Ads, Ads, Everywhere
In some ways technology has reduced our exposure to advertising–love that little fast forward button on my Tivo. However, in other ways, it makes it more prevalent than ever.
Whether it is mentions by your kids favorite stars on their Twitter feeds or product-themed web games, kids today are flooded with commercials.
Companies covet your children because they know that brand loyalty starts early. While you can’t avoid all ads, you can help them be more ad-savvy.
The FTC has a kid-focused site--Admongo--to help children understand more about how advertising works. It is a game that helps kids learn to ask questions like who made the ad and what does the ad want me to do.
Good stuff.
How Things Work
Confused by how technology works, and digital cameras specifically? Columbia University wants to help you and (more specifically) your kids out.
The Big Shot Digital Camera kit will be a box of all the parts needed for a kid to build there own simple digital camera. If you know how to put it together odds are you’ll know a little bit more about how it works as well. No word on when or if Columbia will bring this eccentric little Christmas gift to market, but I’d totally buy one.
Poisson Rouge
I just learned about Poisson Rouge (Red Fish) , a site for younger kids that is full of discovery and play in the virtual realm. Geek Dad over at Wired has a review of the site.
The homepage features lots of virtual toys your child can click on to enter various games and learning experiences but it’s very exploratory. You never know exactly what you are going to get. Kids will be exposed to letters, art, telling time, languages, and many other things.
Another thing I like about the site is that it isn’t full of a lot of branded characters like Elmo, Mickey, Handy Manny, etc.
If you’re child can click a mouse (reading isn’t required), send them on over.
Zoodles makes online safe for kids
Zoodles gives kids a safe play to play and learn online. The site give kids a safe browser to use to navigate appropriate and approved sites as well as a virtual “Toybox” filled with easy-to-navigate activities.
One way Zoodles makes it easier is that kids don’t have to read or type to get around. They take out back buttons and URL bars to make things as easy as possible. The site also features an Adblocker feature (free for a trial and then part of the premium service).
The games are selected by its education team from Stanford University that rates each game according to national and state standards to give parents information to make smart choices. Through the parental controls, the site also allows you to customize the games your child has access to and gives you the ability to block specific games, websites and branded characters. (Again–free for a trial and then part of the premium service)
The Zoodles browser is free with sign up and they offer premium plans with enhanced capabilities from $7.95/month, $39.95 for 6 monhs or $59.95 for the entire year.
New Set of Wheels
It took me my fair amount of time to free myself from training wheels when it came to bike riding. I remember watching everyone else move to two wheels and feeling both ashamed and jealous at their newfound freedom and speed. Well, it looks like, for some kids anyone, the embarrassment will be no more.
The Gyrowheel (set to be released in December for around $100) is designed to replace the front tire of a kid’s bike and balance them on a two-wheeler. The wheel comes with a spinning disk inside it with adjustable settings that supposedly give any kid high stability on two wheels. As a kid gets more confident you slow the settings down until the disk doesn’t spin at all and they can have a regular wheel back. Doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me. The question is whether or not the Gyrowheel will one day be viewed with the 6-year-old disdain of training wheels today.
A Game of Direction
GPS isn’t just for those 16 and up anymore, it’s been awhile since GPS was only used for driving directions.
Now there’s a GPS specifically designed for the young (and the young at heart I guess too). Geomate Jr. is a GPS at its most basic, it gives directions on where to go. It’s not about getting kids to school or to a friend’s house it’s a game in and of itself. The Geomate Jr. is like a tech hand held treasure hunt.
The GPS comes uploaded with the location of thousands of caches (or locations with small trinkets of log books) for you to find. Take a treat, sign a logbook, it’s all in good fun, and you don’t have to download your own information. I suggest keeping a close eye on kids, wandering off along with the Geomate it probably not the best idea, I don’t think there are backtracking directions.
Sexting?
The Today Show this morning had a shocking and sobering story on teens tech use and the sending of nude or semi-nude photos of themselves electronically.
According to the results of a survey released today by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com, 22 percent of all teen girls — and 11 percent of teen girls ages 13-16 years old — say they have electronically sent, or posted online, nude or semi-nude images of themselves.
Teens seem to be unaware or unconcerned of the consequences of sending these images as they can be passed along and posted online without any permission or security.
Another survey reported:
The online survey of 1,280 teens and young adults — done by TRU, a company that conducts research on teens and 20-somethings — indicates that 15 percent of teens who have sent sexually suggestive content such as text messages, e-mail, photographs or video say they have done so with someone they only know online.
The Today Show story suggested talking with your kids about what they are doing in cyberspace, know who they are talking to online, set limitations on their electronic communications, and set expectations about what is and what is not appropriate online.
It’s a brave new world. Stay on top of technology trends so you can be a better, more informed parent.
