Category Archives: Cooperating

In these posts, the focus is on building a community of support and learning to reach out to one another.

Fight the Power: Children and Adolescents as Consumer Activists

Using social media and word of mouth, adolescents and caring adults can work together to fight for their rights and advocate against companies that put a bulls-eye on their childhood. Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sexualization of Children: A Person’s a Person, No Matter How Small

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” 
— Dr. Seuss (The Lorax) As the mother of three children and a professional educator who’s worked with children for many years, I … Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Positive Pick: Born This Way Foundation

Born to Not Get Bullied – NYTimes.com. In this article Nickolas Kristof shares some insights into Lady Gaga’s new Born This Way Foundation. She has teamed up with top educators to promote a more positive, caring culture. When you visit … Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yes, I’m beautiful! Join a movement to make positive media

New Moon Girls and Pigtail Pals have launched the Yes, I’m beautiful campaign to use media in a positive way to promote true beauty. Responding to a rash of media attention over teens and tweens posting videos on YouTube asking … Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wonder Women: New Film about American SuperHeroines

After my post from yesterday sharing some female superheroes, I thought you would like to hear about this film about American SuperHeroines and how they emerged, changed, and are still growing. I can’t wait to see this film. My very … Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aging and Power: The Cougar Effect

I posted this article awhile back, but this article in Forbes. com made me want to come back to it. It is imperative that we as a culture begin to consider the ways that we are diminishing women as they … Continue reading

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

The Story of Us: Why Communities can Help in the Fight Against Sexualization

Sexualized media offers children and adolescents a view of the world that is idealized and  unrealistic. With the consistent images of women and girls as “objects” and narratives that promote using ones sexuality to gain power, adolescents and children are … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Positive Pick: Communities working together

Even when I feel frustrated with the way others in our community see this issue, I’m comforted by knowing that we did stand up. There is power in that. There is strength in that which is much stronger than the prevailing “who cares” that we get from much of the area on many, many issues. I hope that we take something powerful away from this, even though nothing changed immediately. I hope that we remember that we must stand for something, that life is not about living it with your head in the sand and a “who cares” on your lips. Those attitudes do not change the world. People have scoffed at all of those who have dared to stand up and say, “This world can be a better place,” from Martin Luther King to those fighting for women’s right to vote. It’s easy to stand on the side of the road and scoff at those who want to make changes. It’s easy to say, “who cares”, “no big deal”, “live and let live.” It’s much harder to get out there and stand up for what you believe is right. That’s what our community did, and we will make a difference. Small groups of people who are passionate about changing the world are the only ones who ever have. Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Power of Community: Defining Ourselves and Our Value

One of the most powerful forces that influences child development, aside from family, is community. Using Bronfenbrenner’s theory of development, we can see that communities, ranging from soccer teams to schools and churches to neighborhoods, provide guidance and modeling for … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens, Recognizing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marketing and Kids: Can ethics beat out profit?

In this insightful article, David Sirota points out that since the 1970s consumer activists have had an on again off again battle with marketers on the issue of advertising to children. Regulations come in that limit them, and then are swept … Continue reading

Posted in Acting, Cooperating, For Teens and Tweens | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment