Yellow Stone Style: Education & Participation in Food Chain

Video game looks into world of wolves
By STEVE KARNOWSKI, Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS – The new [...]

NY Times does Virtual Worlds on Youth

Web Playgrounds of the Very Young
By BROOKS BARNES
Published: December 31, 2007
LOS ANGELES — Forget Second Life. The real virtual world gold rush centers on the grammar-school set.
Trying to duplicate the success of blockbuster Web sites like Club Penguin and Webkinz, children’s entertainment companies are greatly accelerating efforts to build virtual worlds for children. Media [...]

Another year bites the dust…

WOO HOO! Holidays are smack on top of us like a lump of snow after sliding en masse off my parents’ rooftop. As I mentally prep for the climate change from Los Angeles to Chicago, perhaps some distraction is due, yes?
The Best (and faves) for 2007 (in no particular order)

Pirates of the [...]

Nick helps kids Pick the Prez II

Another presidential election can only mean the return of Nickelodeon’s Kids Pick The President campaign, the yearlong initiative to get kids involved in understanding the election process, campaign issues and the candidates. Adding to the campaign this time around, kids are invited to take part in primary with the first of three new Nick [...]

UPDATED! Nick & Zoey, the Jamie Lynne Spears story

The news that Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant won’t affect her Nickelodeon series, “Zoey 101.”The show completed production on its fourth and final season in September, and new episodes are still scheduled to air through 2008.Asked for comment, Nickelodeon said in a statement: “We respect Jamie Lynn’s decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and [...]

Noteworthy: Xivio

New Kids World Xivio Looks for Partners and InvestorsWe first looked at Xivio in September when it launched its open content rating system for its Flash-based kids world. Now the company is seeking investors and partners. “Xivio is looking to partner with a company for cross promotional opportunities. We are offering at least 50% of [...]

Webkinz WITH Non-Webkinz Ads? Hmmm…

So the ever-Brill “MOM” over at Outside the (toy) Box ping’d me on an interesting question regarding Webkinz & it’s decision to add ads to the site:
First CCFC and Lisa at Corp Babysitter are all over Webkinz for adding ads to their website, on the sly.  Bastards!  We’ve discussed the need for ad free virtual worlds [...]

Two Random Tidbits: Kabillion & Archie

Both eyeballed on today’s Cynopsis:

Kabillion, the kid centric entertainment broadband site, launches a new mash up tool called Little Director, which allows kids to create animated videos from drawings and stories they submit to the site. For a fee of $19.95 LittleDirector.com will put together a 90-second short complete with music and color animation [...]

Noteworthy: Fall Out Boy, Invisible Children, and the Bracelet Campaign

Have you seen the video from Fall Out Boy for their single Me and You? The video tells the story of two teens in love whose lives are horrifically interrupted when the boy is kidnapped and forced to be a child soldier. Fall Out Boy teamed up with Invisible Children, the organization created by three [...]

Illinois Vs Cyberbullying: It’s ON like Donkykong!

Beginning in January, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says her office will help train workers at Illinois middle, junior and high schools about cyberbullying.The training programs will begin in January and was announced at Monday’s Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children task force meeting.
Illinois Finally Steps Up to Cyberbullying! – Internet Safety News – Internet Safety-For Our [...]