Blog Posts by Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media offers a few new books to get your kids reading.

At every baby shower, amid all the cute onesies and fluffy toys, there's usually a small, flat package in the pile with Goodnight Moon or Pat the Bunny tucked inside. Savvy gift-giving moms know that reading with kids is as important as teaching them to throw a ball or eat their vegetables and can be as fun as a ticklefest.

It's a habit that comes naturally to most parents. I know I loved snuggling with my little ones on my lap, devouring a picture book -- or four -- or reading a story before bedtime. It's not only great for bonding, it can promote a lifelong love of reading.

As kids get older, they develop their own tastes and are always looking for something new. So we're starting a new monthly feature to 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 January:

• An outstanding picture book for

Know about the devices your kids are using.

If your kids unwrapped high-ticket electronics this year, they were in good company. E-readers, tablet computers, fancy phones, hand-held game consoles, and even tricked-out learning tools for preschoolers were huge this holiday season.

This year's crop of devices offers great advantages -- like the ability to pack all of your kids' books into one tiny digital device or practice math drills en route to Grandma's house. But if you don't read all of the fine print (and, let's face it, who does?), these new products' high-tech bells and whistles may catch you off guard.

Often, it's not until your kids start taking advantage of the fancy features that you realize what the devices can do. That new tablet computer your daughter uses for book reports also lets her video chat with friends at midnight. The smartphone your son uses to text you for a ride also "helped" him rack up $60 in charges playing a certain app with in-game purchases. And many high-tech devices require

Looking for a way to get your kids moving? Try one of these great fitness games -- the best of the best of the "active gaming" trend. From full-on workouts to dance-fueled fun, these active games are a great way to mix exercise and entertainment.

Be media-savvy about the devices your kids have.

If your kids unwrapped high-ticket electronics this year, they were in good company. E-readers, tablet computers, fancy phones, handheld game consoles, and even tricked-out learning tools for preschoolers were huge this holiday season.

This year's crop of devices offers great advantages -- like the ability to pack all of your kids' books into one tiny digital device or practice math drills en route to Grandma's house. But if you don't read all of the fine print (and, let's face it, who does?), these new products' high-tech bells and whistles may catch you off guard.

Often, it's not until your kids start taking advantage of the fancy features that you realize what the devices can do. That new tablet computer your daughter uses for book reports also lets her video chat with friends at midnight. The smartphone your son uses to text you for a ride also "helped" him rack up $60 in charges playing a certain app with in-game purchases. And many high-tech devices require consistent

Know how much time your kids are spending with media.

The facts: Kids spend more than 7.5 hours a day with media, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation

- A 2011 study in the journal Pediatrics suggests that watching fast-paced cartoons can have an immediate negative impact on kids' ability to plan and think ahead

- Also according to Pediatrics, excessive television exposure in the preschool years leads to diminished school performance

- Kids who watch more television than their peers during the middle and high school years have less healthy diets five years later, according to a 2009 study by the University of Minnesota

- Girls with a heavy sexual media diet engage in sexual activity younger than their peers, according to a 2007 poll by Harris Interactive

- Children who watch between two and four hours of television a day are two-and-a-half times more likely to have high blood pressure, according to a 2007 study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine

What's a healthy media diet?

Here's

'Tis the season for turning off the tech!

Is this the most wired holiday ever? There are apps for organizing your holiday events, online wish list-creators for kids, sites that will send your kids an email from Santa -- and lots of new electronic devices geared for kids. And between texting, video games, and socializing online, you might find it hard to get a word in edgewise with your kids.

Tips: 'Tis the season for tuning out the tech and spending time with the kids -- right?!

As much as we all love and depend on our high-tech toys, our reliance on them -- let's face it -- can get in the way of the warm and cozy family time we so carefully scheduled (probably on our electronic calendar!).

An outright ban on digital devices won't win your kids' respect -- or compliance. But with a little planning, you can balance your family's tech activities with much-needed face time. Here's how:

1. Be jolly -- but firm. Explain to your kids that you want to downsize -- not demolish -- your family's reliance on

Whether you spell it Hanukkah or Chanukah, the eight-day Jewish holiday is a great time to spend with friends and family. Help your kids celebrate the Festival of Lights with our favorite Hanukkah books, apps, music, and websites.

Whether it is CDs, iTunes downloads, or some other format, kids love getting music for gifts. Our editors have chosen the best soundtracks and albums of 2011 for preschoolers, elementary age kids, and tweens. (And for more specialized tastes, browse our best music lists for things like clean hip-hop music, American Idols music, Glee music for kids, holiday music, and more.)