Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

During a recent evening of channel surfing, I was pleasantly surprised to come across Splash. Ron Howard's 1984 comedy about an Everyguy (Tom Hanks) who falls for a mermaid (Daryl Hannah) is a movie I loved as a kid, and I hadn't seen it in a long time, so I happily started watching. Apparently it really had been a long time, since I'd forgotten just how racy some of the humor is, from shots of Hannah running around naked to her heavily implied "afternoon delight" with Hanks' character to co-star John Candy's habit of dropping coins to look up ladies' skirts. Let's just say I don't think it would be a shoo-in for a PG rating these days.

Movies you remember as being innocuous when you were young may have iffier stuff in them than you remember -- or maybe it's just been ages since you saw anything other than the edited-for-TV version. To help you avoid getting blindsided by something totally age-inappropriate (or even just awkward) when you play your old faves for your kids, here

Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, iCarly -- these are the characters our kids are growing up with, and the examples they set can make a big impression on kids' developing minds.

As parents, we want to steer our kids toward the best possible role models -- the folks who might not always be perfect but who are thoughtful, kind, and maybe even a little inspirational. And, usually, we want to guide kids away from the worst role models -- the ones who can be cruel, shallow, and rude.

Luckily, there's a lot of good stuff out there if you know what to look for. We've picked some of our favorites below. Complement these TV role models with real-life people who make a personal impact on your kids, and point out the qualities you want your children to emulate.

1. Manny, Handy Manny (3+)

Why he's great: Manny is a model of generosity and community spirit. He's always willing to help out a friend or neighbor, and he helps negotiate conflicts between his talking tools. And

What Are Kids Learning from TV Characters?

When it comes to sex, violence, drinking, bullying, and other sensitive topics, you want messages about right and wrong to come from you -- not, say, Snooki from Jersey Shore.

But surprisingly, Snooki might be more of an ally than you think. Talking about TV characters and their choices can be a great way to start conversations with your kids about their own behavior. We encourage you to get familiar with the characters kids are watching -- whether you love or hate them -- and sneak in a little parental direction between Snooki's visits to the bar.

1. Snooki, Jersey Shore
Why's she's bad: Not only is she not the brightest bulb in the bunch, but she drinks constantly and to excess. And while her drinking sometimes gets her arrested or leads to iffy sexual behavior, she gets lots of attention (and a big paycheck) for her antics.
Why it matters: Kids who watch shows with alcohol use are more likely to try drinking than those

There's only one thing that can upstage Tom Brady throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass: a supermodel getting her naked body painted by Jillian Michaels. That's what Internet domain registrar GoDaddy.com will be treating audiences to in its Super Bowl ads this year. With more than 100 million viewers on game day, advertisers are willing to do just about anything to get attention. (Would you have ever heard of GoDaddy otherwise?)

The Super Bowl represents a moment when families sit down and watch TV together. We're pretty much a captive audience and can be surprised by just about anything that happens during the live game -- including the ads.

Ads impact children

America pays almost as much attention to Super Bowl ads as we do the fumble on the 3-yard line. It's become a national sport to rate the ads the next day -- in the office and in the schoolyard. This year NBC, the network hosting the Super Bowl, is planning 18 hours of Super Bowl coverage on programs including

How Some Parents Are Bending the Media Rules

Screen time limits. Movie ratings. Violent video games. With so many media issues to stay on top of, it's no wonder that most parents don't follow all the "rules" when it comes to kids and media use. And while some parents might brag about their media management ("We don't even own a television!"), most of us will divulge a few dirty little secrets when we're with our closest pals.

We spoke to friends and colleagues to collect their deepest, darkest media confessions, but here's the thing: None of the parents we spoke with break media rules carelessly. They've all done their research on what's great and not so great for their kids and have made thoughtful decisions about how to manage media in their households. Their decisions don't always follow the mainstream, but that doesn't mean they're bad parents. In fact, the thoughtfulness with which these parents have approached the "rules" means that they're practicing the

Hugo has been making waves with families and critics since Christmas -- and now it's leading the list of Oscar nominees with 11 Academy Award nods, including Best Picture and Best Director. If you plan to catch up on Oscar faves before the big show on Feb. 26, this is the one to see -- and don't forget to bring the kids. You may have heard buzz about the movie's directing and cinematography, but it's Hugo's role models, messages, and stellar storytelling that won our hearts.


What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this book-based period adventure about the art and magic of movies is rated PG, it may be a tad too mature for younger elementary school-aged kids. Between the orphaned main character (whose father dies in a fire), the looming threat of being sent to the orphanage by the mean station manager, and an extended sequence about the history of early film, it's unlikely that kids under 8 will follow the sophisticated story. Since author Brian

Why we got it:

I love hanging out with my kids. But I've learned that there are some activities that I enjoy a lot more than others. For instance, I love playing board games, but I loathe playing "school." Video games that we could play together seemed like a great way for us to have fun as a family doing something we could all enjoy.

What's great about it?

Since we set up the Wii, it's been even more fun than I imagined. First, creating our "Miis" or avatars -- which involves choosing facial features, hairstyles, etc. -- was the most fun we've had together in ages. It was belly laughs all around as we debated just how bald Daddy is or how thin my daughter's eyebrows are. But beyond those moments, I've seen the kids experience some deeper learning that I really value.

Cooperation: One of the first things I noticed as my son and daughter played side by side in Active Life Explorer, a semi-competitive active game, was how my daughter reacted to finishing in

Mid-season shows are starting to pop up on the schedule, so we're working through the new stuff to figure out what's worth sharing with kids and what's not. We've spotted a few good family-friendly picks in the upcoming week's TV schedule (Jan. 19-25) including new shows, favorite movies, and classics we love. As always, read the reviews to see if these shows are right for your family. Check your local listings for air times.

More: Discover TV's 10 Best Role Models for Kids

THURSDAY

American Idol , 10+ : J. Lo , Steven Tyler , and Randy Jackson are in Pittsburgh for the last auditions for the 11th season. Watch as the judges weed the talented from the just plain weird.

Secret Circle , 12+ : Cassie tries to figure out how her father died in order to prevent a witchy disaster. Who can she turn to for answers?

FRIDAY

Jessie , 7+ : Jessie and her group of young charges face new obstacles with optimism. The cheerful nanny helps Zuri open a lemonade stand inside