Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

The summer before my daughter started kindergarten was filled with firsts. First summer camp, first swimming lessons, first back-to-school shopping. Thanks to a school uniform policy, clothes were the easy part, but finding a backpack turned out to be an adventure -- not only did we visit countless stores in our search, but we learned a lot about which media brands were working overtime to catch my 5-year-old's eye.

With back-to-school shopping raking in more than $70 billion a year for retailers, it's a prime time to target both parents and kids. And advertisers know that the earlier a kid learns about a brand -- whether it be McDonald's or Tinker Bell -- the more likely she'll be to buy it or beg for it later.

Barbie tries to befriend my daughter
Our first stops were the usual big box stores; there we found backpacks swimming in a sea of sparkly pink, where characters from TV shows and movies frolicked joyfully on the

Common Sense MediaBy Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media editor

Family vacations are a great time to recharge and connect with your kids, but connecting can be tough if they're plugged into their electronic devices day and night. Ever try to point out the sights to a kid engaged in battle on a Nintendo DS or have a heart-to-heart with a middle-schooler whose ears are stuffed with ear buds? Ever plan a morning snorkel for the whole family, only to find you can't pry your teen off the couch to trade Facebook for flippers?

We've all become enmeshed with media and technology in our real lives (step away from your Blackberry, parents). Vacation can be a time to unplug, or at least limit the time you spend wired, in the interest of having more face time with the people you love.

Here are some strategies for striking a balance between family bonding and electronic engagement:

Leave It at Home: You can't be distracted by what you don't bring. In my family, we've had vacations with and without

Olympic torchBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

The Olympics is an exciting time to gather your kids around the TV to watch the world's best athletes go toe to toe. But beyond the rippling muscles, athletic prowess, and Spandex, there are plenty of opportunities to engage kids in deeper conversations. Seize the moment by asking open-ended questions, and see where the conversation goes.

Try these ideas for turning this family viewing opportunity into powerful life lessons.

Talk about inspiration. If nothing else, the Olympics is a time to be awed by the abilities of the human body. Point out the kind of practice, dedication, and sacrifice that go into becoming an Olympic athlete. If there are certain competitors your kids like, find out more about their life and how they pursued their athletic goals.
Ask: What are you willing to work hard for?

Explore backstories. Reporters covering the Olympics dig up inspiring stories about athletes overcoming obstacles to reach

Summer London OlympicsBy Caroline Knorr, Common Sense Media editor

The Olympics may be the world's oldest competition, but this year's Games are getting a thoroughly modern upgrade. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and other online outlets are offering new ways to experience the events' trials and tribulations -- and families are the winners.

Through live feeds, athletes' blogs, message boards, photos, videos, and more, you and your kids will be able to get an up-close and personal view that plain old TV can't provide. If you know where to look, how to find the good stuff, and what to talk to your kids about, your family can experience the 2012 Olympic Games in a way that's fun, social, inspiring, and even a little educational, too.

Here's your guide to the best Olympics sites for families

Facebook
This year's Games are being hailed as the "socialympics." Now's a good time to get up to speed on social media and even talk to your kids about the global role that social media is playing in the

Common Sense MediaBy Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media editor

Finding the right book for your kid can be a challenge. But if you guess right and keep new ones coming, you may be on your way to raising a lifelong reader.

Every month we highlight a few books for different ages -- some exceptional titles that could be the perfect thing to perk your kid's interest, get your reader hooked on a new author, or rediscover an old favorite. Here are our picks for July:

• For kids 3 to 7, check out Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, a funny picture book that warns of the dangers of serving dragons their favorite food topped with spicy salsa: It will make them breathe fire, and they could burn your house down. (Mild salsa is fine.) It's silly fun from start to finish, with dragons of every size, shape, and color and heaps and heaps of tacos on its entertaining spreads.
• For readers 12 to 17, there's Tokyo Heist, a sizzling mystery adventure in which two

Common Sense MediaBy Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Editor

Recently I was stuck without a babysitter when an important event came up. I reached out to friends on Facebook, and someone was generous enough to watch my kids at the last minute. But when I picked them up, I found out that they'd spent the entire time watching movies and playing video games.

I don't have a problem with a movie or video game here and there, but I've found that too much of either makes my kids a little nutty. And some of the movies they'd watched at my friend's house made me feel uncomfortable, too.

I left feeling conflicted. I was grateful to my friend for helping me out but sort of upset that she hadn't checked in with me about what kinds of movies were OK or how much time they could spend playing video games. Ultimately, I realized that my kids were fine (if a little antsy) and that by dropping them off at someone else's house -- whether it be for a play date, a sleepover, or a last-minute babysitting

Sleepover MoviesNothing says "sleepover" like popping in a great movie to watch with your best friends. Whether you have tweens who are new to the sleepover scene or veteran teen overnighters, this list of 10 great sleepover movie picks is sure to get the night off to a great start -- we've got everything from silly comedies for kids to three-hanky romances and super scary movies for teens.

Check out our full list of 50 sleepover picks over at Common Sense Media.

Toy Story
*Pixar classic is one of the best movies of all time!*
Toy Story follows the adventures of the toys who belong to a boy named Andy. His favorite is a sheriff from the Old West named Woody, who acts as the leader of the rest of Andy's toys -- including a skittish Tyrannosaurus Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Mr. Potato Head. All is going well until Andy gets a very special birthay present: a toy spaceman named Buzz Lightyear.
For ages 4 and up
Read our full review here.

My Neighbor Totoro
*Beautifully animated fantasy about friendship

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media editor

Common Sense MediaI admit I've thrown on a TV show and plopped my kid in front of the screen when I needed to get dinner on the table. And I've eked out one more hour of sleep on a Saturday morning by turning on PBS and putting out a few bowls of dry cereal.

But on the occasions when I've sat down and watched my kids' shows with them, I've been amazed by how informative and rewarding the experience was.

Take Phineas and Ferb, for example. I never realized how clever it was until I took the time to watch a whole episode with my 5-year-old. And I found so many things to talk about with him afterward. How did the boys solve the problem? (By working together.) Why was Candace so mean to her brothers? (Because she was embarrassed.) Do you think you'd do that kind of thing without asking Mom or Dad first? (No way!)

When you can, watching TV alongside your kids can help you bond through a shared experience. It can also give you an opportunity to