Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

Common Sense MediaBy Ingrid Simone, Common Sense Media editor

The holiday season is upon us -- and so is a pretty painful economy. Whether it's family entertainment, gifts for the kids, or gifts for relatives and friends, the costs of video games, DVDs, and presents can quickly add up. But if you know where to look, you can find some pretty sweet deals. Check out these ideas:

Have nieces and nephews? Offer a sleepover movie night at your house. Movies are a fun holiday tradition, but a night out can really add up -- especially if you want to take the whole gang. With so many options for watching movies online, whether downloading or streaming, you can still enjoy first-run flicks (or seasons of your favorite TV series) for less than the cost of a night out at the theater.

Companies including Netflix, Blockbuster, YouTube, VUDU, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Hulu all offer videos to enjoy without leaving home. Some of these services offer a flat rental fee from a couple of dollars or

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

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

Common Sense MediaBy Caroline Knorr, Common Sense Media editor

Now that Black Friday starts at many stores on Thanksgiving night, holiday shopping madness is in full swing even before you put away the leftovers. And many of the season's strongest sales pitches are directed right at kids.

Is it possible to partake of only those holiday rituals you love -- twinkling lights, yummy treats, peace on earth -- and nix the parts you don't -- escalating prices, overflowing wish lists, unrealistic expectations, crying, begging, and whining? We think yes. But you'll need to start training yourself and your kids now to think more critically about holiday marketing messages, and make a concerted effort to replace them with your own. Here's how:

Before Things Get Too Crazy

Be on ad alert. This holiday season, marketers will be using social media, websites, and viral ads to capture your kids' attention. Kids under 7 can't distinguish between ads and other content, and even older kids can be tricked by

Common Sense MediaBy Rachael Ward, Common Sense Media intern

Growing up, I remember watching my older brother play Super Mario and Legend of Zelda. It was before I got the courage to pick up a controller myself; I used to think I didn't have enough skill to play -- at least not as much as my brother, who was good at everything.

Yet through practice and determination, I learned the ins and out of many tough games. And I learned that I loved the games not just for the action, but for their storylines. The problem was, whenever I wanted to talk to my parents about these stories, it was really hard to get them to take me seriously.

To my parents, games like Pong and Super Mario Brothers were just entertainment. In fact, they thought most games had no real value and were just an escape from reality. They thought I needed to learn to face "real life." In a sense, they were right. Games absolutely provided an escape from my life, which could be painful at times. (More on that later.)

The

Wreck-It RalphBy Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media reviewer

If "great family movies" are at the top of your wish list this holiday season, you're in luck -- this fall, the multiplex will be packed with kid-friendly characters, from video game strongmen (Wreck-It Ralph) and hobbits (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) to James Bond (Skyfall) and even a Twilight vampire or two for teens. We'll provide detailed ratings and reviews on everything from violence to sexual content, plus conversation starters so you can talk to your kids about what you see. For now, find out what all the buzz is about so you can start making a list of which movies will be -- and won't! -- be on your family's movie agenda this season.

Now Playing and Coming Soon

Wreck-It Ralph (Nov. 2)
Target Age: Young Kids
What's the Buzz?: Leave it to Disney to come up with such an inventive idea: Wreck-It Ralph, a video game villain (voiced by John C. Reilly), is tired of always being the bad guy, so he

Common Sense MediaBy the editors at Common Sense Media

Whether your kid is trick-or-treating or heading to a friend's house for a party, these tools will come in handy. Parents can use their smartphones to keep up with their child's location, provide a network of trusted adults in case of emergency, or simply help revelers plan their route. Here are 5 trick-or-treat apps that will help ensure your child has a safe and fun Halloween.

Treat or Treating
For ages 12 and up
4 out of 5 stars
Parents need to know that Trick or Treating is a very simple mapping app that uses Google Maps to help you create a list of directions from one stop to another. You can bookmark the locations using street addresses or GPS coordinates. Like all navigation apps, parents will want to use it as a tool and not consider it a foolproof child-safety solution.
Read more about the app here.

Trick or Tracker Child Locator
For kids ages 12 and up
3 out of 5 stars
Parents need to know that Trick or Tracker Child Locater is a GPS

Common Sense MediaBy Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media editor

I don't mind admitting that there are movies that make me cry. Steel Magnolias gets me every time (that scene where Sally Field loses it after the funeral?), and even WALL-E left me blinking back a few tears (happy ones, but still). I come by my cinema-induced emotions honestly (my dad still tears up at Disney movies), and sometimes I even prefer a good flick that will let loose a few sniffles in the dark.

But I'm not a kid, and most of the movies that have made me cry are ones that I knew in advance I should have tissues handy for. It's a far different experience to be settled in for family movie night -- ready for a few laughs, a few "awwww" moments, and maybe a nice message or two -- and then get hit by THE SCENE: the one you aren't expecting that leaves your kids upset, teary eyed, or even sobbing. We've rounded up some family targeted movies that fall into a few key "watch out" categories and might make the kind of childhood memories

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, from when I was 5 and my mom made my Big Bird costume out of a paper grocery bag to the year I glued Play-doh horns to my forehead in a messy attempt at dressing up as a devil.

Now that I'm a parent, my kids and I take our costumes seriously. And I love seeing what they'll choose. There was the year my kindergartener wanted to be Michael Jackson but then changed her mind after I'd made the costume. After my daughter and I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, our entire family went as characters from the book. And this year, my son is debating whether to shave his head for his Last Airbender costume.

Books, TV, and pop culture are great places to get inspiration for Halloween costumes. But for the last few years, the kids trick-or-treating at our door have seemed more like walking advertisements than an exercise in inspiration. From boys in puffed-up Iron Man garb to girls