CQCM Newsletter 2007, March 20

Welcome to KIDS FIRST!® NEWS. All articles are by Coalition for Quality Children's Media unless otherwise noted.

March tends to be a long month as winter fights to keep its footing against spring's impending arrival. But in our household, this March is going very quickly. Our thirteen-year-old son has kept us busy with orchestra rehearsals and an all-county concert while our ten and seven-year-old sons have us shuttling back and forth to play rehearsals. They are in the local college production of the musical, Anne of Green Gables (see rehearsal shot on left). As I sit in the rehearsals with my laptop, it gives me a glimpse into the lives of child actors and their families. I realize the joy the performers must have, if they are anything like my sons, and am inspired by their dedication to their craft. I am also inspired by the parents of these performers who do this on a regular basis (not just for a few months like me). For this issue I had the privilege of interviewing some children from the Hip Hop Kidz movie, It's a Beautiful Thing. They gave me their take on child acting, while Josh Selig, former Sesame Street actor and current founder and president of Little Airplane Media, LLC, offered tips for child actors from the producer's vantage. You can read about it in my article below.

As always, I welcome your input. If you have comments on titles we have endorsed; notices of media awards, publications, and products; or suggestions for articles, please drop me a line.

Dear Friends,

We've all heard that "It takes a village to raise a child." It also "takes a village to run a program such as KIDS FIRST!" This morning, as I read the morning email while drinking my coffee, I opened Chris' reminder that this week's newsletter was up, ready for me to read and add my two cents to. Eagerly, I read Chris' article about child actors, a letter from a reader, the notice about our new Juror, the member news, media news, and upcoming events. All these articles excited me. I wonder how many people who receive the abridged version online every month click through to read the entire thing. I thought, "Perhaps some folks don't even realize there is more to read." Do you? It's pretty amazing how rich the information is. For example, I was impressed by how media literacy has grown in the last ten years. There are a half-dozen excellent conferences, seminars, or workshops in our event's listings on the topic. Kudos to Chris for her excellent work searching out interesting and varied media news.

Let me ramble just a bit more on this "village" topic because I want to share some of the other experiences of my world. As I walked into my office this morning, I was overwhelmed with the cool work that everyone else was engaged in. As I walked in the door, Ann was saying goodbye to two lovely women from one of our new partners, the Pennsylvania Film Institute, who stopped by for a visit. She was called away by a phone call from a new venue from Key West, Florida. Yesterday, she spent all day packing up DVDs to send out to our partner venues for next month's screenings and also shipped out some 4,000 DVDs to donate to children's hospitals! She is one busy girl.

Lauren, our Jury Coordinator for 10 months now, captured me as I was running out to lunch with a stack of screenplay evaluations to review. As we looked them over together, I was duly impressed with the thoroughness of our juror's work. Each juror really gave thoughtful, and clear comments about the screenplay she evaluated; comments that will be shared with the writer.

Yesterday, I had a four-hour meeting with our webmaster, Samsunshine who tortured me teaching me new techniques on Dreamweaver so that we can update our website in-house. Our website is currently undergoing a major revision that we're launching in segments as they are complete. It will be much more user friendly and better accessed by search engines. That saga was followed by a conference call with our database manager, Rayo, who coached me through some database programming changes. We are constantly adding new elements that help us run smoother and communicate better. For example, these changes will enable us to send producers a weekly notice of new bookings for their film.

I hope you enjoyed my a little overview of life at the KIDS FIRST! office. You probably think we just sit here watching children's films all day long. Believe me, we do plenty of that. But, it's all these other things, and people that make KIDS FIRST! hum.

If you're ever in Santa Fe, please drop by and visit.

Love,

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

I loved your article on PBS. Our daughter adores Miss Lori and we enjoy what she gleans from those segments. She is so open to languages through what Miss Lori says - we frequently are asked, "How do you say .... " in French (or whatever the language of the day is). One of my personal opinions is that language exposure is vital to developing our nation for the future, and it makes me sad to see how many countries have bilingual, trilingual....kids and many of our kids aren't as gifted with awareness of others. Morgan's questions, sparked by Miss Lori, send us to the computer together as a family to find out the answers. I love this thread that pbs has infused in the lineup and am also appreciative of the science, music, and movement aspects too. (Curious George is a big favorite in our house for both Mommy and Morgan). Great job pointing to something really positive that kids and parents can salute. - Laurie, NY

Valerie says: I have been the Director of the After-school and Summer Programs at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School for eight years. Heathwood Hall is an independent school for 3 year-olds through 12th graders, located in Columbia, SC. Our after-school program includes students in Nursery School (3 year-olds) through 8th grade.

I worked as a full time mom for 13 years before jumping into the world of being employed outside the home full-time. In a previous career, I had been a computer programmer, but really wanted to work with children and stay involved with my own children and their school. I love working with the children in my care and enjoy working with college students studying to be teachers who work on my staff. I am also fortunate to have experienced teachers from our faculty who work with our after school program. This program strives to complement the learning that takes place in the classroom during the school day, while giving children a safe, healthy environment to play, make friends, try out new skills and activities, and have plenty of free play in order exercise the mind and body.

KIDS FIRST!® is a wonderful resource for parents and schools looking for quality childrens' media. My goal in becoming a juror for KIDS FIRST!® was to train my staff to use media as a positive teaching tool & help children view media actively rather than passively. I think it is more important than ever to teach children to view media using critical thinking skills.

Concerned about what kids watch? Want to do something about it? Become a KIDS FIRST!® juror. It's easy. Take our online training. It will take you about four hours to complete, and we will provide you with your own personal trainer. The $40 fee is 100% reimbursable once you evaluate six titles for KIDS FIRST!® . You may keep any movie you approve. What a wonderful way for teachers, librarians, parents, and daycare providers to build their own quality media library while helping evaluate movies for others. KIDS FIRST!® Independent Producer members get an additional benefit of one waived submission fee, once they complete the training and evaluate their first 6 titles. To register or get more information, please visit our KIDS FIRST!® juror's page.

KIDS FIRST!® WEB STORE FEATURES
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Michael Michael Motorcycle. Join Michael Michael Motorcycle and his young friends, Billy & Johnny, as he transforms their family garage into a 'dirtbike supershop' and takes them on the ride of their dreams. Along with the fun, safety and responsibility are emphasized. KIDS FIRST!®™ Adult Juror Comments: Just plain fun. Lots of action, children involved. Smooth transition between clips. Exciting camera angles, fun animal pictures and jokes. Respectful interactions between adults and kids. Detailed emphasis on safety with lapses: Fast-paced bicycle riders were shown without safety gear. KIDS FIRST!®™ KID Juror Comments: Appealed to boys. "There were about three girls and a hundred boys." "It was great with all the mud and stuff." "Like I wish I could ride a dirtbike or a quad." "I want a dirtbike." "It was good except for the part that said go close to the other motorcycle." "Medium good." "Wish it were longer." DVD. L. 30 mins. Ages 4-9. Monterey Media.

Oceans of Wonder. Marine songs set to spectacular underwater footage. Sing along with song subtitles (On/off option). For entertainment; language development, ESL, deaf. Includes an ocean screen saver. KIDS FIRST!®™ Adult Juror Comments: This is an undersea music video with great underwater cinematography and lyrics that carry a good message about taking care of the environment. Makes an excellent supplement to a classroom lesson on oceanography or environment. Can be viewed with or without lyrics shown as subtitles. Quiet music appealed to some and not to others who said it put them to sleep. KIDS FIRST!®™ KID Juror Comments: Most enjoyed it. "I liked this film because of the songs - very calm and relaxing." Kids enjoyed seeing the marine animals. "My friends would like seeing the sharks and dolphins." "I learned that sharks are misunderstood. They don't really enjoy eating humans." "It made me want to learn about manatees. I've never heard of them before." DVD. L. 35 mins. Ages 3-8. Clevershow Corporation.

Wai Lana's Little Yogis, Vol. 1. Introduces the whole family to yoga. Kids stretch and strengthen their growing bodies, sharpen their minds and improve their balance and coordination. These are healthy habits with lifelong benefits. KIDS FIRST!®™ Adult Juror Comments: Very imaginative, relaxing, and fun! Addresses breathing and physiology. Well organized, flows well. Short segments good for this age. Adults enjoyed participating as well. Narrator's voice annoyed some. Simple production. Beautiful Hawaiian setting. KIDS FIRST!®™ KID Juror Comments: Fun. "I like to exercise. It's good for your body." "I liked the animal stretches; the beetle & butterfly were my favorites." "I like the songs, especially the snake one." "It's a little slow." DVD. L. 30 mins. Ages 5-8. Wai Lana Productions.

Wildfiles TV: 4 Episodes. Includes: Episode 4 - Arachnophobia on the Loose - Alicia is faced with a creepy crawly mystery. Episode 7 - Owl for One, One for Owl - Webster searches for the real magic of owls. Episode 10 - Big Ol' Moose - Who wants to be called Moose? Not Jeff. Episode 12 - Lone Wolf - Sara finds the life of a lone wolf is not easy. KIDS FIRST!®™ Adult Juror Comments: Interesting and thorough presentations. Format is very up to the minute, using webcamera communication, holographic projection, and more. Very cool presentation for science and nature studies. Cinematography excellent. And, the Canadian producers have a fantastic sense of humor. KIDS FIRST!®™ KID Juror Comments: Kids loved it. "It's like learning while you're having fun." "I learned more about spiders than I ever would have thought, and learned they're not that scary." "I can't wait to see the other episodes in this series." DVD. L. 92 mins. Ages 7-12. Reel Girls Media.

Yoga Kids 3 Silly to Calm. Kids learn to move their bodies in ways that mimic the world around them, and as a result to from a high energy level to a relaxing, calming level. KIDS FIRST!®™ Adult Juror Comments: Incredibly soothing, fun way to introduce kids to yoga and become aware of how they can control their bodies and their moods. The postures are explained well. Teaches kids about their body parts - breastbone, ribs, calves, ankles. KIDS FIRST!®™ KID Juror Comments: Liked it. "I liked pretending I was a tree or an animal." "The lady in the video was nice." "My friends like to exercise and breathe in and out." We learned the word for peace - shanti. DVD. L. 34 mins. Ages 3-7. Gaiam, Inc.

NEW ENDORSEMENTS
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Video/DVD-Ages 4-6

**All Aboard America. Hop along Rudy, the giant Bald Eagle, flies across America with his friends to visit the country's most awe-inspiring landmarks. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Educational and entertaining. Good music, animation, historical information. Well structured as Rudy, the bald eagle takes the kids on an exploration of America. Traditional songs are played throughout the film. Monumental figures are very descriptive of the roles they played in American history. They are very animated with distinct personalities. The only shortcoming is that it lacks information about Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, or women in history. More information than a preschooler can fully absorb but it is fun, not confusing, and well animated. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: A hit with 4 - 6-year-olds. One four-year-old has asked repeatedly to watch it again and again, even though it's a bit long, his attention hasn't wavered during three screenings. "I like the eagle who flew them around and sang. I like everything about it - a lot!." Even the quiz is a hit. "Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni" was a new and humorous idea to some. A special needs child commented, "It was happy." "I want to go to those places." Ages 4-6. Bald Eagle Media, Inc.

Video/DVD-Ages 6-8

**Trevor Romain: Cliques, Phonies, and Other Baloney. After feeling rejected by her best friend Jack, Skye decides she needs some new friends. Along the way, she learns that being cool is not always how it seems. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Good subject, beneficial message - "Be who you are." Emphasizes kindness. Children are encouraged to develop their self-esteem. This program encourages them to identify with the idea that making mistakes doesn't mean you can't become successful. Good animation with a live host, Trevor. Fast pace, appropriate music. Very current with cell phones, music, skate boards, etc. The issue of cliques is a serious one and needs to be talked about. This film helps open up the discussion and makes kids aware of the problem. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Held their attention. Evoked a few good laughs. "I liked it a lot." "My friends would like the alien part." It has cool music." "I'm not sure why Trevor is there, he interrupts the story." "I saw Caucasian, African American, and Chinese kids." "Good film on an important subject." "It teaches you to be who you are." They liked the photography and how the live action blends with the animation. Ages 6-8. The Comical Sense Company.

** Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island of Oahu. Learn history, culture, and nature in Oahu-family style. Check out Waikiki and Honolulu. Reflect on the past at Pearl Harbor. Learn to hula. Get face-to-face with dolphins, stingrays, and turtles. Plan your trip or an armchair adventure. Bonus Features include crafts and recipes to try at home. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Well produced travel film that focuses on activities and places that would appeal to kids. Fast pace. Offers exposure to the Hawaiian culture, foods, and sea creatures found there. Images are clear. Scenery and footage is fabulous. Good visual travel guide for families planning a vacation to Hawaii, or to watch in the middle of a snowstorm and fantasize about being someplace tropical. There are a lot of ads at the beginning for planes and hotels. Some of the segments about attractions seem like ads as well. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Mixed reviews. "I didn't like it because they wasted their vacation by going to museums. Why would people want to learn history when they're on vacation?" "I liked the history (2)." "The aquarium was interesting." "It cost a lot of money." Favorite parts: Manta rays. Pineapple ice cream. Swimming with dolphins. Ages 5-12. Equator Creative Media, LLC.

SELECTIONS FROM KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival 2007
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For a complete list of all Festival titles currently being shown, visit our website.

Flushed Away. L. 84 mins.
Set on and beneath the streets of London, "Flushed Away" is the story of Roddy, an upper-crust "society mouse," who is rather rudely evicted from his Kensington flat when he is flushed down into Ratropolis, the bustling sewer world found under London's streets. There, he meets Rita, an enterprising scavenger who works the sewers in her faithful boat, the Jammy Dodger. Together they must navigate their way through a busy city filled with dangers for any mouse, including terrifying rapids, treacherous whirlpools and, most of all, the villainous Toad and his hench-rats Spike and Whitey. Though completely out of his element at first, the privileged Roddy finds himself an unlikely hero when he learns that Ratropolis is in danger from the world above. Actors: Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Bill Nighy, Jean Reno, Shane Richie, Andy Serkis. Ages 8-14. Paramount Home Entertainment.

Barbie Fairytopia: The Magic of the Rainbow. L. 70 mins.
Starring Barbie as Elina! Just through the rainbow, in the world of Fairytopia, lives Elina, a beautiful flower fairy who longs to have wings. Her home is a large flower in the Magic Meadow where she lives with Bibble, a quirky but lovable puffball. One day Elina wakes to find that her flower home is sick, and that her fairy friends can't fly! She summons the courage to help and embarks on a fantastic journey to find Azura, a Guardian Fairy she thinks can solve the problem. What Elina doesn't know is that the evil Laverna has caused the flying sickness as part of her plan to take power from the Enchantress, ruler of Fairytopia! Elina's journey, on the back of a giant and beautiful butterfly named Hue takes her to amazing and beautiful places. She meets new people who test her courage and teach her the value of true friendship. But can a wingless fairy save all of Fairytopia? Join Barbie, as Elina, in her first ever Fairytopia movie and discover a magical land of fairies, flowers, and enchanting experiences! English and Spanish. Ages 4-10. Lionsgate Family Entertainment.

Jollybean Kids Mystery. L. 60 mins.
Red Bean, Blue Bean, Yellow Bean, White Bean, and Pink Bean help out in the Candy Land Candy Factory. After mysterious messages of "taking all the candy in Candy Land" are written on their favorite jelly beans, the Jolly Bean kids are determined to find out who's trying to sabotage their beloved Candy Land! Ages 2-5. First Look Home Entertainment.

Garfield & Friends: An Ode To Odie. L. 120 mins.
A perfect foil for Garfield's dry wit, Odie endears himself to fans with his boundless enthusiasm and uproarious exuberance in 13 hilarious episodes from the wildly popular "Garfield & Friends" TV series. Hand-picked by Garfield Creator, Jim Davis to pay tribute to Garfield's faithful friend, this collection features the many adventures and misadventures of America's beloved pup. English and Spanish. Ages 5-12. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Bug Rangers: Submarine Sandwich. L. 40 mins.
On the hottest day of the year, Nana sends Squiggz out on an errand. Instead of going where he's asked, he sneaks down to the beach for a quick swim. When he finds a child's windup submarine and climbs inside it, it's the beginning of a huge adventure. Along the way, Squiggz learns the value of obedience and simultaneously learns the biblical story of Jonah and the whale. Some Christian content. Ages 5-8. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Tikki Tikki Tembo. L. 58 mins.
Includes: "Tikki Tikki Tembo" by Arlene Mose, Illustrated by Blair Lent - What's in a name? A great deal according to the Chinese of long ago who honored their first son with the grand, long name Tikki Tikki Tembo. But, such names can be very dangerous. Also: "Hot Hippo" by Mwenye Hadithi, illustrated by Adrienee Kennaway; "The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin" by Janet Perlman, produced by the National Film Board of Canada; "The Happy Lion: by Louise Fatio Duvoisin, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; "The Magic of Anansi" by Susan Varughese; "Little Red Riding Hood" by Rhoda Leyer. Ages 3-9. Weston Woods/Scholastic.

Animal Wow Entertainment, Inc. is an award-winning new children's media company that teaches kids good values and life skills by turning pets into best friends. Did you know that 75% of all families with children have pets? Even if a child does not have a pet, Animal Wow also helps kids to satisfy their natural curiosity about neighborhood pets safely.

Echo Entertainment, LLC is an award winning producer of children's and wildlife entertainment. Their premier show, Kid Guides, airs throughout the country and the world. They focus on delivering high quality shows that entertain while they educate.

Pro Quality DVD, LLC is a niche video company specializing in quality Children's Programming, Non-Profit Organization Videos, and Medical Videos.

Cookie Jar Entertainment Inks Broadcast Deal with Good Morning TV (GMTV) on ITV1
Its series, preschool-targeted The Doodlebops, will broadcast Saturdays at 6a on GMTV from April 1, 2007. ITV1 also plans to give The Doodlebops a weekday play on GMTV2

beginning this summer.

Florida Strawberry Growers Association Join Strawberry Shortcake
The FSGA is sponsoring a number of in-store events March 4-10, 2007 at Publix stores including those in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and South Tennessee. The stores will also display point-of-purchase materials in the produce sections that will feature a poster with Strawberry Shortcake: Growing Better All the Time. The effort will also be supported by print ads.

New Episodes for Pinky Dinky Doo Fans
From Monday March 26 through Friday, March 30, five new episodes of the animated series Pinky Dinky Doo will premiere in television. Additionally, Pinky Dinky Doo audio podcasts (2x10') will be available at Noggin.com beginning March 26. The website will also feature a number of reading games and activities during March.

Watch *Girl Star* films (5 minute films in Hindi) on Doordarshan
Their new schedule is as follows: DD National Channel - March 11th, 18th & 25th at 9.55 a.m. & 11.30 a.m.; March 13th, 20th & 27th & April 3rd at 9.27 a.m.; March 14th, 21st, 28th & April 4th at 9.27 a.m.; March 15th, 22nd, 29th & April 5th at 9.27 a.m. And on the *DD Regional Channels* - March 11th and April 30th between 7.30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Discovery Kids en Espanol Introduces Experimental Component
The network's new host, Doki, a new integrated animated figure, will also have an online component with educational activities at www.discoverykidsespanol.com. The programming offerings that will form a part of the Doki experience this year include: Peep, ToddWorld, Hi-5, Save-Ums, Harry & His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, Paz, and Animal Jam.

Mouse Goes Back to Traditional Animation for 2009's The Frog Princess
Walt Disney Studios will sashay down Bourbon Street for its 2009 release of The Frog Princess, a return to traditional hand-drawn 2-D animation for the studio. Read More.

Moviestorm is Looking for Beta Testers
They are initially running a small and limited early beta testing program. The testers will get access to their exclusive site, with news on the inside track of development. If you'd like to become a beta tester, refister on their forums.

The International Family Film Festival Presents the FreshiFilm Camp and FreshiFilm and Screenplay Festival this summer.
Students ages 8-18 will learn digital filmmaking, from creating the storyboard to the finished film in the five days--a great way to use your skills in English, writing and math and have a great time doing it!! They will also learn stunts, stage make-up, editing, animation, and other production skills. Application information here or call for information at 661-257-3131 Patte Dee McKee or 661-993-3152 Kim Turney.

New Sesame Beginnings DVD, Moving Together
On it's April 3, 2007 debut, get ready to jump, crawl and dance! Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, is releasing this title, targeting six-month to two-year-olds, this new video features the lovable baby Sesame Street Muppets and their caregivers who show viewers how to explore all kinds of movement. Award-winning actress Sarah Jessica Parker makes a special guest appearance.

Anti-Cyberbullying Campaign for Tweens and Teens
This public service campaign launched by The Advertising Council is in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council, US Dept. of Justice, and Crime Prevention Coalition of America. Created by pro-bono ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, the multimedia campaign includes viral videos and radio and web advertising. The PSAs direct consumers to http://www.ncpc.org/ to learn more about cyberbullying. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43% of Teens 13-17 say they have experienced cyberbullying in the past year. The study also found that nine in ten teens who had experienced cyberbullying (92%) reported that they knew the person who was bullying them. Additionally, teens are twice as likely to talk to a friend about the incident rather than their parents or another adult. The Advertising Council points to studies that report it is specifically teen girls that are the biggest perpetrators of cyberbullying.

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Child Actors by Christine L. Pollock

It's not often you hear of a kids club making a film. With their motto "No Drugs, No Violence…Just Dance!," the Hip Hop Kidz organization reaches thousands of children around the world and teaches them the importance of self-esteem, exercise, and being team players. Through dance classes, live touring, book series, original music and DVD's, their message is always positive and uplifting. Their powerful message goes beyond the dance stage to the big screen in natural progression. For brothers nine-year-old Jonathan Quintana and ten-year-old Junior Quintana, it's even more than that--it's plain old fun.

The role of children in film has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Founder and president of Little Airplane Productions, Josh Selig, has a unique vantage on the progression. He began his own media career as a child actor on Sesame Street. Now he produces family favorites such as Wonder Pets and Oobi.

Selig feels that there are more opportunities now than ever before for children who want to act. There is more cultural diversity on television now than when he was a child. This means there are more opportunities for children from different backgrounds to become actors. His tip for aspiring child actors is, "At an audition, be yourself - we want to meet you, not a

different version of you that you think we might like better. And once you get the part, share your thoughts about your role - you have a unique way of looking at things that can make the project better!

Selig finds that the most difficult part of being an actor - no matter what age - is trying out for a role and then not getting cast. He adds that it's important for kids to understand that there may be many reasons why he or she did not get a role, and often it has little to do with their audition. For example, in casting a voice over, producers sometimes think they want a boy's voice, but then change their minds and decide to use a girl's voice. Kids should know that if they just keep trying, one day they'll get a part that is just right for them!

When Jonathan and Junior were preschoolers, their mother, Melissa, had a long-term plan for them. She wanted to keep them busy with something they enjoyed so they would "keep on the straight and narrow." She had the children try basketball, karate, chess and dance over the years, and they found their passion with Hip Hop Kidz. Selig strongly endorses this proactive method. He recommends: If a child is interested in acting, I think the best thing a family can do is watch children's shows and films to see the types of

roles that are out there for child actors. When they see something they like, they should reach out to the production company that makes the show and ask about casting. The production company should be able to provide information about their casting process. Some shows only use agents but others are open to everyone. The most important thing is to be persistent and stay positive because show business can be a tough business!

Dancing and acting with the Hip Hop Kidz is a move the Quintana family does not regret. The boys keep up their honor roll status (a requirement of their mother's) for the privilege of dancing with the Hip Hop Kidz. And when they are having a difficult time with steps, their Hip Hop friends are there to help. Dancing is joy for these child actors and it gives them a place in the world. Junior remembers a poignant moment when he was on-stage and saw how into the presentation the audience was. The looks on their faces showed how much they appreciated the performance. Jonathan hopes to carry his passion through the years as he works to become a choreographer , teaching his own classes, developing his childhood acting experience into a career. They are doing what Selig recommends when he tells child actors, "Make sure that you're always having fun!" As the Hip Hop Kidz movie title sums up, It's a Beautiful Thing.

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CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Dr. Toy's Tips on Use of Video by Stevanne Auerbach, PhD. /Dr.Toy
www.drtoy.com Smart Play /Smart Toys (www.educationalinsights.com)

Very Young Children (Toddlers)
Toddlers are growing at a rapid rate and discover something new each and every day. They want to move and discover their entire world as much as possible. They like activities that challenge them and give them an opportunity to explore. In each of these areas you can help your child by using media like videos and CDs to complement all these activities. A terrific title to encourage on and off-screen entertainment and learning for imaginative movement is Kiddie Village: Fun With Dance.

Activity - Dancing Caterpillar Puppet
Materials: construction paper; scissors; glue sticks or hot glue gun with glue; markers or crayons; popsicle sticks

For instructions, go to craft page.

KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival Schedule
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Films from our KIDS FIRST!® Film Festivals travel around the country where more than 100 local venues host screenings of them throughout the year. More than 10,000 screenings will take place in these venues annually. To find out what is being played in a venue near you, go to www.kidsfirst.org/fest.

March 23-24, 2007. Thirteen/WLIW21 is hosting the second annual Celebration of Teaching and Learning, focusing on global awareness and science, with an across-the-board emphasis on integrating technology into classrooms. Headliners include Former Vice President Al Gore on climate change, and many more. For information and registration, go to www.thirteencelebration.org.

March 24-28, 2007. Johannesburg, South Africa. 5th World Summit on Media for Children 2007, Media as a Tool for Global Peace and Democracy. The Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa (CBFA) is to host the 5th World Summit on Media for Children. The event is expected to bring together around one thousand delegates plus some 300 teenagers. Unlike past Summits on Media for Children, the youngsters will be taking official part in the main plenary sessions.

March 30. University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. The theme of the 5th Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference is "The Mass Media, Children, and Values." Description: "The growing media literacy movement has helped children and youth to become more media literate for many years now, with a major emphasis upon accessing, analyzing, and evaluating the many complex messages presented through the mass media, particularly advertising in its many forms and formats. The rapid spread of new technology devices and techniques have had a great impact upon the types and extent of mass media exposure in today’s youth culture, including cell phones, voice and text messaging, ipods, blogs, MySpace, Facebook, ebay, video games, etc. But what impact has all of this mass media exposure and technology had on children and youth in terms of their thinking, choices, priorities, actions…and their values?"

July 2 - August 30. John Anson Ford Theatre (across from the Hollywood Bowl) on Cahuenga Blvd., CA. The International Family Film Festival Presents the FreshiFilm Camp and FreshiFilm and Screenplay Festival this summer. Application information here or call for information at 661-257-3131 Patte Dee McKee or 661-993-3152 Kim Turney.

June 23-27. St. Louis, Missouri. The biannual National Media Education Conference (NMEC), hosted by the Alliance for a Media Literate America, is the largest, oldest and most comprehensive professional conference for teachers, academics, youth advocates, health professionals and media activists to learn about media literacy education. The first annual Media Literacy Education Research Summit is a pre-conference event held June 23 and 24, immediately prior to the NMEC. The Summit will host an international group of experts from a diverse array of fields who will convene to review the existing research evidence about the efficacy of media literacy education and to develop a research agenda for the future.

July 9-13, 2007. Ithaca, NY. Project Look Sharp is offering its 9th annual summer institute. This 5-day intensive media literacy workshop includes both the theory of media literacy and hands-on practice with digital/computer technology (Mac-based). The institute takes place on the campus of Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, and inexpensive on-campus housing is available. Limit of 18 participants. More information.

KIDS FIRST!® Cares
Through the combined efforts of Corporations for Character, KIDS FIRST!®, and your generous donation, we can fulfill our mission to provide positive, encouraging movies into each of more than one million children's hospital beds. This effort will provide entertainment for children while they are confined in a hospital. To support KIDS FIRST!® Cares, go to www.kidsfirstcares.org. All credit card transactions are secure.

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Become a Coalition for Quality Children's Media Member
If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider becoming a member of KIDS FIRST!® Members help underwrite the various projects of this organization. The Coalition for Quality Children's Media relies on the generous support of its members and donors to support its programs. An individual/family membership is only $25/year. An organizational membership is $100/year. An independent producer membership is $200. To join, go to: http://www.kidsfirst.org or contact our office at 505.989.8076 or KIDS FIRST!®.

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Copyright 2002 by Coalition for Quality Children's Media, http://www.kidsfirst.org

ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!®
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KIDS FIRST!® is the not-for-profit Coalition for Quality Children's Media's initiative that evaluates and rates children's media - videotapes, CD-ROMs and television - using a highly acclaimed method that has been praised by parents and educators alike. It utilizes professionally designed criteria and evaluation tools and engages a volunteer jury comprising child development professionals, teachers and parents nationwide and children of diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. KIDS FIRST!® endorsed titles appeal to people around the world and include many programs on topics important to children's development. KIDS FIRST!® -endorsed titles are available on CQCM's award-winning Internet site, in the KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival and in reviews we provide to more than 75 publications.

CQCM evaluates feature films, television programs, videos, CD-ROM, DVDs and audio recordings. For an application form and application deadlines, visit our website at http://www.kidsfirst.org, call our office (505.989.8076).
Coalition for Quality Children's Media, 112 W. San Francisco St. , Suite 305A, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

The Newsstand - KIDS FIRST!® News 2007