Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

My daughter got her first cell phone in 7th grade (after much lobbying, whining, begging, and squabbling). Because she took public transportation home from school, my husband and I decided it was a good idea from a safety standpoint. There were no texts, the phone couldn't take pictures, she was told how many minutes were allowed, and we did take it away from her as a punishment once (and it was very effective). Flash forward to the next child, four years her junior. He got a phone in 6th grade, mostly for the same reasons. But technology had moved on, and his came with text and photo ability, not to mention games. By then, our daughter had also become a text messaging ninja, and we'd upgraded our plan for unlimited texts (a very wise move) and replacement insurance (ditto).

But what's the right age for kids to get cell phones, and what functions are age appropriate? This question is best answered by asking other questions: How independent are your kids? Do your children "need"

Read More »from The Great Cellphone Debate: What’s the Right Age?

National Turn-Off-Tune-In Week began April 20. As the New York Time's blog Motherlode: Adventures in Parenting points out, this week has expanded to include screens of all kinds -- from your phone to the computer. Will the stats from TurnOffYourTV.com have your family turning off to tune in?

• Number of 30-second commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000.
• Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5.
• Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680.
• Percentage of children ages 6-17 who have TV's in their bedrooms: 50.
• Percentage of day-care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70.
• Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours.
• Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1,500.
• Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eatingdinner: 66.

Are your kids watching too much TV?
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"Should I be spying on my kid's text messages? " I hear this question all the time from parents of teens. My teens let me see their Facebook pages, but their more private text communications are off limits (never mind that we pay the bills...). But I must confess that I've sneaked peeks at their texts in those rare instances when the phone and the child aren't surgically attached.

In fact, there's no absolute right answer here. It depends on your kids' ages, personalities, and behaviors. You can always ask to see their messages (we did this at home for the first few years so we could teach proper, safe behavior). If your kids recoil in horror, ask why they don't want you to see them -- it's probably nothing nefarious; indeed, the likelihood is that you'll see text equivalents of grunting.

The most important thing is that you tell your kids your family's rules for what is and isn't acceptable text behavior. Remind them that any text can be forwarded to an unintended audience --

Read More »from Should You Read Your Kids’ Texts?

Your child -- a registered sex offender?

I would love to think that 'sexting' was only a theoretical issue in my family , but with two teens in the phone-zone, I can't make any promises that one of them hasn't sent off a racy snapshot or two (after all, 22% of teens say they have...).

But I bet they didn't think they'd have to register as sex offenders if the police ever got hold of one of their sexts. Right now, sexting is a crime and kids can be prosecuted for distribution of pornography. And if a person is convicted of a sex crime, they have to register as a sex offender which will haunt them for years (talk about your permanent record...).

In Vermont, there is a movement to decriminalize sexting. We agree that kids shouldn't be prosecuted for essentially doing something really stupid. But we do believe it's up to parents to educate their teens about this really risky practice. Kids should know that anything they send can be redistributed in an instant to anyone and could

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Get the facts:

• The biggest Twitter users are adults.Most kids will continue to talk to their friends through instant messaging and texting.
• If your kids are Twittering, they only have 140 characters to say something -- and they have to say it to someone who has already asked to "follow" them (this isn't as creepy as it sounds!)
• Anyone can Twitter -- there's no age restriction --- and those who do have to set up a personal profile, which can be public or private.

What is Twitter? (this is directly from their site)

Twitter helps people communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent, 140-character messages. Choose whose messages you want to receive and how you want to receive them, or search all Twitter updates to see what people are talking about.

What is following?

Following someone on Twitter means getting their updates in your personal timeline. If you follow "Tina," for instance, you'll get her updates on your homepage when you log in -- orRead More »from What is Twitter?

He's brooding, handsome, and very dangerous. She's brassy, independent, and a bit of a klutz. Together, they share a forbidden love for all time. And this Friday at midnight, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan will finally find their way to a store near you -- in DVD form. The release of Twilight on DVD has teens buzzing, so get in the mood with our links to all things Twilight. Hey, you trust us, don't you?

And we know this isn't just for kids. Moms -- satisfy your inner Twi-hard. If you need to know what Bella ate on her first date with Edward (mushroom ravioli), or what Jacob's father offered him to talk with Bella at the prom ($20), then these links are for you! Find fellow Twilighters at Facebook, YouTube, and more.

Common Sense Media has started a list of 25 Things We Love About Twilight
Oh my Edward, we can't pick just 25! There's much to love about the Twilight saga, but we're asking you to help us compile the DEFINITIVE list of what makes this vampire tale so beloved by fans.

Read More »from Twilight at Midnight

What Happened?

Nothing says breakfast like discussing domestic violence with your 15-year-old son. But as the news of Chris Brown and Rihanna's reunion filtered in, I felt I had to inject my values into the conversation. Just because she forgave her boyfriend for his alleged beating of her doesn't mean it's OK, I told my cereal-munching child. He grunted, but I know he was listening. And he should be. He's starting his social life as a young adult, and he must understand that domestic violence is never OK. Ever. Under any conditions.

By now, your kids know that 19-year-old R&B fave Chris Brown has been charged with beating up his girlfriend, 21-year-old singer Rihanna, and leaving her bloodied and bitten by the side of the road. And your kids probably also know that Rihanna didn't press charges. But that didn't stop the Los Angeles District Attorney's office from charging Brown with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats.

1 in 3 Teens is Abused in a Relationship

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What Happens When Beloved Characters Change?
Parents of Dora the Explorer fans got a jolt recently when it was announced that the beloved preschool character is growing up. Starting this fall, she'll be a middle schooler. While her spunky spirit will be maintained, something new will be introduced - with longer hair and a shorter skirt. Yes, if you buy into the tween Dora, your kid will want to buy lots of clothing for her, too. Dora's just the latest character whose shape-shifting creates a dilemma for parents who want age-appropriate toys for their kids (preferably ones that don't star in violent movies -- like Transformers and Star Wars characters). In late spring 2009, Webkinz will launch WebkinzJr., a toy-based online world geared for kids as young as 2. Price of admission is a $25 toy.

Why Should You Care?
It's called "age creep," and as any mother who's ever wrestled a Bratz doll out of her 4-year-old's hands can testify, it's not new. Age creep is the disconnect between all

Read More »from Is Dora Growing Up Too Fast?