Monthly Archives: June 2012

8 Year Old Girl: What Brave Means to Me

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

Seeing Merida fight for herself and her mom made me feel like girls can be the hero. As a girl, I see that people think girls aren’t strong enough to stand up for themselves, but seeing Merida makes me feel that they can.Brave also shows boys that girls aren’t just weak and pretty, they can smart, they can be strong. Being a girl isn’t just about being pretty. That makes me feel really nice inside, that this message is getting out into the world. Continue reading →

Posted in Talking | 25 Comments

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflections on Aging as a Woman

Posted on June 25, 2012 by

I took my two older daughters to see Snow White and the Huntsman last week. We had all loved the re-invisioned Alice in Wonderland by this team, so we thought we would like seeing Snow White transformed into a warrior princess. … Continue reading →

Posted in For Teens and Tweens, Recognizing | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Importance of Fathers

Posted on June 17, 2012 by

In one class debate that I regularly hold with my university students, we analyze the question, “Are Father’s Necessary?”  Every time we discuss this, there is at least one student who talks about how once their parents divorced they lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Monster High’s Mixed Messages about Bullying with Tips for Talking with Kids

Posted on June 16, 2012 by

Episode after episode features similar messages: You get to the top by being the biggest monster possible – and not in the fun, unique way the line might insist you should, but by threatening or using physical violence, bullying tactics, cheating, lying and whining.By coating bad messages in an outer layer of good PR and catchy slogans, the company makes it harder for kids and parents to reject the toy without looking like they support bullying. Continue reading →

Posted in Acting, For Teens and Tweens, Recognizing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Monster High: Is this how you teach acceptance?

Posted on June 13, 2012 by

I wrote a post last year asking, Does Monster High Teach Kindness and another that provided an exercise in Deconstructing Monster High. My main problem with the Monster High brand is that Mattel says it promotes acceptance of others and oneself … Continue reading →

Posted in Recognizing | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Mr. Rogers Remix: Television that promotes learning, creativity, and social skills

Posted on June 9, 2012 by

I love this remix of Fred Rogers’ work. What made Mr. Rogers special was his ability to bring deep knowledge about education and child development and learning into the mainstream and make it accessible. He met children with respect and … Continue reading →

Posted in Recognizing, What's out There That's Good | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Sexy Baby Documentary: Sexiness and the Cyber Age

Posted on June 5, 2012 by

Today I had the amazing opportunity to talk with Brittany Huckabee, the Editor and Producer of the documentary, Sexy Baby. This documentary explores the shift in our culture that has brought sexiness to the forefront of so much of our … Continue reading →

Posted in Acting | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sexy Horses and Trolls and Fairies, Oh My: Toys all Tarted Up

Posted on June 2, 2012 by

Hot-to-trot ponies? Dolls that wax? Toys get tarted up – Parenting – TODAYshow.com. In a story on the Today Show website, they show several examples of toys that are crazily sexualized, with even horses wearing high heels, make-up, and coy … Continue reading →

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, Recognizing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments