When our children turn into teenagers, we can no longer watch over them as they go through their daily cleaning rituals. However we can talk to them and give them advice to make sure they know how to properly take care of their hygiene. Here are a couple of items I recently came across that I wanted to recommend:

The RADIUS Intelligent Toothbrush
What makes the RADIUS Intelligent Toothbrush special?

• It has a 2 minute timer since that is the length of time that you should brush
• It also has a 90 day wear meter. At that time you discard the brush head and replace it. The handle lasts forever.
• It is reversible for both right or left handed brushing. My left handed son loved this feature.

June is National Acne Awareness Month

I know I'm a little late on this, but acne is always a problem that must be dealt with. Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States. 85% of teens experience the chronic skin condition. However, it is important to realize that acne is a medical condition that can be successfully treated with help from a physician.

National Acne Awareness Month was established to educate teens and their parents about acne and how to treat and prevent this condition. Two leading experts, Michele Borba, PhD and Dr. Linda Stein Gold have provided parents with video tips on how to help their teens manage acne which includes adopting a proper skin care regimen.

Full disclosure: I was provided a free RADIUS Intelligent toothbrush for review purposes. This in no way had any effect on my review.

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If you love Glee, American Idol and  High School Musical… then you will also love Standing Ovation, which has the same vibe, only younger. Think Middle School Musical. Whatever the age, you will shake to the awesome high-energy dance moves, listen to the cool new tunes and laugh your way through this original family film that will leave you feeling uplifted and wanting to dance.  Standing Ovation is the feel-good music and dance movie of the summer!

Featuring 20 original songs and 13 dance numbers, Standing Ovation features five junior high school friends who form a singing group called "The 5 Ovations" to sing in a national music video contest". These street smart kids, without many resources, use their wits, courage and passion to compete with their rivals, "The Wiggies" 5 rich, talented, yet unscrupulous sisters, who will stop at nothing to win the competition.

Here is a quick peek of the Standing Ovation official trailer:


Although this might not seem like the most original plot, viewers will be seeing the real life dreams of ordinary kids with extraordinary dreams. Showcasing a spectacular cast of young and talented actors, singers, songwriters, dancers, gymnasts and musicians from Philadelphia, Atlantic City and the surrounding areas, Standing Ovation reveals the undiscovered talent and drive of the East Coast’s youth. The cast’s dazzling performances electrify the screen with their innate charm, charisma and professionalism that extends well beyond their years, making the audience forget that some have never before stepped into the spotlight or performed in front of the camera. 

Standing Ovation opens in theaters on Friday, July 16th. It looks to be the perfect family movie. Check out the Standing Ovation website and get to know some of the songs ahead of time.

See also: Theater Geek: New Book about Famous Performing Arts Camp for Gleeks

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Do you need help from your teens for all of your tech needs? I've gotten better over the years out of necessity. As one of the millions of aging baby boomers out there, I am enjoying the varied cartoons on midlife from the site below.

MIDLIFE ROCKS!!! Says Perrie Meno-Pudge® The new grown up cartoon for women at Midlife that takes life's lemons and makes lemonade, adding a pinch of humor for good measure.

Perrie Meno-Pudge® has a Mission...to tell the world that Midlife is the New Beautiful!® Join in her Crusade and spread the word. MIDLIFE ROCKS!!® Sign up at Perrie Meno-Pudge to get The Cartoon of the Week delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning.

While you're there.....
•Take a moment to meet Perrie's BFF Leena and the rest of the family.

•Scroll through the Archives of past Cartoons of the Week to discover what put the FUN in dysFUNctional.

•Take a look at Perrie's Tools for coping with Midlife. Click on "SHOPPING". After all, what self-respecting website for women of any age would be without SHOPPING?!

Please share it all with your Midlife friends!

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The following was written by my 20 year old son, Justin Wagner, currently a college student and music lover. These are his recommendations on two current indie bands that parents and teens can enjoy together.

As the generations go on, music changes to suit the times. However,
people from different generations can find artists that they both like. Just as there are many classic rock bands that my friends and I love, there are now a new wave of retro sounding singers and psychedelic rock bands that have emerged on the music scene and are becoming popular with the young generation, while their parents can enjoy them also.

Portugal The Man combines indie rock with soulful melodies, and a
psychedelic feel due to dynamic song writing and the use of electronic
beats and riffs. The band, formed in Wasilla, Alaska, and is
currently based in Portland, Oregon, has a sound reminiscent to some
of Pink Floyd's earlier albums, with a higher more melodic voice that
can be compared to Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Since they began recording in 2006, they have released 5 full albums and a number of EP's, while touring almost constantly in between recording sessions. With this constant output of albums and touring, Portugal the Man has the type of pace of the bands in the 60's and 70's who came out with albums fairly often.

Their latest album, titled 'American Ghetto', is available to streamfor free on their website. All of the music of  Portugal the Man is available on iTunes and Amazon.

Dr. Dog, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is another band that people from different generations can
enjoy together. With rich harmonies and poppy folk songs, Dr. Dog is best compared to The Beatles and The Band. Dr. Dog too has a psychedelic feel that is similar to the feeling from psychedelic Beatles albums such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. They record their songs with a lo-fi sound to match recording styles of the 60's and 70's. They are consistent with their record output, with 6 albums since 2001.

You can check out some of their songs on their Myspace page.  All of the albums from Dr. Dog are available on iTunes and Amazon.

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I think you will find this guest post about Facebook slang, by Emily Goll, very educational.

Facebook Slang, an article for those parents tired of asking their teens to please speak English…

As a parent with a teen growing up in the millennium, you have likely been exposed to a whole new segment of teen lingo: Facebook jargon. Without the slightest understanding of Facebook, most of what your teens are saying is fairly impossible to comprehend. Worry not. Presented before you is a detailed breakdown of what each, nonsensical Facebook related expression means. In addition, we have included an appropriate response to facilitate an actual – brace yourself – conversation. We hope this helps:

Your kid: Me and Jason are in a poking war.

Translation: Jason and your child our engaged in a virtual "poking" war. Facebook has a feature where you can "poke" a friend. Said friend will then receive a message that says, "So-and-so poked you. Poke back?" This can go on for weeks, months, even years. What's the point of this? Nobody is quite sure.

Suggested Follow-Up Questions: Who started it?


Your kid: My crops are dying.

Translation: Contrary to what you may assume, your child did not casually pick up farming. He/she is most likely referring to "FarmVille," a virtual game on Facebook where you can create your own farm, complete with crops, animals, a house, and more. Other Facebook friends can "visit" your farm and comment on how great it looks.

Suggested Follow-Up Question: Have you been visiting your friends' farms and helping them fertilize their plants? You know that gives you more fuel…


Your kid: My best friend and I are married!

Translation: No, your child has not regressed back to third grade when it was cool to stage weddings on the playground. Instead, he/she simply finds it terribly amusing to virtually "marry" his/her best friend on Facebook. This way, under "relationship status" it will say "married to x." Think of this as the new and improved best friends' necklace.

Suggested Follow-Up Question: None. Just smile and nod.


Your kid: My friend tagged me in this picture.

Translation: On Facebook, it is popular to "tag" people in pictures, which basically means adding their name at the bottom of the picture to identify who each person is. This can sometimes get confusing because many teens find it funny to tag their friends as animals, random people, and even buildings. Therefore, if you happen to see your child tagged as a funny looking cat, do not despair. His friends do not actually view him as a cat.

Suggested Follow-Up Question: Can I see it? (Do not be perturbed if your teen says no. In fact, expect this).


Your kid: I joined a group in support of soda!

Translation: Your child feels strongly that "soda" is the preferred term over "pop" and joined a group stating as much on Facebook. Even if he/she does not feel strongly about this, it is still important to join a group.

Suggested Follow-Up Question: Is your soda group beating the pop group?


Your kid: Dude, I just got moved up to a mogul. Awesome.

Translation: Your teen is involved in a game known as "Mafia Wars" on Facebook that involves starting a "mafia" with his/her friends, moving up levels, and buying weapons with his/her virtual money.

Suggested Follow-Up Question: Are you planning any attacks, sweetie?


These six translations should help clarify much of what your teen talks about on a daily basis. Unless, of course, your teen has become engaged in the ever popular Twitter. In which case, you may be in dire need of another translator!

Emily Goll is the editor of My Dog Ate My Blog and has also written about accredited online universities for Guide to Online Schools.

If you still need help, check out the iPhone app, LRNtheLingo.  It is great at defining and explaining texting codes, emoticons and all types of slang.

See also:  
ABC News Video on Teens and Texting with JuJu Chang
Urban Dictionary: You too can know understand all these crazy new words
How Teens Use Technology in Their Social Lives: Ericsson CES Preview

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The Math Ninja app for the iPhone, iTouch and the iPad plays more like a video game than most educational apps I have tried. I think that tweens will have an easier time at it than their parents for that reason. Teens might even enjoy playing Math Ninja, while brushing up on basic math skills at the same time.

Just as in video games, story and strategy are a big part of Math Ninja. From the game description, "Use a combination of action, strategy, and quick wit to defend your treehouse against a hungry tomato and his robotic army!" Tweens will need to solve math equations to move up levels. Getting the right answers will be of utmost importance to them.

You can get a glimpse of the game in this short video:



Math Ninja has different levels of difficulty and you can customize the questions for your kids. There is a free app and one for $1.99. From what I can tell there doesn't seem to be a very big difference between them. And, by the way, the Math Ninja app is in HD, to help intrigue your tweens even more. This game really does make math fun.

See also:  
Cool New Apps!
Education and Technology #140edu Conference Day 2
 

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This month, June 2010, is National Internet Safety month. Ever since the Internet has entered our lives, our world has changed, for better and worse. Along with all of the wonderful things that we can now learn, see and do, there are a host of problems that we must learn how to deal with. Internet safety, privacy and cyberbullying are very big issues lately, especially for families with kids.

Yahoo recently commissioned a survey on online safety which has revealed some very insightful data. As a member of the Yahoo Motherboard, I attended a conference call in which Catherine Teitelbaum, Director of child safety at Yahoo! Inc., discussed the survey and its results. Catherine has a fascinating, yet demanding job. She works with every Yahoo product at some point in the development process and asks, "What if a child uses this product? Are they empowered to help themselves have a safe experience with it?" And then she works with the product team to make sure the answer is yes.

The results of the portion of the survey dealing with parents show:

1. Parents are talking to their kids about online safety. 70% are doing so a few times a year and 45%  once a month.
2. About 3/4 of parents are connected to their kid's social networking profiles
3. Dads seem to be more involved than moms with their kids online lives. More dads are taking action such as having conversations about respecting the privacy of others with their kids and more dads search their kid's names online.
4. 81% of parents know what cyberbullying is but only 37% know what to do about it.
5. Approximately 3/4 of people want their kid's school to play an active role in teaching kids about online safety and citizenship.

Tips for both parents and teens:

1. Keep your private information private - control it
2. Have a family chat so that everyone understands Internet safety
3. Think before you write anything online
4. Configure your settings on all online websites and communities

Go to YAHOO! Safely a website that will give you the facts about looking good online. There are separate sections for parents and teens. Other great websites in which you can find help on the subject of online safety are WiredSafety, ConnectSafely and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition. The world is changing and it is important for all parents to keep up with it.

Added: The day after I wrote this I found out that Norton had just released the Norton Online Family Report, highlighting the different approaches taken by families globally and uncovering the emotional impact of children’s negative online experiences. You can download the Norton Online Family Reports here (there are reports for each of 14 countries) and see the real risks children face and get practical advice on dealing with them.

See also:
YA Authors and Musicians Take On Bullying
Quotes on Millennials and the Future of Privacy

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As the excitement of the impending premiere of Eclipse, the third movie in the Twilight series, grows, fans are treating to seeing the stars appear on various talk shows. Last night Robert Pattinson, aka Edward Cullen, appeared on the Tonight Show accompanied by his parents.

In case you missed it or want to see it again, here are videos from The Tonight Show with Robert Pattinson, with guest Emma Roberts, also revealing whether she is team Edward or team Jacob:

Eclipse premieres June 30, 2010. The wait is almost over. After that all is left is Breaking Dawn. However, just as with Harry Potter, the last book of the series is being split into two movies. I can't wait for all of them.

See also:
Twilight Saga: Eclipse Premiere Live Coverage

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There are many books on the market that try to prepare parents psychologically for saying goodbye to their teens when they go off to college. How helpful they are is hard to say. However, if you want a book that will prepare you and your teens for everything you will need to do and know, with great lists and ways to save money, then you must get Sending Your Child to College: The Prepared Parent's Operational Manual.

Sending Your Child to College is the best book I've ever seen for parent and students on what to expect at college. It literally is a manual. No wonder it has already been the winner of 25 prestigious awards. Written by Marie Pinak Carr and her three daughters, Katharine, Ann and Elizabeth, all college graduates, they were able to combine a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge into this indispensable handbook. I wish I had it before my sons left for college.

Sending Your Child to College deals with getting organized, paperwork, health care, insurance, banking, dorm rooms, campus and school resources, moving in, safety, debt, cars, travel, laundry and cleaning, alcohol and drugs, mail, hotel rooms,parent visits and more. If your child is studying in online colleges and universities, not all of the advice applies. However, much of it still can. There are many checklists, bullet lists and charts. A small example of some common sense tips that you might not think of are:

• Make sure you bring an ethernet cord in case the dorm isn't wireless.
• If you bring a printer, don't forget paper and ink refills.
• If you bring a car to school, don't forget an ice scraper.
• Don't forget to send a first aid kit with band-aids and antibacterial cream.
• Flip flops are definitely needed for the showers.
• Plan ahead of time for vacation travel plans (from my experience - planes for Thanksgiving break can sometimes fill up over the summer)

If you are already making lists so that you don't forget anything when sending your teen off to college, just buy Sending Your Child to College: The Prepared Parent's Operational Manual and you will have all the lists already made. If you are not an organized person, then you need this book even more. And parents, share this book with your college bound students. This is a great book for both of you to get information from.

See also:  
Make the Most of College Campus Visits
Can Facebook Hurt Your College Acceptance Chances?
Should Rankings Matter in College Selection?
Applying to Law School? - Think Twice

 

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Last week the season 3 premiere of The Secret Life of The American Teenager aired. The brand new ABC Family series, Pretty Little Liars, also began. ABC Family is running a contest to reward its loyal fans and to try to develop new ones.

The winner of this ABC Family contest will get:

1. The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens - This new book is "written by" Amy's younger sister, the precocious and perceptive Ashley Juergens, as an ongoing assignment from her middle school principal to express herself in an "appropriate" manner. Little does Principal Miller know what she's in for. Some of the issues that Ashley deals with in this journal are how she figured out Amy was pregnant before anyone else did, her view of her parents' marriage, what she really thinks of Lauren and Madison and Amy's real feelings for Ricky. This is a must read book for fans of The Secret Life of The American Teenager.

2. The Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume 1 on DVD

3. The Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume 2 on DVD

4. A. Pretty Little Liars tote bag

5. A newly re-released copy of the original Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard, with the ABC Family show's key art of the cover.

6. Pretty Little Liars sunglasses.

You are probably thinking there must be a lot to do for all that. There isn't. This is a simple contest. All you have to do is join the Connect with your Teens Facebook Fan Page, and write a comment below why you would like to win this contest. That is it. Just one entry per person. Couldn't be simpler. The contest closes at the end of next Monday, June 21st.

All new episodes of The Secret Life Of The American Teenager air on ABC Family Mondays at 8/7c. The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens is a new book inspired by Secret Life that goes on sale June 15, 2010. Pretty Little Liars is the newest original ABC Family series airing Tuesday nights at 8/7c, and stars Lucy Hale (Privileged), Troian Bellisario (NCIS), Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson (Eastwich, Days Of Our Lives), Laura Leighton (Melrose Place) and Chad Lowe (24).

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I am absolutely amazed by The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks, a fun, highly educational, safe online adventure for tweens aged 7 to 14. The virtual world is huge and allows players to travel around the world, through time and space, meet famous historical people, play dozens of fun enriching games, make new friends, buy, build, wear, explore, solve and become a legendary traveler. That is a lot of activity for one website.

The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks is based on story book series so the adaptation offers a rich storyline and engaging characters. Players are compelled to read and understand the missions and not just plunge right in. This is probably the largest virtual world for kids in terms of size, graphics and features. Over 100 different locations, more than 50 games and many historical people, animals, plants, inventions, architectures and countries are included. Check out a preview of the virtual world below:



Some of the many features of The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks that have caused it to win so many award and accolades from experts, educators, parents and players are:

• A strong storyline - the environment of the virtual world is story-driven.
• Immersive learning - famous landmarks, historical people, inventions, culture and more are all part of the story.
• Environment - through their travels teens will learn about global warming, forest preservation, the protection of marine life and endangered animals.
• Cultures - experience different cultures and make friends from a variety of backgrounds.
• Safety - Many safety features.
• Preparation for the Future
• FUN

The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks also has a parenting section where parents can learn all about the virtual world, including the geography, history and environment their kids will be discovering and the safety features of the website. If you would like to read other reviews in addition to mine, there are many in the review section. If you want your 7-14 year old child, tween or teens to have an amazingly fun and educational experience, then introduce them to The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks.

See also:  
Education and Technology #140edu Conference Day 2
Sony Virtual World Free Online Games for Teens and Tweens
Online Video Games Can Improve Our World
 

 

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A big movie coming out this summer that should be great for all ages is the new Walt Disney The Socrcerer's Apprentice, starring Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel. Nic Cage is always fun and I've been a fan of Jay Baruchel since he starred in the Judd Apatow comedy series Undeclared.

In this new Sorcerer's Apprentice - "Good vs. Evil", Jerry Bruckheimer has created an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer, his hapless apprentice and the ancient conflict between good and evil. Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (ALFRED MOLINA).  Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (JAY BARUCHEL), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. 

Once I watched the trailer, I was convinced that I wanted to see this movie. Click on the link below and see for yourself: 
The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer

The Sorcerer's Apprentice reunites Nicolas Cage, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Turtletaub, the star, producer and director of the National Treasure series. The movie opens in the United States on Wednesday, July 14th. Try to see it with your family.

See also: 23 Summer Movies for Teens and Tweens 2010

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Although I haven't written about mealtime as an important way of connecting with your teens because it has nothing to do with pop culture or technology, and because my family has never been very good at it, I couldn't stay away any longer when I found Barilla's Share The Table" project. This new updated website offers more than 700 recipes and expert tips, interactive tools, giveaways and contests to improve the dinnertime experience for families.

Families that share their stories online of how they connect around the table will be entered to win a month's worth of groceries to help keep the family meal tradition going strong. Check out what others have to say about the successes and struggles they've had with their teens at dinnertime.

Barilla has also agreed to donate $1 to the Meals On Wheels Association of America for every person who commits to enjoying meaningful meals with their family and friends. Those visitors will also be offered a downloadable collection of delicious and easy to make recipes from renowned chef, Mario Batali.

How can you go wrong? Go to Share Your Table, commit to family meals with your teens, tweens or kids, get free recipes, share your stories and help Meals on Wheels. Everyone benefits. I think I'm going to make lasagna tonight.

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Do you remember making paper fortune tellers with your friends when you were young. As a young girl, the ones my friends and I made always consisted of boys names and we would ask, "who am I going to marry?" Thankfully, Cahootie has now come along to make those folded pieces of paper into educational conversation starters. Now tweens can still have fun with this origami product, but can learn and discuss more about their lives than the name of the guy they will marry.

There are two different sets of Cahootie products. The original set, which is very discussion oriented consists of Girl Wonders, Best Friends Forever, My Fab Family, Would You?, My Fab Future, Truth or Dare, Wishes & Dreams, Birthday Wishes, Sporty Girls and Republican. There is also a great Party Pack that includes six Cahootie themes.

Recently Cahootie partnered with Animal Planet to develop a new line of educational, animal-themed games featuring engaging questions and challenges about the species of the world. This line is more educationally driven. Tweens will learn fun facts about their favorite animals and discover species they never knew existed. The four current products in this line are Cats Rule, Dogs Rule, Endangered Creatures and Sea Creatures.

All Cahootie products are recommended for ages 7 and up. These are great toys for parents to use and play with their tweens. Parents will feel nostalgic for the paper fortune teller game of their youth. The conversation starting questions will help parents and teens bond. And everyone will learn using the Animal Planet Cahooties . What more can you ask for in an inexpensive toy for your tweens?

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When our kids become teens, they tend to spend more and more time with their friends and less time with their parents. So great fathers day gifts would be any that involve time together and bonding. Also, since very few teens have very much money of their own, inexpensive is a good quality in fathers day gifts also. Here are some unique suggestions for teens who don't want to get their dads a tie or shaving cream for fathers day:

1. Make your dad a video game or better yet, make a video game together - KODU Game Lab from Microsoft FuseLabs allows anyone to make games for free. Kodu is a visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed for children but enjoyable for anyone. Kodu can be used on the Xbox or a PC. From the website, "FUSE Labs experiences give users new ways to create, connect and collaborate with the people, information and ideas that matter to them".

2. Does you dad love rock music? Is this something that you share? Omnibus Press publishes books that would make great fathers day gifts. Some of the many fascinating titles are 25 Albums that Rocked the World, The Book of Rock Quotes and biographies on hundreds of rock legends.

3. Does you dad have an iPad? There is almost so much more to know on these gadgets than meets the eye. A new O'Reilly Media book, iPad: the missing manual will help you and your dad harness the tremendous potential of Apple's iPad. You will find clear step-by-step instructions, shortcuts, workarounds and practical time-saving advice. iPad: the missing manual is available in print or as an e-book. (See review of this book at iPad: The Missing Manual - Learn ALL the iPad's Features )

4. Connect with your father through your favorite movies and TV shows. If you already have favorites that you both love, maybe buy some of the DVDs or Blu-rays so that you can watch them together anytime. Or better yet, offer to watch one of your dad's favorite TV shows or movies with him. Buy or rent or stream his favorite and then watch together.

5. Discover music with your dad. A great new site to try out is Stereomood. This website suggests songs for every mood. Think of it as emotional Internet radio. You can choose a mood or activity, such as optimistic, chillout or reading. You will then see a few playlists within different subgroups of moods or activities. For a few other great music websites to share with your dad, see 3 Great Music Websites You Might Not Know About.

6. If your dad has an iPhone or iPod touch and loves gadgets and watching TV, then he will love the Universal IR Remote Control App and Accessory. They combine to create a universal remote control that can work in any room of your home. When you are away from home, you still have the power to change channels and volume on other TVs. Wifi is not needed. With customization there is no limit on what this remote can do.

7. Buy your dad a video game that you can enjoy together. For some suggestions, see Video Games Teens and Parents Can Play Together.

8. If you are leaving for college soon, it would be great if both you and your dad had webcams to keep in touch with. If you don't both already have one, then they would make a great gift. Two that I can personally recommend is a new webcam for Skype called the FREETALK Everyman HD8 and the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000, which can be used with skype or with Logitech's own eay-to-use calling software. For grandfathers that might not have adapted to computers, consider the Asus Video Phone Touch, a video calling box without a computer.

9. If you would like to turn your dad on to some of your music, get him an iPod shuffle (they have really come down in price) and fill it with your favorite music that you also think he might like.

Have a great time on Fathers Day.

See also:   
Powerbag for Teens, Travelers and Techies
Grateful DeadOpoly Pop Culture Board Game
Charitable Gift Ideas for the Holidays
Case-Mate Designer Cases Make Great Holiday Gifts for Teens and Adults
Never Forget Your Cell Phone with Bringrr Car Gadget

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Last night I saw the cast of White Collar, one of my favorite TV shows, speak at the Paley Center. I was planning on writing about the talk on my Television Examiner page, but something the cast said made me change my mind. They spoke about fans telling them that they watched White Collar with their families. They have fans of all ages. That is when I kicked myself for never realizing before that White Collar is a perfect television series to recommend for parents and teens to watch together.

Before I get to what happened at the Paley Center, let me introduce the cast for those that have never watched the show. You probably already know them all because they all have been on very high profile shows. Beginning with the supporting actors, we have Willie Garson, best know as Stanford in Sex and the City, Sharif Atkins, Gallant from ER, Tiffani Thiessen, most famous from Beverly Hills 90210 and Marsha Thomason who played Naomi on Lost!

Then there are the two amazing leads of White Collar. There is the amazingly handsome Matthew Bomer that Chuck fans will know as Bryce Larkin. He is absolutely perfect in the part of a con man helping the FBI. As the FBI agent, the adorable Tim DeKay has recently been on Tell Me You Love Me and Carnivale, but to me he will always be Bizarro Jerry from Seinfeld.

White Collar shoots in New York and airs on USA, whose slogan is Characters Welcome. Unlike other crime related shows, this is suitable for the entire family. It is very character driven and has a great sense of humor to it.

Now, on the the Paley Center discussion. All of the cast above were there except for Tiffani Thiessen (she is very pregnant). They talked about the differences in shooting a show in New York compared to L.A. such as dealing with snow storms and writers that are more familiar with L.A. neighborhoods. When asked whether the cast was on twitter, it turns out that only Tiffani tweets. Somebody said that Tiffany had been tweeting that day about her pregnancy. Tim then said that Tiffany had texted him about it and he had felt honored that she was sharing this with him. He didn't know she was also sharing this with the world. It was very funny.

Everyone agreed that the show is much more about the characters than the capers. Love is an important part of White Collar. Peter and Neal bonded in the pilot when they were talking about their loves. The cast discussed the fantastic locations in NYC that the show has been able to get. Even Willie Garson, who spent years on Sex and the City, can't believe it.

The writers of White Collar are actually out in Los Angeles. The NY crew has been very helpful in saying what will and will not work in NYC. When asked if there might be a crossover with any other USA shows, the producer said absolutely not, but Willie Garson said "if Neal breaks his leg, is there a doctor nearby, maybe in the Hamptons?" (Royal Pains!) It was hard to tell who to believe. One could only hope it was Willie.

The cast couldn't have been funnier, sweeter and more enjoyable to watch, just as they are on White Collar. I highly recommend this show. And as I said before, it is perfect for all ages and it is a great show to discuss. Very often it is hard to tell if Neal, the ex-Con Man, is going back to his old ways. There are many ambiguities to talk about and a lot to laugh about. The new season of White Collar premieres on Tuesday night, July 13th at 9pm ET on USA.

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With all the excitement about The Secret Life of the American Teenager returning and Pretty Little Liars premiering, make sure you check out another new series debuting this month on ABC Family, Huge, starring Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray fame. Funny, heartbreaking and provocative, Huge follows the lives of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp, as they discover their true selves and the truth about each other.

The television series, a one-hour relationship drama, is based on Sasha Paley's book Huge. Nikki Blonsky portrays Willamina, a funny rebellious, sardonic teen, who is sent to fat camp by her parents. The camp is run by Dr. Rand, played by Firefly's Gina Torres. Also starring Hayley Hasselhoff and Zander Eckhouse.

Huge will premiere on ABC Family on Monday June 28th at 9pm ET. Immediately after is the season premiere of Make It of Break It at 10pm.

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Here are 10 fascinating articles on pop culture or technology that I thoroughly enjoyed this week:

1. Best Video Ever: Unanswered Lost Questions - Off On a Tangent

2. 6 Top iPhone Apps for voracious Readers - My Life Scoop

3. MTV Movie Award Spoofs You Must See Again - Buzz Sugar

4. What iPads did to my Family - SobelMedia

5. McAdams On: The Definition of TV - TVB Television Broadcast

6. Messing around with Google Maps - a few tricks - Google Tutor

7. Handicapping the 2010 Emmys: Official Ballot Miscellany - Cultural Learnings

8. GeekDad Falls Head Over Heels With Lego: A Love Story - GeekDad

9. The breezy 'Drop Dead Diva' returns - The Watcher

10. The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years - Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch

Hope you enjoyed these articles. I am going to try to reinstate this as a regular Sunday series. Do you think I should?

See also:
Roundup of Best of 2010 Lists, Articles, and Video



 

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Discover the royal ladies of The Secret Lives of Princesses. With imagination, humor and beautiful art, this over-sized, book is a fun sophisticated and witty take on princesses, perfect for the tween age group.

The princesses in The Secret Lives of Princesses are not the ones in the fairy tales you grew up with. There are an enormous variety of them, all fascinating, unusual and special individuals. These princesses do not need to conform to rigid principles about identity.

As children, you probably read your daughters about Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Maybe they are now ready to learn about the secret lives of princesses they've never heard of, such as Princess Claire Voyant, who can see into the future and Princess Babbling Brooke, who chatters on about everything. The Secret Lives of Princesses will help both mothers and daughters celebrate the inner princess in themselves.

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As a parent, it’s important to get involved with your local Parent Teacher Association, as you can make a difference in your child’s education now and in the future.  If you agree, then you might want to take part in an upcoming exclusive LIVE online webcast event on Thursday, June 10th at 1:30PM ET. 

At this year’s national convention there will be much to tackle:

• The nation’s K-12 public education system is in crisis.
• Our students lag behind compared to children in other countries in math and science - which is not a plus for their futures in a global economy and job market.
• Our schools also face widespread funding shortages, a childhood obesity epidemic and unbalanced academic standards all across the country.

In this LIVE webcast event from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, National PTA President Chuck Saylors will be joined by actress, mother and National PTA Advisory Board member Tichina Arnold, National PTA representatives and Ambassadors; Tomeka Hart, Executive director of Memphis Urban League, University of Memphis student representative; as well as Barbara Andrews, director of Education and Interpretation for National Civil Rights Museum.  They will be discussing the challenges of educating the 21st century child in today’s classroom, and what needs to be done to close the achievement gap in education.

Sign up to view the National PTA webcast live. During this webcast event you’ll have the opportunity to email your questions and have them potentially answered live during the event. Understanding what is happening with your child's education is an important step in discussing it with them.

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I recently attended a Youth Game Design Workshop which was part of the Games for Change Festival held in NYC last week. Games for Change is dedicated to the new movement of using digital games for social change, including education. The game design for youth program was created especially for teachers, after school program leaders and mentors to incorporate this new learning experience that teaches teens many of the skills they need in today's world.

"...game design is an activity that allows learners to build technical, technological, artistic, cognitive, social, and linguistic skills suitable for our current and future world. Beyond their value as entertainment media, digital games and game modification are currently key entry points for many young people into digital literacy, social communities, and tech-savvy identities." Gamestar Mechanic Learning Guide

Some of the many wonderful educational programs that I learned about at the festival were:

1. World Wide Workshop - A non-profit educational organization that develops social media and game production technology to enrich education with the latest technology and learning opportunities. Doing this helps close the digital literacy gap, helps students learn by doing and helps them achieve digital literacy.

In 2006, The World Wide Workshop created Globaloria, a program which prepares teens 12 and up to create educational games. They learn game design and programming for their own development and for the social benefit for their communities. While doing this, students also learn science, technology, engineering, math, wiki formatting, writing and multimedia production skills. So far, Globaloria is in schools in West Virginia and Texas but has plans to expand.

2. P4Games - P4Games stands for Pixels, Programming, Play & Pedagogy and is an organization which explores the creation of interactive videogames as a project based teaching method in high schools. P4 has two programs. The Teachers Game Institute teaches the teachers, while the other project is teaching video game creation skills directly to high school students in summer camps. Students learn visual arts, computer programming, game design and technology.

3. Institute of Play - The Institute of Play promotes gaming literacy - the play, analysis and creation of games as a foundation for learning, innovation and change. The institute has a variety of platforms in which it supports with its "toolkits" for their own programs. Programs include Mobo Studeio: Activate!, an afterschool program, Being Me, an online social netwrok and integrated wellness curriculum and Smallab, a suite of game-based learning models.

In addition to these programs, the Institute of Play led the design of a school, Quest to Learn, in NYC. Quest to Learn is a school for digital kids from 6th grade and up. Quest opened with a 6th grade class in the Fall of 2009 and will add a new grade each year. The focus is on learning based on access to online resources and tools from around the globe, learning that supports customized content for every student that is game-like in its ability to inspire and motivate.

Miracles Technology Academy - A technology-based program for tweens 9-13. This is an after school program in conjunction with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

PETlab - A joint project from Parsons The New School for Design and Games for Change. Support comes from the MacArthur Foundation's Digital Media and Learning Initiative. PETlab is not about teens making video games, but about learning through them. It is a public interest game design and research lab that develops new games, simulations, and play experiences which encourage experimental learning and investigation into social and global issues.

Education must include change to keep relevant in today's world. To keep up, students need to learn more than just how to use a computer and the Internet. Teens will learn better if they are having fun. Teaching teens to create video games, and playing educational video games, will help give them the tools and skills they need to thrive. Hopefully many students who love video games will go on to earn an engineering or an online computer science degree. Students don't have to learn the same boring way that we did anymore. Why listen to a teacher talk all day, when you can actually learn by doing.

See also:
Education and Technology #140edu Conference Day 2
Online Video Games Can Improve Our World
5 Interesting Video Game News Websites

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Since you are reading this blog, you probably are trying to keep up-to-date with pop culture and technology so that you can discuss these topics with teens and tweens and better connect with them. However, not all conversations can be about entertainment, gadgets and websites. Asking teenagers questions such as "how was school today?" or "what's new?" will usually get you nowhere.

I have found two great resources for questions you can ask your teens and tweens that will help ignite conversations:

1. Table Topics - Table Topics consists of a giant stack of cards, housed in a clear box. Each card has one discussion provoking question. There are a variety of card sets:
Table Topics Orange Teen Edition Conversation Cards - For teens to use with their parents or friends.
Table Topics Conversation Cards - Family Edition - For parents and kids of all ages.
Table Topics Conversation Cards - Family Gathering Edition - Great for when the extended family gets together.

There are also sets on specific topics such as Travel, the 80s and Book Club. And, if you are looking for something just for adults you will find, Table Topics Dinner Party, Couples Edition, Bachelorette Party and more.

2. KidChat - KidChat: 222 Creative Question to Spark Conversations. This paperback book, along with the follow-ups, KidChat Too: 212 All-New Questions to Ignite the Imagination, KidChat Gone Wild!: 202 Creative Questions to Unleash the Imagination and others can be used with kids of all ages. Some questions may be more appropriate for certain ages, but there are enough cards that there is something for everyone. These thin books are easy to take with you anywhere.

Getting teens to open up isn't easy. They aren't going to make the effort, at this age they care more about talking to friends. But they will usually talk if parents make the effort to find things that their teens might want to discuss. In addition to pop culture and technology, Table Topics and KidChat will provide you with even more conversation topics than ever.

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