Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

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

Common Sense MediaBy Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media editor

Today, when the latest campaign trail gaffe or political scandal goes viral, your kids will likely hear about it before you do. How will they know whether a claim or a charge is based in fact, an unsubstantiated smear, or typical campaign overstatement?

That's where you come in. Nearly half of young people ages 15-25 get news at least once a week from family and friends via Twitter or Facebook, according to a study by the University of Chicago. And they can't necessarily tell fact from fiction. One of the study's conclusions: "Youth must learn how to judge the credibility of online information and how to find divergent views on varied issues."

The media plays a huge role in our country's political process. And with today's 24/7 news cycle, those effects are magnified. On the plus side, there are plenty of age-appropriate resources at your fingertips, some of which we've listed below. Here's how you can help your kids become

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

From Kim Kardashian to Honey Boo Boo, TV is full of outrageous characters who make us laugh, cringe, or scratch our heads in disbelief. Each year Common Sense Media takes a look at some of TV's most popular characters and shakes them down for what they do or don't have to offer kids and families. You'll see some familiar faces on this year's list (like Ms. Kardashian, for example) and many new ones. Some, like Jersey Shore's Snooki, have fallen off the list because her bad behavior has toned down, and there are so many others vying for her place in the "worst role models" spotlight.

The good news for parents is that even the worst role models can serve as a starting point for some important discussions with kids. Conversations about characters' wild and crazy antics can lead to discussions about what is and is not appropriate behavior. These talks can also help your kid become more media savvy. Discuss the reasons why these

Common Sense MediaBy Caroline Knorr, Common Sense Media editor

In many homes, getting kids to turn off their cell phones, shut down the video games, or log off of Facebook can incite a revolt. And if your kids say they need to be online for schoolwork, you may not know when the research stops and idle activity begins.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but getting involved with your kids' media is the first step to cutting the cord. Showing an interest, knowing what they're doing -- even playing along with them -- makes it easier to know how much is too much.

Every family will have different amounts of time that they think is "enough." What's important is giving it some thought, creating age-appropriate limits (with built-in flexibility for special circumstances), making media choices you're comfortable with, and modeling responsible screen limits for your kids.

Preschoolers. There are lots of great TV shows, apps, games, and websites geared for this age. But too much time spent in front of a

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

Getting kids dressed, fed, and ready for school might sound easy, but we all know the reality isn't so simple. A missing shoe or a sock that doesn't "feel right" can turn an entire morning routine on its ear. Add in TV shows, video games, and iPad tug-of-wars, and a peaceful start to your family's day is down the tube.

In my house, we've experimented with every possible morning media rule. But when my kids' teachers requested that parents keep the TV off before school, our rules got much simpler: No electronics at all in the morning. The trickiest part of that equation for us is managing to get two adults ready without the easy distraction of TV to keep the kids out of our hair.

Here at Common Sense, we reached out on Twitter and Facebook to find out what strategies parents use for taming their own morning madness. We got some great solutions from parents who are making mornings work with a variety of media strategies.

No

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

Fall TV means lots of new shows on primetime -- some surefire flops and a handful of potential hits. Sorting the winners from the losers is fun for pop culture-loving teens and parents. But families who dig into the new fall TV schedule together get more than just couch potato time.

Watching TV can be a low-pressure way for a family to spend time together, especially when many teens are focused more on their own interests and less on you. Also, post-show chats about TV characters' choices can be a great (and not-so-forced) way to express your values when it comes to touchy issues.

This season's line-up includes the role model-worthy heroine of a post-apocalyptic world, a Downton Abbey-like British drama, and a comic-book hero. These seven shows have the potential to be entertaining and worthy choices for teens and parents to enjoy together.

The New Normal, NBC, premieres Sept. 11

Produced by Ryan Murphy of Glee fame,