KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

At KIDS FIRST! we know that kids are exposed to all sorts of media. We hear the complaints about kids watching too much TV and not being active enough. That is why we think it is especially important that you don’t let your kids become passive about what they watch. There are lots of great ways to get kids more involved, both physically and intellectually, with what they watch on TV or DVD. Here are some suggestions forbecoming “active” media viewers:

1. Become a Film Critic - ask questions to help evaluate media. Have them write their opinions about a film and print it in the “family newspaper” or start your own TV critic show whereyour kids can talk about a film (for more information about becoming a home film critic, see next week’s blog!)
2. Take it outside! Did you learn something interesting in that movie you just watched? Did you wonder how to have a career like the one you just saw in that DVD? In order to make media watching time really count - go out and explore! Look online for resources and information. Go outside and try that messy experiment you just saw.Go to the library and borrow books or magazines.
3. If its pure fantasy your children like, they can make up their own fun fantasy! Write a book and don’t forget to include artwork. Write a play, make costumes and production sets. Get other kids or family members to act it out. Find out about other science fiction writers and borrow books from the library.

Life is a process of learning, so try to take advantage of every learning moment and find out more!

At KIDS FIRST! we use a baseline criteria to determine if media is appropriate for kids to watch:

• NO gratuitous violence or abuse
• NO bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion
• NO condescension toward children
• NO replicable unsafe behavior

In addition to this criteria, our jurors also determine the age appropriateness of everything they watch. KIDS FIRST! jurors are always careful not to rate something lower because they disagree with the producer’s age rating, but rather will rate it appropriately and show it to the correctly aged group of children. The most important factor in considering age-appropriateness in your family, is to know your kids. Some children don’t mind things that are a little scary. Others cover their eyes or leave the room whenever scary music or a mean-spirited character appears on the screen.

Since kids should never watch “inappropriate” media, adult jurors ALWAYS watch a product before viewing it with their child jurors. This is something all families should consider if they are not familiar with the TV shows, computer games, movies or other media their children want to view. If you are concerned about what your kids watch, your first line defense is to become familiar with it yourself. You can also use this time with your kids to help them become more active in their viewing experience.

What makes KIDS FIRST! reviews so unique?? We include the feedback of both adults AND kids in every review we make. Our specially trained adult and child jurors across the country are what makes the KIDS FIRST! program so special! Here are some tips to consider when reviewing children’s media with your jury of kids:

· Make sure that the reviews are specific to the adult or kids. Adult reviews should not contain kids’ comments or reactions and kids’ reviews should not contain adult comments or reactions (just adult observations.) Instead of saying in your kids’ review, “Kids didn’t understand all of the vocabulary”, you might say “the kids looked confused when they used larger words” or “kids asked me what a lot of things meant” or even, “kids seemed to be enjoying the film, even though I’m not sure they fully understood it.”

· Give details and examples as often as possible. Saying that something is age-appropriate does not tell us why. Remember that you are the reviewer and don’t assume that we have watched the movie. Here is an example of an adult juror question and an excellent answer given by one of our long-term jurors, Laurie Harrington, in her review of Travel With Kids Paris:

Q: If modeling behaviors are demonstrated, are they positive? Are social interactions respectful of race, culture and gender?

A: The mother taking the time to learn a bit of French and then teach the children to respect the country and peoples by having fun trying to use the language shows great respect. The people filmed interacting with the family responded very positively to those efforts. I love that chipping away at the ugly American stereotype!

Thanks! Add your tips, and stop by often!

Lauren Longworth,

Jury Manager

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Dear Mothers:

Greetings! As mothers we have a lot to juggle in this rapidly changing world in which we

live. The Motherhood Study Team is conducting a study of mothers in the USA. This is a

study exploring the multi-faceted lives of women while they are in the midst of having

and raising children. We invite you to participate in this study.

We are independent researchers seeking unbiased results. At this early phase we are

not able to offer any compensation other than a non-judgmental forum in which to

express and perhaps learn about yourself.

Participation is completely voluntary and will be 100% computer based. You can even

participate in your pajamas! Over the next several weeks we will email you surveys to

complete and return within 3 days. Some will be multiple choice and others are open

questions to which you can answer however you choose.

If you have any questions, please email:  motherhoodstudy@gmail.com.

Thank you for your efforts and we look forward to hearing from you.

We are confident that together we are going to learn what works best for mothers

throughout the country! Thanks for your participation.

Special ongoing incentives are being offered for new jurors.

An educator incentive allows educators to pay $20 for their juror application fee, and still get the full $40 refund after completing training and the first six evaluations. So, educators actually get paid to become active jurors for KIDS FIRST!

Producers who are members of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media can take advantage of our member incentive. Join the jury and get your next full endorsement for FREE! Producers are eligible for a free endorsement after completing training and their first six evaluations.

Jury training is a bargain for everyone!! Your $40 application fee is ALWAYS fully refundable after you complete training and your first six evaluations.

So what are you waiting for… an invitation! Well here it is…

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO BECOME A TRAINED JUROR AND HELP KIDS BECOME MORE SAVVY MEDIA VIEWERS, HELP FAMILIES MAKE BETTER MEDIA CHOICES AND BUILD UP YOUR OWN OR YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY’S MEDIA LIBRARY!! JOIN US!!

Ok, so I used to love technology. Then I had a baby and in the last five years the world has really changed. Ranny said, “do your blog”, and I suddenly felt inadequate in this new age of internet communications. Email, I know. But, blog!! So here is my first effort.

First, I want to explain what this blog is for. Obviously, I can use it just to blow off steam, but primarily it will be a way for me to communicate with the KIDS FIRST! jurors, help them communicate with one another, and let the world know about what we are doing at KIDS FIRST! I may wish to tie in ideas about how to use media with the children in your life, and other things to do with kids. Oh, and who can resist talking about how great Santa Fe is!

In addition to my thoughts, I want to know what your kids like to do, tips on getting your jurors together, fun film club ideas, what’s the best movie you reviewed this year and other great information about kids, media and life related to these things.

I hope these tips an discussions are always helpful and spark interesting conversations.

Wish me luck!!

At KIDS FIRST! we have lots of trained volunteers across the United States who are teaching kids to become more savvy viewers of media. They evaluate new products, including films, dvds, cds, cd-rom and other computer games. Volunteers build up their media library and their evaluations help other consumers make good choices. If you are concerned about what children see in the media, consider becoming a trained volunteer. Visit my website or email me for more specific information. The application is available online, and so is the training.