Many people I know, including myself, have not signed up to use the social networking website for smartphones, Foursquare. After sitting down to speak with some people from Foursquare, I realized that my reasons for not using the service were all based on erroneous assumptions. I signed on immediately and am now a Foursquare convert.

These are the misconceptions that I had about Foursquare and the real truth:

1. I thought that the only thing to do on Foursquare was to check in and find find out where people were.

There is so much more to do, that you can belong to Foursquare and not even follow anyone and still use it constantly. You can:

• Get personalized restaurant recommendations that you can customize by searching an area as little as 1/4 mile to as big as 10 miles and choose any of the given topics or choose your own search terms.
• Check in to a restaurant and read all the tips left behind from past Foursquare customers.
• Get specials only available for Foursquare customers when you check in.
• Write your own page of tips and be seen as an expert.
• Make a to-do list of places that you want to visit by searching an area that you will be traveling to in advance and saving the locations that you want to see.

2. I thought that the whole world would see my check ins and know where I was.

The only people that will see my Foursquare check ins are my Foursquare friends, unless I decided to share my check in on Twitter or Facebook. As of now, my husband and I are thinking of just friending each other. Since each of us goes out often due to work related events, Foursquare will make it easy for us to keep track of where the other is.


I think that the two misconceptions above are the main reasons that most people above 35 or so are not using Foursquare. The social networking component is great for those in college and their twenties; I know that I would have loved to have something like Foursquare back then. However, just because you don't want people knowing where you are is no reason not to enjoy the many other benefits that Foursquare has to offer. To me, Foursquare is the best restaurant finding app I've ever had.

See also:
How Teens Use Technology in Their Social Lives: Ericsson CES Preview
Wikets App Rewards Social Recommendations

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Do your teens have trouble waking up for school in the morning? Do you find it difficult to get them out of bed for school? Maybe a celebrity will have an easier time waking them up than you do. Have your teen sign up for Wake Up & Get Schooled! and he can receive a recorded wake up call from a celebrity.

Wake Up & Get Schooled runs until the end of the school year, June 2012. Your teen only needs to fill out the Wake Up form and choose a time for the call. Calls can only be received in the United States and you must be at least 13 years old. These are some of the young celebrities involved, however more are being added all the time:

•    Wiz Khalifa
•    Nicki Minaj
•    Mindless Behavior
•    Trey Songz
•    Greyson Chance
•    Ciara
•    Jesse McCartney
•    Sway Calloway 


Wake Up & Get Schooled! is a project of Get Schooled, a non-profit focused on keeping young people in school. They do this by connecting with teens through digital and social media sites and by working with schools, school districts, cities, media organizations and celebrities.

If trying wake your teenager every day is torture, why not try something fun. It is completely free, so go for it. Let your teen Wake Up & Get Schooled!

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Hamlet's Blackberry: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age by William Powers is a wonderful commentary of the pros and cons of life in our current digital world. Powers is not anti-technology by any means. His position is that we cannot fully live in the moment and enjoy our lives, love and work if we are always connected.

As someone who is often connected, I completely agree. At home, I am on my computer most of the time. But when I am out, I want to experience what I am seeing and doing. So often I am at an exciting event or sightseeing and I see others spending their time texting, tweeting or even taking non-stop pictures that they never see what is happening live in-the-moment. This line from Hamlet's Blackberry says it all:

"Standing at a crosswalk in midtown Manhattan one day waiting for the light to change, I realized that the eight or ten other pedestrians standing around me were all staring into screens. Here they were in one of the greatest cities in the history of civilization, surrounded by a rich array of sights, sounds, and faces, and they were running away from it all, blocking it out."

The first half of Hamlet's Blackberry deals with Powers and his family and their ultimate solution of disconnecting on the weekends. Many people might have trouble doing that. However, I think that it is important to try to force yourself to disconnect sometimes. Stop worrying about missing out on a call or a text; you might be missing a rainbow or a shooting star.

The second half of the book talks about philosophers Plato, Seneca, Gutenberg, Shakespeare, Ben Franklin,Thoreau and Marshall McLuhan and how they had to find solutions for dealing with the new technologies in their time. Some with love this section, others will probably skip over it, depending on your love of history and philosophy.

As I said at the beginning, Powers leads a very connected digital life and the book is pro-technology. Hamlet's Blackberry is all about trying to make your digital life better by cutting back a little so that you can appreciate the world outside. You might also want to take a look at the Information Overload website, if you have any further interest in this area.

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If you ask any parent, what was the stage of life that your children were in that caused you the most worrying as a parent?", the answer will almost always be, when they got their drivers licenses and became new drivers. There is nothing worse than knowing that your young and inexperienced teenager is out driving, especially at night. I think parents lose more sleep during this time than during the newborn years.

What can we do? With my sons, all I could do was talk to them as much as I could about safety and the dangers that could happen and pay for additional drivers education lessons above the minimum mandated by the state. However, there is now a product, the iTeen365 Monitoring Unit, that enables you to monitor your teen's driving habits and helps mentor them as well. I have not tested this product, but from everything I have read, it sounds like something I wish I had when my teens began driving.


Watch this video all about iTeen365 and then read all about how it works:



This is how the iTeen365 works:
1. You purchase the iTeen365 online and when it arrives it is installed by a professionally trained authorized dealer (included in the price) It is connected to the car battery so it will never lose power.
 
2. The iTeen365 is in a place where it can't be tampered with.
 
3. Parents will get these updates or alerts on their computers or mobile phones.

•       The location and speed of the car while the ignition is on
•        Real-time movement of the vehicle - see car on the map
•        Driving after hours alert
•        Driving outside of a predetermined area alert
•        Excess speed alert
•       Tracking history is stored for a full year.

4. Your teen will most likely drive more responsibly knowing that you are able to monitor his behavior.
 
5. You may be able to get an auto insurance discount because the GPS tracking device in the car will make it easy to locate in case of theft.
 
6. Although this device can be used secretly, without your teen knowing it, I highly recommend against it. You would be losing out on one of the biggest benefits - the fact that they know you are watching will by itself keep them driving more safely. And why risk hurting your relationship?

The iTeen365 website also has an entire section for parents of teens of advice, facts, statistics and videos about teens and driving. There is also an iTeen365 Blog with great articles on the topic. The product isn't cheap at $289.95, plus approximately $20 a month for service, but I spent much more than that for the first fender bender, not counting the toll it took to my heart during the few seconds between hearing my teenage son say, "I was in an accident" and "I'm fine".

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Although Halloween hasn't even arrived yet, I already feel it is time to begin my holiday gift recommendations. In addition to individual articles, I've divided by holiday gift guide list posts into so many different categories this year, that if I don't begin now, I'll never get them all in.

The title of this first guide, 5 Useful Teen Gifts for the Holidays, might appeal to parents more than teens, however your teens will enjoy the actual gifts.

1. Livescribe echo smartpen - Livescribe's newest smartpen does everything. You teen will never have to worry about note taking again. When the pen is used with the Livescribe notebooks, any notes taken can be automatically transferred to your computer. However, the best part is that the pen also picks up all the audio while it is on, so that even if you only jot down bits and pieces of a lecture, you can have the complete class recorded and downloaded to your computer and synched with your notes. Can you think of a more useful present for a student?

2. NewYu Connected Fitness Moniter - Unlike pedometers which only count steps, the newyu fitness monitor tracks all physical activity you do, including, biking, elliptical, cooking, cleaning and shopping. You just clip the small lightweight monitor to a waistband, collar of sleeve and leave it on all day. You can then snyc your information to your computer via USB adapter or to an android phone app via bluetooth. Your dashboard will display charts and data to help you set and achieve goals.

3. Cygnett iPad accessories - Although Cygnett sells a variety of electronics and accessories, I am especially impressed with those for the iPad. I originally bought the cover that Apple sells for the iPad2 and then quickly realized that there is nothing covering the bottom of the iPad. Also, the Apple cover easily falls off in a fall. If you've spent the money to get your teen an iPad in the first place, then you want it protected. Cygnett cases come in a variety of styles and colors, allow your iPad to stand, and are very reasonably priced. If you have one iPad for the family and you are going on a driving trip, you can buy Cygnett Car Mount for the iPad. You attach it the the back of the front seat and the back seat passengers can watch videos.

4. Openbucks Gift Cards - I usually don't recommend gift cards as a gift, however Openbucks gift cards are different. You buy a gift card from one of many retailers, including, Subway, CVS and Sports Authority. However, your teenager can use the gift card either at that store or on one of several online websites, many of which which are online games. Some of the websites include Aeria Games, Artix Entertainment, Bigpoint and World Golf Tour. This way your teens can play without the need for a credit card.  (obviously, this is not a gift that I would give a younger teen or tween, but could make a great gift for an older teen or college student).

5. For Beginners Books - This Graphic YA Nonfiction Book Series covers a range of topics in a humorous comic book style. I received a copy of Democracy for Beginners to review, which I am enjoying very much. Some of the many other topics available are Art Theory, Ayn Rand, Global Warming, Linguistics, Malcolm X, Olympics, Philosophy and Zen.  These are great books for teens to read before or in case they don't cover these topics in school.

I hope you found something in here that would make a good gift for your teens. Please come back because I have many more gift recommendations to come.

Full Disclosure: I received a free Cygnett case and car mount to review. I also received a free Livescribe Echo Pen in a gift bag from a completely unrelated event without being asked to review it. I haven't received anything from Openbucks or NewYu. 

See also:   
SensoGlove - Best Golf Gift under $100
Powerbag for Teens, Travelers and Techies
Best Books for Teens for Holiday Gifts 2011
Best Holiday Gift Posts Compilation
Unique Holiday Present for Teens and Tweens - Rockboard Scooter
Nanoblocks for Teenagers and Adults

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It might not always be easy to find video games that teenagers and parents can both enjoy, especially if you want something for both sexes. That is why I was excited to find Everybody Dance and Sports Champions for the PlayStation 3, to be used with the Move controllers. They are not only great fun, but great exercise.

Everybody Dance
Just released on October 18th, Everybody Dance includes 40 songs and many great features in addition to just following a dance routine:

• Party - Play against up to 20 other players and see who gets the highest score
• Dance Creator- Create your own routines
• Dance Workout - Create a personal fitness profile and set up an exercise program with your favorite dance routines
• Dance Class - Use this to practice a difficult song in smaller sections until you get it right

While you are playing Everybody Dance, the built in camera records your every move and plays it back for you to see. This can be good so that you can see how you need to improve. Or it can be great family entertainment, as when we watched my playback and I cringed and my family thought it was very funny. You can even upload your video to Facebook or Twitter, although you will NOT be seeing any of my videos there.

Other features in Everybody Dance include the ability to sing along with different microphone options and the ability to purchase extra songs. All in all, it is great fun, great exercise and a great video game for teens and parents to play.

Sports Champions
I think my family enjoyed this even more than the dance game, but only because they are all male. Sports Champions has a fun, unique choice of games and the Move controller is very light and easy to hold. The six games in Sports Champions are:

• Disc Golf
• Gladiator Duel
• Archery
• Beach Volleyball
• Bocce
• Table Tennis

If you want to make the game more competitive you can play in Champion Cup Mode and compete for bronze, silver and gold cups to unlock prizes. You can also perfect your skills in the Learn to Play mode.

Sports Champions is fun for the entire family and is rated E for everyone. This a video game that will easily bring family members together for a day of fun and bonding.

Full Disclosure: I received both games for free to review. 

See also:   
LittleBigPlanet 2: Most Creative Video Game For All Ages
Meet PlayStation Family
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011
 

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Kids can make a difference. The founders of TrashCanKidz have given them a place where they can do that, and also have fun while learning and playing. The online game is designed to teach kids and tweens about helping some of the less fortunate children of the world and TrashCanKidz is committed to contributing 20% of all revenues to improving their lives.

There are many aspects to TrashCanKids:

The Game
The online game is the crux of the website. Aimed at 5-12 year olds, they learn about making a difference both socially and environmentally. The kids also learn that they can accomplish this without help and feel empowered. During the game, each player adopts a TrashCanKid and unlocks clothes and home items specific to that kid. Then they must take care of the kid and play mini-games to upgrade its happiness levels and eventually upgrade its home from a trashcan to a cool shack.

While the game is free, kids that become members can access additional items, unlock additional areas on the Forgotten World map and participate in new quests and mini-games. TrashCanKidz is a completely child friendly and safe environment.

The Dolls
You can buy a TrashCan CarryMeKidz. They are 14" tall and soft and huggable. Each one comes in its own clear plastic trash can with a personalized blanket and adoption certificate.  There are currently 5 different characters for sale with 5 more coming soon. Each character in the TrashCanKidz story has its own very unique story and each doll comes with its own unique number. When you enter the number in you online profile, you get 2 free months of membership in TrashCanKidz. The only place to purchase these doll is in the TrashCanKidz online store, where you can also buy little character figurines and trading cards.

The Charity
EasthKidz International, the heart of TrashCanKidz, is the Trust set up, exclusively for the upliftment of some of the millions of Orphans, Vulnerable and Street Children in the world today. In collaboration with global partners, EarthKidz International will identify suitable beneficiary projects and highlight them on TrashCanKidz. Subscribers and buyers of TrashCanKidz products will be asked to nominate the project they would like to support. They will then receive feedback from their nominated project.

I attended a launch party for TrashCanKidz and met the founder, Sean Roelofsz, and COO, Hannes Soll. They were so passionate and excited about this project, you could feel it. If you have kids or tweens in the approximate age range on 5-12, I recommend you try out this website with them. I am a big believer in learning through play and the TrashCanKidz online game has something special to teach.

See also:   
2 New Safe Tween Social Websites
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011

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I was recently invited by ISIS (Internet Sexuality Information Services, Inc.) to attend a briefing on Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Digital Age, hosted by ISIS and the Ford Foundation. As I am far from an expert in the area of teen sex, I was surprised to be invited at first, until I realized that it was all about getting information to teens about sex through the use of technology.

ISIS, with the help of funding from the Ford Foundation, recently completed a White Paper, TECHsex USA, on this topic, and this event briefing was held to share and discuss it. Click here to download the full TECHsex USA White Paper. Deb Levine, Executive Director and Founder of ISIS, led the briefing.

Here are the major findings of TECHsex USA:

1. When it comes to online search, young men are more likely to search for topics relating to arousal while young women search for health and emotional topics. To get young men and women into sexual health sites, different types of content in social media will be needed.

2. Even though youth of color might not have smart phones, they are still utilizing advanced functions such as web surfing and video viewing on their entry level phones.

3. Although youth love Facebook, it is not a place they feel comfortable sharing sensitive information. However, it might still be a good place to get their attention.

4. Urban youth of color turn to search engines first when they have a question about sex.

5. Youth of color would most like to get their advice about sex from text messages to their phones. They would also live to receive videos (ex. what to do if a condom breaks).

6. The study concludes that social media, casual online games and mobile phones can compliment traditional classroom and other sex education because they have a wide reach, are inexpensive and more efficient, and can provide easy access to free and low-cost youth-friendly health services.

Some of the projects that ISIS has created are Hookup, a sexual health text messaging program for youth throughout California and InSPOT, an STD partner notification web site. They also hold an annual conference on new media youth & sexual health, Sex::Tech.

Other speakers at the briefing were Sarah Audelo, Senior Manager of Domestic Policy at Advocates for Youth, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of Choice USA, and Elizabeth Schroeder, Executive Director of Answer, a national sexuality education organization based at Rutgers University. Answer has created an award-winning Teen-to-Teen Sexuality Education Project, the cornerstone of which is Sex,Etc. Both a magazine and a Web site, Sex, Etc. is written by teens, for teens.

Needless to say, I was thrilled to meet so many people that are doing such wonderful things to help the health of our youth. I am thankful to do any small part I can by spreading the word about these websites and missions. Teens need to get advice on sex and reproductive health and I'm glad that these organizations are communicating with them though technology so that they will hear the messages.


See also: How Teens Use Technology in Their Social Lives: Ericsson CES Preview

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If you are a parent of teens, you know that quite often they can be irresponsible, even with their expensive gadgets. My son has dropped his iPhone many times, resulting in cracked screens. Adults even have accidents. Without getting into the whole story, my husband's iPhone one dropped into a lake on a golf course. The new LifeProof iPhone cases would have prevented anything from happening to these iPhones when they were dropped to the ground or into water. And they also protect against so much more.

LifeProof cases currently are made only for the iPhone 4 and 4s, however they will be adding a case for the iPad2 soon. The case protects against:

• Dirt - dust, sand, grit and mud
• Water - swim, surf, rain and drinks (yes, you can actually take your phone swimming or even in a hot tub)
• Snow - ice, snow, sleet, cold
• Shock - drops, knocks, tumbles (tested to 6.6 ft drops)

Most protective cases on the market are very thick and too bulky to easily carry around. The LifeProof case is not. It is the size of an average case so it will easily fit into a jeans pocket or a purse. It comes in black, white, pink and purple and many accessories are also for sale in the LifeProof store.

If you are not convinced yet, just watch this LifeProof video:




The LifeProof iPhone cases are by no means just for teens. They would be great for fitness enthusiasts, swimmers, skiers, young families, outdoor adventurers, the accident prone and anyone that wants to keep their phone clean, dry and protected.

Full Disclosure: I received a LifeProof case for free to review.

See also:  Powerbag for Teens, Travelers and Techies

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If you are trying to think of gifts for your teenagers or any other family members, if they enjoy reading, there are many books and book related items that make great gifts. The three websites below are all places where you might find an interesting book or reading related gift.

1. Bookperk - Bookperk is a subdomain of Harper Collins Publishers that pairs new and bestselling books with exclusive merchandise and interactive author experiences to create unique items for for book lovers. The extras are usually things such as a poster, tote bag or signature on the book and all purchases include free shipping. There are books for all ages.

2. GoneReading - GoneReading sells Gifts for Readers - Gifts for Book Lovers. However the best thing about this website is that GoneReading donates all year-end profits to fund reading libraries and other literacy projects in the developing world. GoneReading also has a blog to provide book lovers with news, tips and resources. The GoneReading store actually does not sell books. The gifts in this store are shirts mugs, bags, etc. with cute sayings such as "Take Me To Your Reader" or "Gone Reading".

3. Just the Right Book! - This is a reading recommendation/purchase website for yourself or for a gift. There are sections on Gifts for Kids, Gifts for Teens, Fantasy Kids/Teens, Gifts for Adults, Mystery for Adults and Indulge Yourself, which are all sent as a series of 4, 6 or 12 books over the course of a year. There are also collections for Baby or Kids which are sent all at once.

If your teens have already gone digital, you can still buy the gifts from the GoneReading store. If your family has not yet gone digital and you are thinking of doing so, don't forget the full color Kindle Fire is coming out on November 15th and would make a great holiday gift. And, you can now purchase a regular Kindle eReader for as low as $79. If you haven't tried ebooks yet, now is the time to begin.

See also:
Best Books for Teens for Holiday Gifts 2011
5 Useful Teen Holiday Gifts
3 New Inspirational Books for Holiday Gifts

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Halloween is just around the corner. Teens can get into trouble left to their own devices on Halloween. A great idea is to let them invite friends over and watch movies. Here are some great movies to watch on Halloween, that should be perfect for teens (none are rated R, yet none are too childish):

In alphabetical order, 15 Halloween Movies for Teens:

1. BeetleJuice - One of Tim Burton's earlier films, this bizarre comedy stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Winona Ryder.

2. Bride of Frankenstein - The first sequel to the original Frankenstein movie.

3. Corpse Bride - a Tim Burton stop-motion-animated fantasy musical film.

4. Dracula - The original 1931 film starred Bela Lugosi as the title character. You could also watch Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gary Oldman.

5. Edward Scissorhands - This 1990 romantic fantasy is the first collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp and what a classic masterpiece they created. Also starring Winona Ryder.

6. The Goonies - Very popular comedy about the adventure of a group of pre-teens trying to save their homes.

7. Ghost - A romantic ghost movie starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg.

8.Ghostbusters - Blockbuster ghost comedy from 1984 starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver and Harold Ramis.

9. Hocus Pocus - Disney Halloween themed fantasy comedy starring Bette Midler. For younger teens.

10. Little Shop of Horrors - Adaptation of the off-broadway musical comedy about a vicious plant that feeds on human blood, with music from Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, the film stars Rick Moranis.

11. Poltergeist - A horror film about a family whose home is invaded by ghosts.

12. Psycho - Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic, this is the one movie on the list that is rated R. However, at the time of the rating, PG-13 did not exist, and I read that had it existed, that is what it would have been rated. For older teens.

13. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - Stop motion musical fastasy film.

14. The Witches of Eastwick - A combination of horror and comedy, starring Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon, Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer.

15. Young Frankenstein - Classic Mel Brooks parody of the Frankenstein movies.

Are there any other Halloween movies that you would recommend for teens?

See also:
30 Movies for Teens 2012
Christmas Movies and Hanukkah TV and Video for Teens
18 Best Movies for Teens Fall 2011 
Top 12 Cult Movies for Teens

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You are probably wondering why there is an article comparing books and video games. Aren't they two totally different types of media? You'd be surprised. One of my favorite articles is 10 Truths About Books and What They Have to Do With Video Games by James Paul Gee.

I would love to hear your thoughts after reading this article. Do you now think more highly of video games and see that they have many of the same benefits as reading, and even more? Had you ever realized before that books have some of the same problems that we always worried about when our kids spent too much time playing video games? Would you like to see more article on the benefits of video games. Please let me know in the comments!

See also:  
Meet PlayStation Family
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011
 

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On October 16, one of the most unique video games for tweens and teens that I've ever seen is going to launch. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure allows your kids to own a real figurine of a character from the videogame and use that toy figure to store memories and bring that character to life anywhere at anytime. This way, your teen can bring the character to a friends house and play on another game system, even a different platform, and pick up right where he or she left off.

I saw Skylanders Spyro's Adventure demoed back in February at the New York City Game Fair and I couldn't wait to write about it. Now that I have seen the final Launch trailer, I am even more excited. You must watch this:



Players put their figures on the mystical Portal of Power and they are teleported directly into the game. Propelled by a story-driven adventure, penned by Academy Award-nominated Toy Story feature film writers, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, players take on the role of a powerful Portal Master who can control over 30 different characters, including the beloved fire-breathing dragon Spyro. Players will embark on a fantastical journey into an amazing world, where they will explore mysterious, mythical lands, battle menacing outlandish creatures, collect gold and treasures, and solve interesting puzzles while on a quest to save their world from Kaos, an evil Portal Master.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure works on all major gaming systems including PlayStation 3, XBOX360, Nintendo Wii, 3Ds and PC/MAC and the same game works on all of them. The starter pack includes the gaming software, the portal of power, 3 Skylander figures, 3 trading cards, a sticker sheet, 3 Skylanders Spyro's Universe Codes and a Collector Poster. You can also purchase single character packs if you want any additional characters. You can get more information on the Skylanders website.

I haven't played or seen the finished product yet. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure launches this Sunday, October 16, 2011. But from everything I've seen and read, I think it will be a real hit.

See also:  
LittleBigPlanet 2: Most Creative Video Game For All Ages
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011
PS3 Dance and Sports Games for Family Fun and Exercise
Meet PlayStation Family
 

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In my last post I told you all about Gina Otto's inspiring and empowering, award winning children's book, Cassandra's Angel. In a move to expand her mission to inspire individuals around the globe, Otto has launched the Change My World Now website, a unique social network for kids, tweens and teens that encourages productivity, creativity and achievement.

Change My World Now is a safe, socially-conscious, values-aligned, content-driven social network for youth. The goal of the website is give kids the tools and empowerment to make a difference in the world. Parents, teachers and tweens/teens are invited to take part in a variety of partner sponsored programs.

This Change My World Now video say it all:


Gina Otto recently began a 20-city, 20-week Change My World Bus Tour. You can find the tour dates on the Change My World website. Gina's hope, with the Change My World Now initiative, is to allow our youth to break free of the pressures of today's society and inspire a movement of young leaders that will make a lasting impact on our world. If anyone can do it, Gina Otto can.

See also: 
Your LifeBox Helps Teens Follow Their Dreams to a Career
2 New Safe Tween Social Websites

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Every now and then a book comes along that is so special that you want the whole world to read it. Cassandra's Angel, an award-winning children's book written by Gina Otto, has such a simple yet empowering message, that both boys and girls, young and old, should read it.

Self Esteem
Cassandra's Angel is a beautiful lesson in self-worth and self-acceptance. Cassandra learns that she is not the negative things that people say she is. Those are just stories that aren't true.

Tolerance
Then, Cassandra's Angel takes the lesson a step further, and teaches tolerance also. Cassandra learns that the people telling her the negative stories aren't at fault because they were in the same position themselves and it created guilt and fear in them. Cassandra learns forgiveness, tolerance, self-worth and shines brightly like the star she knows she it.

Author
Gina Otto, the author of Cassandra's Angel, is one of the most amazing women I have ever met. She came up with the idea for this book after working for years in film, television and tashion and saw the damage that these industries were having on the self-perception of American girls. After writing Cassandra's Angel, Gina toured the country speaking to girls and women hoping to ignite the promise of a brighter future. Eventually, at the request of mothers, Gina expanded the platform to include boys.

Recommendation
I highly recommend Cassandra's Angel for children and tweens. It is a great message for teenagers also, if you can get them to look at a beautifully illustrated picture book. The message that every person has a gift and that no matter how bad things seem, you will find your bright light within, is so powerful within the context of a children's book that it should not be missed.

More
Stay tuned for my next post on Gina Otto's new project, the Change My World Now Initiative. For more information on the book, join the Cassandra's Angel Facebook Page.

Added:  
3 New Inspirational Books for Holiday Gifts
Goodnight iPad the Video of the Ann Droyd Book Parody
Change My World Now Website Empowers Youth
Best Books for Teens for Holiday Gifts 2011
 

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Wouldn't it be fun to share with your teens the video games that you grew up with. Since many of them were arcade games, you might think that would be difficult to do. However, Atari Arcade Duo Powered allows you to bring those classic arcade games from the 70s and 80s into your home.

Once you connect your iPad to the Atari Arcade Duo Powered, you just upload the Atari Arcade app and you are good to go. And the stand is lightweight and needs no batteries.

Watch my video review here:


The Atari Arcade is bringing back many fun memories for me and my husband. And now, we can share the fun with our sons. Teens and millennials get a kick out of these old classic arcade games. They find them quaint and can't believe how rudimentary the graphics are, but they still have fun playing them. Keep the Atari Arcade Duo Powered in mind at holiday gift time.

Full Disclosure: I received an Atari Arcade Duo Powered for free so that I could full review it. This in no way had any bearing on my review.

See also:  
Meet PlayStation Family
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011 
15 Best Video Game Holiday Gifts for Teens and Tweens
Unique Holiday Present for Teens and Tweens - Rockboard Scooter

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Kids like to tell each other about their favorite games, movies and books. However, kids or tweens under 13 are too young to use Facebook and YouTube, so where can they share their views online? KidzVuz is an online community created just for tweens, ages 7 to 12, to make their own video reviews of their favorite things.

KidzVuz is the first video website created just for tweens. It is a completely safe environment monitored by a panel of parents, where kids can have their say. Age-inappropriate videos and comments or personal information are never allowed or posted.

Here are some of the many things that your tween can do on KidzVuz:

• Upload or record a video with the integrated webcam so that there is no need to leave the computer.
• Watch the Film School video for great tips.
• Watch video reviews of other members.
• Rate video reviews of other members.
• Earn badges and points, complete missions, and follow the leaderboards.
• Create communities based on shared interests.

“KidzVuz celebrates kids in the digital world.  It’s a safe space for them to start creating their digital footprint -- expressing their views, forming virtual communities, creating their own content, and having their say” says co-founder Nancy Friedman. Co-founder Rebecca Levey adds “There are 20 million tweens in the US, with $43 billion to spend – and we want KidzVuz.com to be the place they go to find out how to spend it – not from editors or professional reviewers – but from kids like them.”

KidzVuz is completely free to use. What if your kid doesn't like books, movies and games? There are many more topics that can be reviewed on KidzVuz, such as tech, toys, magazines, food, sports, pets, travel and obsessions. Plus, there are fun polls and contests. If you have kids between the ages of 7 and 12 you should definitely check out KidzVuz, where your kid will have fun and learn essential skills in video techniques that I am just learning now.

See also: 
2 New Safe Tween Social Websites
Change My World Now Website Empowers Youth
3 New Safe Social Websites for Tweens

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Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, can be described in many different ways - as a father-son bonding movie, a root for the underdog movie, a sports movie or a science fiction robots/video game movie. It manages to succeed at all of the above and will leave you cheering.

Synopsis
In 2020, Hugh Jackman, (is there any role he can't play) is Charlie Kenton, a former boxer forced to retire when boxing is only done by robots. He is down on his luck as a robot promoter when his 11 year old son, Max, who he had never had contact with, comes to live with him for the summer. They wind up working together promoting an old robot that Max finds and bonds with.

Cast
Hugh Jackman is fantastic, as he always is. Dakota Goyo is perfect as Max, Charlies' son. I can't imagine how he did what he did at his age. Evangaline Lilly (Lost) had great chemistry with Jackman as Kenton's love interest.

Recommendations
Real Steel is somewhat predictable, however, I was so entertained that I didn't mind. I highly recommend Real Steel to almost anyone. For families, Real Steel is great for bonding. For those that love routing for underdogs, Real Steel is definitely for you. For boxing enthusiasts, go see the possible future of your sport. And for teens and other video gaming techies, go see Real Steel for the robotics. Get ready to laugh a little, cry a little and stand up and cheer.

See also: 15 Halloween Movies for Teens
 

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FIVE, an original movie premiering on Lifetime next Monday, October 10, is probably the best and most moving made-for-television movie that I have ever seen, and even ranks pretty high comparing it to theatrical movies. This anthology of Five stories dealing with breast cancer, directed by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and Alisha Keys, hit every emotion perfectly.

The Five stories are connected by one character, Pearl, played by Jeanne Tripplehorn except for the first story where Pearl is a child, played amazingly by Ava Acres. Other cast members, all of which were fantastic, include Rosario Dawson, Lyndsy Fonseca, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Holloway, Taylor Kinney, Jenifer Lewis, Jennifer Morrison, Kathy Najimy, Bob Newhart, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tony Shalhoub, Jeffrey Tambor, Annie Potts and Patricia Clarkson, one of today's best actresses, yet this may have been her best performance yet.

Please watch a preview of FIVE now:



Jennifer Aniston has been pivotal in getting this important movie about breast cancer created. She is not only one of the directors, but she also served as executive producer. She has been working hard promoting FIVE in the media. Tune into The View this Friday 10/7 to see Aniston, Demi Moore and Alicia Keys discuss this groundbreaking movie.

You can get more information about FIVE and breast cancer at My Lifetime. Five premieres on Monday night, October 10, 2011 at 9/8c. You can check the website for other times when the movie will be aired. Please don't miss these Five informative, entertaining and very moving stories.

See also:   
Stick Fly on Broadway: Review of Alicia Keys Produced Play
18 Best Movies for Teens Fall 2011
Girl Fight: Lifetime Movie Inspired by Video Beating 
J.K. Rowling Bio Lifetime Movie Review

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Music Video Games have had a big impact on gaming, music and our culture. Scott Steinberg does a great job of analyzing the rise and fall of music games and looking into their future in his new ebook, Music Games Rock: Rhythm Gaming's Greatest Hits of all Time.

Music Games Rock is a fun reference book. Most of it is made up of lists:

• Chronological listing of all video games involving music from Simon in 1978 to Rocksmith coming out this month.
• The Best Video Game Music Ever
• The Biggest Music Game Innovations
• Most Intriguing Music Game Tie-Ins
• The World's Weirdest Music Games
• Gaming's Most Unexpected Musical Cameos
• The Worst Music Games Ever

Music Games Rock also contains an analysis of the history of music games, what the future holds in store for them and the Making of stories for Guitar Hero, Rock Band and the less popular video game, Sex 'N Drugs 'N Rock 'N Roll. And since this is an ebook, there are links throughout to songs or more information. You could not ask for more, especially for $2.99.

Scott Steinberg, the author of Music Games Rock, is the CEO of technology and video game consulting firm TechSavvy Global. He knows how to write a book that will be interesting to a gaming fanatic, music fan or pop culture reader.

Where do you think the future of music games is going? Will it continue to be dance games? Will games with real instruments like Rocksmith catch on? Will there be an entirely new music craze? Or will music in gaming die out completely? Please let us know what you think.

See also:  
PS3 Dance and Sports Games for Family Fun and Exercise
12 Video Games for Teens - Holiday Gifts 2011
 

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