party, and Lucy (Sally Dryer) has the perfect witchy costume.







A Very Brave Witch

Eight Halloween-themed stories bring popular and lesser-known books alive for children. The DVD includes a read-along option where kids can follow the text at the bottom of the

To this day, the only movie that has directly given me nightmares is Watership Down. I saw it when I was 7 or 8, and I'm sure that my parents had only the best of intentions. Yes, it was based on a serious book about societal conflict, but it was also an animated movie about rabbits ... some of whom happened to be absolutely terrifying, with their ragged appearance, red eyes, and evil intentions.

You can argue that Watership Down isn't really a little kids' movie -- and I would be the first to agree. But what about movies that are meant for kids and families and seem innocent enough at first glance? Some have scary scenes that seem to come out of nowhere -- or just happen to push the wrong buttons for certain kids. An informal survey of our readers, editors, and friends turned up these prime examples (warning: possible spoilers!) of blindsides they didn't necessarily see coming:

• The Wizard of Oz: Most people find the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys extremely creepy, and the

• The younger kids are when they see a scary movie or TV show, the longer-lasting the effects will be.

• Kids who watch scary material often have nightmares or anxiety.

• Kids ages 2 to 7 often can't distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Advice & Answers

Are they ready for brain-eating zombies?

Your 9-year-old is clamoring for a scary movie at the video store. Not just any scary movie, but one where people are cut up with a hacksaw. Is it OK for her to be scared silly by something so gory? Or will she have nightmares for a month? (Will you?) It's good to know what works for kids by age, so you can keep the frights within the fun zone.

What are scary movies?

Kids love scary films. The trick is finding movies with age-appropriate thrills. Something that terrifies kids at 5 (ghosts, evil characters, major peril) will be a non-issue at 15. Scariness comes from fear of the unknown, from surprise, and from fears about the loss of a loved one. Depending