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Rating family entertainment in media Winners: Movie: "Finding Nemo" Television: "Joan of Arcadia" Musician: Avril Lavigne Video Games/Software: Leapster Website: pbskids.org Books: "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini "The O.C.," an evocative, soap opera-type show that is supposed to reflect life in Orange County, got a poor rating, while "Finding Nemo" received applause in the first awards of excellence, and otherwise, by an organization that provides parents, teachers and children information on media entertainment. San Francisco-based Common Sense Media hopes that its awards will each year honor artists, shows, products and organizations that engage and inspire youth. And, likewise, it will continue to warn families about those that are vacuous, violent and overly sexual. More than 18,000 individual nominations were cast by the 150,000 users of the online review resource, the Common Sense Media Guide. Winners and losers come from all forms of entertainment - movies, music, TV, video games, books and the Web. In addition, three awards were given for special achievement: Sesame Street's Elmo received the Lifetime Achievement Award for a career dedicated to making television an educational resource for kids around the world. FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps was recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Kids' and Family Media for his efforts to protect quality, diverse programming for children during this year's national debate over media ownership. Walden Media, producer of "Holes," was named Kids' and Family Media Producer of the Year for a commitment to making movies for the whole family. Following are the losers. Common Sense notes that even though some of this entertainment targets adults, all of the following market and distribute products either at a time or in a manner that reaches millions of children. Gratuitous Violence: Take-Two Interactive Software and Rockstar Games for "Manhunt" and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City." Oversexed Entertainment: The FOX Network for its primetime programming, including "Temptation Island," "Paradise Hotel," "The O.C." and "Skin." Shameless Commercialism: The Miller Lite Catfight and Coors Light Twins beer commercials shown repeatedly during daytime television sports. Sheer Stupidity: The Abercrombie & Fitch Christmas Field Guide Catalog for selling sex instead of clothes. The Common Sense Media Awards are presented by Common Sense Media, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping parents and kids make better media choices and to think critically about the messages in their media. Common Sense Media publishes a weekly e-newsletter and the online Common Sense Media Guide, used by more than 150,000 families and individuals looking for information to help them make media decisions that are right for their families. Information: www.CommonSenseMedia.org. Empty Seats Fewer families break bread together During the early and mid-20th century, when two-parent, nuclear families were the norm in middle-class America, family dinners at home were a common evening ritual. When dad came home after a hard day's work, mom would have dinner waiting for him. Kids might have after-school activities but were usually required to be home in time for dinner. In the 21st century, family dinners are more of an evening rarity. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 78 percent of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 work outside the home. Figures from the 2000 Census show that 31 percent of households with children are single-parent families, up from 13 percent in 1970. Kids take part in more after-school activities than ever, and many parents have to go straight from work to soccer practice, piano lessons, or car pools. There simply isn't much time available for cooking, and eating is often done on the run. Data from a December 2003 Gallup Poll confirm that having dinner together in the evening is difficult for today's families. Slightly more than a quarter (28 percent) of adults with children under the age of 18 report that their families eat dinner together at home seven nights a week - down from 37 percent in 1997. Almost half (47 percent) of parents say their families eat together between four and six times a week. Another quarter (24 percent) say they eat together three or fewer nights a week. According to an August 2003 Gallup Youth Survey, 20 percent of teenagers (ages 13 to 17) eat fast food either "every day" or "several times a week." Considering the rising prominence of youth obesity as a national health problem, it seems that teens could certainly benefit health-wise from eating more meals at home. Also, dinnertime might be one of the few opportunities during the day that parents get to talk with their children about what's happening in their lives. Results are based on telephone interviews with 331 American adults, ages 18 and older, with children under age 18, conducted in December. Margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points. - By Heather Mason, contributing editor, The Gallup Poll Get out and Run! Youngsters need more exercise F or years after releasing its first physical activity guidelines for children ages 5-12, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is increasing its recommended amount. The new guidelines suggest at least 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of physical activity per day. This is an effort to combat inactivity that has contributed to a growing obesity epidemic among America's young. "Schools are critically important to increasing physical activity of children because school programs can affect the behavior of all children on a daily basis," reports NASPE President George Graham of Pennsylvania State University. The revised "Physical Activity for Children: A Statement of Guidelines for Childrens Ages 5-12," was overseen by Charles B. Corbin and Robert P. Pangrazi of Arizona State University. The purpose of the update: to provide parents, physicians, P.E. teachers and others a guideline for active lifestyles. Among the guidelines: • Children should participate in several bouts of physical activity lasting 15 minutes or more each day. • Extended periods of inactivity, of two hours or more, are discouraged for children during daytime hours. Among the ways to key youngsters into physical activity: • Expose them to a variety of activities. • Encourage self-monitoring so they can work out and set their own goals. • Be active role models. • Individualize the activities. To order the guidelines: www.aahperd.org or 800.321.0789. Kid Locator By Les Goldberg GPS keeps tabs on children's whereabouts One of the most intriguing new technologies to come out of the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is from Wherify Wireless, Inc. Its GPS Locator for Kids allows parents, whether at work, home or traveling, to use the Internet or any phone to quickly identify their child's location. And they can do so within feet and in about a minute's time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Worn on the child's wrist, the device lets parents determine location, location history and direction of travel on a subscriber website. Emergency re-sponse features are imbedded. Wherify(www.wherifywireless.com) charges $200 for the device and a $20 monthly service charge. Simple Goals What teenagers want (and it's not Britney Spears) Finishing high school and going on to college, finding a satisfying job, getting married and raising kids are the top goals of today's teens, underscoring what Gallup Youth Surveys have consistently found in recent years: Despite profound social and technological changes, teens' life goals continue to be quite simple. A couple of responses typify many teens' basic ambitions: "To go to college, have a successful career and have a healthy family," said a female high school student, who is considering a career in either computer science or nursing. Another teen, who wants to teach third grade, said, "To go to college, get a good job and marry somebody that I can spend the rest of my life with." Further down the list of teens' top goals are responses related to fame, fortune and fun. One teen, who looks forward to possibly making video games a career, listed these goals: "Get a Ferrari, get a glass house and a job which makes lots of money." Another fairly large block of responses related to living out the dictates of one's faith, being a good person, and helping others. "I want to get an education to be the best person I can be," offered one survey respondent, who wants to be a teacher, "and work with those who are less fortunate than myself and my family." The same teen also desires to "raise a family of my own and pass on the high morals and standards that my dad has instilled in me." More basic responses aside, the current survey shows evidence of big dreams among many teens. Here is a sampling of interesting responses: "My chief goal in life is to play the piano or sing professionally at Carnegie Hall" ... "Help find a cure for diabetes" ... "Have my fashions be seen on a runway in New York" ... "Become a Supreme Court Justice" ... "Visit Madagascar and own a chimpanzee" ... "Become a Major League park groundskeeper." Respondents to this survey were also asked specifically about their No. 1 career choice. Topping the list (and consistent with results from earlier Gallup Youth Surveys) are: teacher, computer field, engineer, mechanic, doctor, musician, nurse and veterinarian. As these findings indicate, many teens feel driven to enter the "helping professions" - teaching, medicine and the like. - By George H. Gallup Jr., chairman, The George H. Gallup International Institute, The Gallup Youth Survey was completed by 517 respondents, ages 13 to 17, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 29, 2003. Margin of error: ±5 percentage points. You will? You don't Most parents with children have not filled out a will Some 73.6 percent of parents with one or more minor children lack a last will and testament, according to a recent survey. Of those, more than 35 percent never have thought about creating a will, according to the 2003 survey by LegalZoom.com, a legal document preparation service. Some 1,000 individuals were polled last year. "A family's most important asset is their children, and a last will and testament is the single most important legal document parents with minor children can ever prepare," notes Brian Liu, CEO of LegalZoom.com. "Wills are not only for protection of monetary assets; by allowing parents to name guardians, they protect the welfare of our children as well." Nearly one-third, 28.4 percent, of families were prompted to prepare a will because they had children. Family Finance By Judy Wicks Online Now Take time for family, not bills Moms and dads know that the more time they can focus on the important things in life, like their families, the better. Whether you’re a mom who works full or part time (and then some) or spends each day caring for your family and home, here’s a tip that can help you make life a little more within your control: Receive and pay your bills on the Internet. According to Jupiter Research, which focuses on the impact of the Internet on commerce and marketing, electronic billing and payment will be among the fastest-growing consumer services over the next three years. By 2006, more than 50 million households will pay bills online. Here’s why. Time savings: Once you sign up through your bank or an electronic billing and payment service provider, the hours you spend paying bills each month will be reduced to minutes. You’ll be able to pay all your bills at one convenient site, receive e-mail alerts when your bills are ready to be paid and select the dates you want your bills paid. Enrollment only takes a few minutes, and thereafter, you’ll save time every month. Financial control: One of the most important factors used to determine your credit rating is your track record for paying bills on time. Don’t risk getting bad credit because you lost or tossed a paper bill or a paper check was processed late. By receiving and paying your bills on the Internet, you can reduce your paper pile and get in control of your finances. You can select the date you wish to pay a bill and track the entire payment process for that payment. Moreover, if you schedule a payment to arrive on or before the due date, you can rest assured your payment will be received on time. You can even view the payment history for all your bills and download this data into financial software packages. Financial savings: More than 840 financial institutions and websites, such as MSN, Yahoo! and CheckFree.com, offer electronic billing and payment services to consumers. Some sites offer this service for free. In addition, many offer you the ability to receive e-Bills electronic versions of paper bills that you view on the Internet either in your e-mail inbox or at your provider’s website. So what does this mean? Your days of running out of checks, stamps and envelopes may be over. Plus, you can say, “So long,” to late fees and minimize interest charges. Here’s one last bit of advice. When you sign up to receive and pay your bills online, look for the CheckFree Guarantee. Your payments will be guaranteed to be paid on time (as long as you schedule them in advance), and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your account information is kept private and secure. Information: www.checkfree.com Judy Wicks is a working mom based in Norcross, Ga. Helping Hand By Sandy Bennett Brother, Sister Big programs help in big ways Twelve-year-old Cory wants a Big Brother who will play basketball with him and maybe teach him how to surf. His twin brother, Cary, hopes to learn to play the electric guitar and watch action movies with his Big Brother. These boys, who have been on a wait list longer than any other children, represent two of more than 150 kids in the community waiting to be matched with a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. The Tustin-based nonprofit agency pairs up volunteers over the age of 18 who act as a friend and role model with a child between the ages of 6 and 16. Originally limited to boys, the chapter began serving girls in 1982. Participants, who live within a 10-mile radius of each other, are matched according to similar interests and likes. In 2003, the organization supported more than 800 one-on-one relationships. Numerous programs are offered to accommodate varying schedules. The organization’s traditional program, for instance, requires a six-month to one-year commitment, with the mentor and the child meeting for three to six hours, two to four times a month. B.I.G. Impact, on the other hand, is a group program where volunteers meet once a month for an activity and are matched one-to-one for the event. Other programs include one designed for married couples, a high school mentor program and another where volunteers help children with their homework. Several others also are available. Kevin Deegan, who was named the 2003 Big Brother of the Year for the Orange County chapter, has served as a mentor to Eddie for seven years. During this time, the two have done numerous activities together, from participating in the organization’s sponsored events such as picnics and holiday parties to going mountain biking and building a go-cart together on their own. Kevin also supports Eddie in school, helping him with studies and in planning for life after high school. “My experience with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program has not only been beneficial and life-changing for Eddie, but has made a huge impact in my life as well,” says Kevin. Individual orientations are available by appointment. For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, visit www.bigbrooc.org or call 714.544.7773. |
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