Guidelines for Family Movie Night from Common Sense Media

Posted on November 17, 2013 at 8:00 am

Common Sense Media has some common sense guidelines for family movie night. The range of opportunities for solitary consumption of media has led to less time for families to sit down at the same time to enjoy — and talk about — the same movie. CSM suggests making it a regular part of the schedule and taking turns selecting the movie. Younger children will enjoy the pride and sense of responsibility that comes from making a choice. Families should not object when it is the same movie they have already seen — that is appropriate at this stage of development and it is the movies seen over and over again that become part of family lore. When I was growing up, our family watched “On the Town” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” countless times. And wise parents can learn a lot from the selections of middle schoolers and teenagers.

Related Tags:

YA Literature and Its All-Ages Fans

Posted on October 12, 2013 at 3:59 pm

New York Magazine has a great selection of articles about one of the fastest-growing and most popular categories in publishing, the increasingly inaccurately-named Young Adult genre. Jen Doll writes about loving YA novels in her thirties, quoting my friend Sandie Angulo Chen.

Why do I, and other adults, read books for teens? In late August, YA author Malinda Lo asked adults to offer up their thoughts on the subject via Twitter, along with the hashtag #whyadultsreadYA. “I enjoy the immediacy of the stories and the sense of being at the beginning of the path of who you’ll become,” tweeted @sesinkhorn. “I love the intensity of 1st time experiences, experimentation, & growth that we’re told to stop doing as adults,” added @sarahockler. When I asked Sandie Angulo Chen, co-founder of the blog Teen Lit Rocks, for her theory, she said, “I think it’s about having that desire to connect with the you that’s still young, having that appreciation for that time in your life and wanting to reconnect with it.” And I have to agree; there’s an undeniable nostalgic lure. Reading YA, unlike consuming other forms of entertainment that are rooted in the past—movies that are remakes or origin stories of long-established comic-book heroes, for example—reminds me of the person I used to be rather than the things I used to be into.

There’s a kind of forward momentum, too, enabled by reading about characters for whom lives are still blank slates ready to be filled, compared to our own. We can measure ourselves against their choices and see how we succeeded; we can feel wiser than they are, knowing that what we did then turned out okay; we can also see for ourselves where there might still be room to improve. As dire as the situations may be—the worlds of these characters contain creatures bent on destroying them, untrustworthy adults, grave injustices, unrequited or deeply problematic love, abuse, bullying, suicide, murder, paralyzing self-doubt—there is the sense that things have the potential to get better.

It should be noted that I read plenty of things written by and meant for adults. I can stand tall as I show them off on the subway. But adult as they are, they don’t always captivate me the way YA does. Those are the books I read in a one-night rush, staying up until three in the morning to find out what happened, and when I do, sighing in pleasure because the heroine really does get the guy, the world has been saved, the parents finally understand, or there is at least the promise of things working out in the end. Adult books may be great literature, but they don’t make me feel the same way.

Emma Whitford writes about the growing influence of YA. Novels like The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga have produced blockbuster film series, with Divergent poised to become the next big series. “Divergent” star Shailene Woodley will also play the lead in another movie based on a popular YA book, The Fault in Our Stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6HHCxLZftQ

If you’re a YA fan, take a look at this great new fabric from Spoonflower, the pattern a collection of retro library check-out cards for classic YA books.

Related Tags:

Books Teenagers Tweens

Amy Poehler’s Advice to Girls

Posted on July 7, 2013 at 8:00 am

I love Amy Poehler‘s series of advice videos for girls — good advice for everyone. I love this one about the importance of quiet.

And this one about the importance of being nice.

Contest: Dance Academy, Seasons 1 and 2

Posted on May 29, 2013 at 8:00 am

TeenNICK’s “Dance Academy” is the story of Tara Webster, who grew up on a country farm, but has always dreamed of being a professional dancer. When she’s admitted to Australia’s prestigious National Academy of Dance, she feels like all of her dreams are about to come true — but the school is tougher and more competitive than she ever imagined.

The DVDs of the first two seasons are now available, featuring behind-the scenes features and interviews. I am delighted to have a copy to give away. If someone in your family loves dance, this is a must-see. Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Dance in the subject line and tell me your favorite kind of dancing. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only) I’ll pick a winner at random on June 1. Good luck!

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 1 VOLUME 1

Far from home, and way behind on her dance training, Tara feels like a fish out of water, but she knows one thing — she’s not alone on this journey. In Sydney, she meets new friends, good-hearted Kat and good-guy Sammy, and falls hard for a new crush, Ethan. To round out her crew, there’s “mean girl” Abigail, a more experienced dancer who sees Tara as a threat, and Christian, an adrenaline junkie with a troubled past. Together they manage the pressures of exams, crushes and dancing, all the while knowing that at the end of the year not everyone makes the cut.

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 1 VOLUME 2

Tara returns from the holidays excited to have been awarded a first year scholarship, but the rest of the year is full of challenges no one could have seen coming. The group continues to put all their effort into dancing, but along the way some battle eating disorders, struggle with their parents, overcome physical injury and even deal with big breakups. With the end-of-year Nutcracker performance approaching, can the Academy group pull it together? And does Tara really have what it takes to stand center stage?

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 2 VOLUME 1

It was a rocky first year, but ultimately Tara got everything she wanted: a place in the top dance school in the country, friends she’ll know forever and she fell in love – twice! She even danced the role of her dreams. So Second Year should be a piece of cake. Right? In SEASON 2 VOLUME 1, Tara reunites with her friends and discovers the exciting news that they can all compete in a prestigious ballet competition, Prix de Fonteyn, to determine the best dancer in the world. Teacher Miss Raine spells it out for them: “Make no mistakes. Second Year counts. And you are all in competition.” Everyone must work harder than they’ve ever worked before on the dance floor and in life.

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 2 VOLUME 2

Tara soared to great heights during her first year at the Academy, but by her second year she’s learned that being on top – in dance, in life, in love – only makes for a long fall back down. In Season 2 Volume 2 the stakes are higher, the lows are lower, and the competitions are exhilarating. Tara and the entire crew must manage tragedy, relationships and the ultimate final showdown performance. Above all else, it’s their friendship that held them together this long. Will it carry them through into their third year?

Contest: H2O — Just Add Water

Posted on March 6, 2013 at 8:00 am

“H2O” is the delightful Nickelodeon series about three teenage girls who gain special powers after a visit to a mysterious island. And I have copies of the whole first season to give away, with a special bonus — a 90-minute feature film version. Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with H2O in the subject line and tell me what superpower you would most like to have. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only.) I’ll pick the winners at random on March 12. Good luck!