Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

Is technology a fast track to learning or a roadblock?

Parents are under so much pressure to raise kids who do well in school. And children's programming, for better or worse, takes advantage of this need to succeed. When it comes to how ready they are for school, and how well they'll do when they get there, common sense is the rule. Your kids can't learn more from a TV screen than they can from you. A computer can't take the place of a real experience. That said, kids love to explore media. And there are ways you can help it be a useful, not wasteful, part of their lives.

What is it?

Can media help your kids get ready for school or improve school performance once they start? The answer is yes and no. Reading to your children from an early age helps them recognize word shapes and letters. Playing shape, color, and recognition games - on the computer or off, can help young kids learn basic concepts. Educational programs for 3-to-5 year olds like Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Read More »from High-Tech Teaching: Pass or Fail?

If you teach middle or high school, chances are that a lot of your students are on Facebook or MySpace--but so are a lot of adults.

As an educator, do you think teachers should have social networking profiles, and if so, should they "friend" their students?

Educators that we've asked have answered everything from "Sure! Meet them where they play!" to "Heck no, that's a little too close for comfort." What do you think?

Parents are talking about this issue over at our parent forum. See what they have to say!

Get the Most Out of Online Games

Whether it's puzzles, shooters, or dress-up, there's a game for every interest and age. And since online games are also available wirelessly, kids can play them on any mobile device with an Internet connection. The sheer volume -- and immediacy -- of online games can be daunting to many parents. In this video, we explain the four main types of online games and give you tips on managing online games for every age.

Many Internet games can be played within your browser and are free. Kids can simply go to the site and start playing. These are called Flash games or casual games, and they're the ones that are offered on most kids' websites.

Next are online game portals like Miniclip and CrazyMonkey, which offer a huge array of Flash games. Many of the games on these sites aren't appropriate for all ages. Plus, they have tons of ads and contests that can carry malware and spyware.

A step up from casual games are Massively Multiplayer

Read More »from Where Do Online Games Take Your Kids?

American Academy of Pediatrics New Study: Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media

Millions of kids saw Toy Story 3 earlier this summer, and many were frightened by the scene in which the toys are heading toward almost certain death on the incinerator's conveyor belt. But it was another scene in that movie that made my hair stand on end: It's when Ken first meets Barbie, and the song Dream Weaver ("I believe you can get me through the night") starts to play. Ken says to Barbie, "Love your legwarmers," and Barbie purrs, "Nice ass-cot."

There it was: another one of those sexy zingers designed to make parents laugh and sail over kids' head. Turns out my parental instincts were right.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sex -- and its cheeky cousin, innuendo -- doesn't go over kids' head. In fact, the AAP's new report, "Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media," says that exposure to sexual content in TV and other media in early adolescence can as much as double

Read More »from Racy Jokes: Kids Are Listening (and Learning)

It never fails. Every year when school starts, I find that parents are the ones learning a new lesson. For me, it was the moment my son came home from his first day of middle school with a unique assignment: to log into the school's online communication site. The site would be his main way of checking assignments, reviewing his schedule, and sending email to his teacher.

My mind started racing: He'll have to get an email address. He'll have to use the computer every day. He'll probably get sucked into more computer time -- and soon, social networks. Suddenly, there were decisions to make, boundaries to create, and rules to abide by. Along with taking the bus and finishing homework, we'll be holding him accountable for safe and responsible use of things like instant messaging, video chatting, and social networking. And I thought buying him his first pair of skinny jeans was a challenge!

A friend of mine is dealing with other surprising new developments in her third grader. A

Read More »from What Back-to-School Taught Me

Kids are returning to school this year more saturated in media than ever. From the TV to the computer to the cell phone, you're balancing your kids' media consumption with homework, after school activities, and play dates.

But if anyone can do it, you can. The advice and comments from our community (that's you!) are a treasure trove of useful, do-able tips that every parent can put into practice. Whether you're wrestling with too much texting or navigating social networks, see how our readers make it all work. And tell us how you do, too.

See How Parents Make it All Work

Cell Phone Rules

Say 'nighty night. "At night before bed or at 8:30, we have them turn their phones off and charge them in a certain place that's near our bedroom. They can get their phone in the morning before school."

Don't believe the hype. "They want to know when they can get their own cell phones and iPods (even though they weren't totally sure what it was). So we've had discussions on what's

Read More »from Back to School: Real Parents Share What Really Works

The worlds of comic books and video games collide in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World which stars teen fave Michael Cera. Watch our interview with Cera and the film's creators as they discuss the messages inside the mayhem. For more on the review of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, visit us at Common Sense Media.

Read More »from Watch: Michael Cera Dishes on Scott Pilgrim

The Great Cell Phone Debate

I know I'm not the only parent whose kid traveled alone this summer. But when my 11-year-old's plane was delayed and it looked like he might miss his connecting flight, I felt like the only mom in the world who let her kid travel without a cell phone.

That little incident was a wake-up call. It wasn't that I thought, "OK, we're off to the cell-phone kiosk today!" It just made me realize that I'd been avoiding an issue I'd sooner or later have to confront. And it's not data plans or texting bills. What worries me is access -- to the Internet, to friends I don't know, to the interconnected digital world. Kids think of their phones as personal communications devices, but these devices link them to a world that's getting increasingly more public every day.

It's nearly impossible to find a cell phone that doesn't have a million bells and whistles. Even basic phones have cameras, texting, and Internet access. And while parental controls are available

Read More »from Kid's First Cell Phone: One Mom's Hang Up