Granny Ranny’s Coming Attractions

he holidays are over. The New Year has started. Over the holidays, many kids may have received tech-toys for gifts. Computers, video games, cell phones, and electronic screens are ubiquitous in our lives and the lives of our kids. As the New Year is getting underway, we want to keep our kids clearly focused rather than busily distracted. Technology has played and can play a crucial role in education, but there are important rules for using any tech device.

Whether texting, surfing the web or playing video games, research shows that kids between the ages of eight and 18 spend more than seven hours a day with gadgets.* “That, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad,” says Dr. Richard Bavaria, senior vice president for education outreach for Sylvan Learning. “Balance, as in every other aspect of life, is key. A variety of helpful resources have made technology an integral part of our lives and how we learn. While technology has introduced many portals of enhanced learning, it can also be a distraction in kids’ lives – offering kids easy ways to get sidetracked, diverted and overwhelmed.”

To help kick-start a successful year, Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring services to children of all ages and skill levels, offers parents and families the following tips to find the right balance for using technology efficiently and effectively.

Your rules rule. Have clear guidelines for kids to follow. Like all rules for children, the clearer and simpler, the better. If you’re unsure how to start, talk to trusted teachers at school, other parents in the community, or look at good online sites.
Set time limits. A good rule of thumb for teens is two hours of screen time per day, including schoolwork. For elementary schoolers, it’s less. No screen-time just before bedtime. Decide what will work best for your family.
Set place limits. Ban electronic screens at dinnertime, for example, or when the family is having a discussion or enjoying family time together. Many families find that for younger kids, it’s best if the computer is in the family room – not in the kids’ rooms – and used only when an adult is present, monitoring.
Schoolwork comes first. Study and chores come before socializing and games. So does anything else you decide – writing that thank you note, going to Sunday school, helping the next door neighbor.
Stress privacy. Explain to your children why you won’t permit them to give out personal information about themselves or their family, to meet with strangers they’ve “met” online, or to spend money online. Just be realistic and firm.
Stress common sense. It is good sense not to allow downloading or uploading – music, movies, or photos for instance – without your permission. Show kids how their online words and pictures are, for all intents and purposes, permanent. Just as we watch what we say in our speech, we need to do the same thing online.
Be a role model. You’re a role model in everything you do and say as a parent, including using technology. Let the kids see you using your computer, phone, and other devices to make your life easier, more efficient, more fun. Show how you’re in control of it, not the other way around: i.e. if you say no gadgets at dinner time, don’t pick up the phone yourself.

Technology, when used effectively, helps enable and empower our children’s educational lives. The key lies in setting boundaries on kids’ electronic use. For more information, visit www.sylvanlearning.com.

* According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Americans between the age of 8 and 18 spend on average 7.5 hours a day using some sort of electronic device, from smart phones to MP3 players to computers.

Please help KIDS FIRST! determine who the winners of our 2012 Youth Film Critics Search Campaign will be. We have 62 entries this year and they are absolutely adorable.Go to WonderworldTV/kidsfirst to view the contestants video reviews of this year’s official search titles and cast your vote. I promise you, they will bring a smile to your face as they are really darling.
Public voting determines 20 of the 24 finalists and the winners are determined by our celebrity panel of judges:  Thelma Adams, contributing editor for Yahoo and author of the “Thelma Adams on Reel Women” column that runs on AMC Filmcritic.com, and who was the film critic at Us Weekly for 11 years; Mark Cuban, owner of the HDNet Movies, Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theaters and Magnolia Pictures; Ben Lyons, E! film critic and frequent contributor to “Good Morning America”; and George Pennacchio, entertainment reporter for “ABC7 Eyewitness News” and host of ABC7’s “Evening at the Academy Awards” pre-show and post-show.

Right now - it is YOUR VOTE that counts the most! So, please, take a bit of time, watch the contestants’ video reviews and CAST YOUR VOTE. You’ll be glad you did.

Here are some links to this year’s critics:

Beauty and the Beast 3D

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Arthur Christmas
And, don’t miss this - our radio show, KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions on Voice America Kids, a division of Voice America. This is internet radio so past episodes may be listened to at any time. Here’s our most recent show. 

The acclaimed War Horse play and children’s book is now on the big screen! War Horse is a heartwarming tale about a father who buys a horse for his son on a whim. His son, Albert played by Jeremy Irvine, develops an unbreakable bond his horse, Joey. However, World War I approaches, and Joey is drafted into the military. Will the two ever reunite?

The movie has a charming story. When I interviewed the author of the children’s book War Horse, Michael Morpurgo, he told me that his book shows how war does not only produce a severe effect on people, but with animals too, specifically horses. It is interesting watching director Steven Spielberg’s translation of that theme onto film. One notable scene shows the horse, Joey, galloping fiercely through no man’s land, but is forced to slow down after he is tangled in a bunch of wires. After intense war, both opposing sides come together to untangle the horse! I found it touching because it shows that it takes both sides to solve a problem, and when the movie shows both soldiers cutting the wires from the horse, I thought of it as a symbol like they were ending their conflicts between each other. The cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, filmed the scene beautifully, which helped produce such an emotional effect on the audience.

The cinematography in general is wonderful, especially when Kaminski zooms in the feet of the horses and the faces of the horses as they gallop across the vast fields. Most of the beauty of the movie comes from the horses, and I think the horse trainers did an impeccable job, particularly ZelieBullen since she trained the main horse, Joey. I recommend this movie to teens ages 13 and up. It is a pleasant family film because it is not too brutal, yet it still packs in all of the action and intensity of war. The movie is a bit slow in the beginning, so younger teens may get bored, but it quickly picks up the pace as the war begins. This is a moving tale to watch and will bring the entire family together for the holidays.

Reviewed by Gabriella Chu, age 15, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

Video Review available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWkcjuxuJRw

9-year-old Anthony Aranda reviewed We Bought a Zoo for us and here’s what he had to say about it: I really like this movie; it was kind of funny, a little sad, but really cool.

This movie is all about Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, who is living with his family in the city trying to deal with the death of his wife and raise his two kids. His son Dylan is not doing so well and keeps getting into trouble. He finally gets expelled and so they have to find him a new school. Benjamin decides that it’s time for them to move and start a new life and they find a really cool house out of the city and want to buy it. But they soon realize that this house comes with a zoo. His daughter Rosie loves the house though so they decide to give it a try.

Some of the main characters in the movie are Benjamin Mee, Kelly Foster, Duncan, Dylan, and Rosie. My favorite character is Benjamin because he is a really funny character. When he gets mad he does some really funny stuff like throwing a tantrum all by himself, which kept me laughing. He is also a really good dad even though he doesn’t exactly know what he’s doing.
My favorite part in the movie is when Benjamin Mee is inside the porcupine pit and he thinks they are nice at first but then the porcupine started running after him and he jumped over the fence and landed on pointy stuff. So when they tried to take them off he kept screaming! That was really funny.

I would recommend this movie for ages 10 and up because there are some scary parts in this movie that younger kids might not like. The movie is sad because the mom dies and the family is still trying to deal with that. The pictures that Dylan draws are kind of violent and scary and there is also some kissing in the movie that is not appropriate for younger viewers.  Go out and see this movie in theaters or buy it when it comes out on DVD

Credit: Anthony Aranda, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Expanding its PBS KIDS Lab site, which offers more than 50 cross-platform games designed to help children ages 2-8 build critical math skills, PBS today announced new additions that will provide even more support to caregivers and teachers. These include bilingual translations of parental instructions and resources like a “Home Activities” section, math tips for families to use in their daily activities, and a new blog series with content related to kids and media.  PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are partners on this project, which is part of the Ready To Learn Initiative, a U.S. Department of Education-funded effort that aims to help kids build the skills they need for school success.

“Parents and caregivers play a critical role in supporting their children’s learning,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS.  “At PBS KIDS our goal is to offer families resources to help make anytime a learning time – whether it’s through an online game, or activity ideas that parents and kids can do together while they are out running errands.  The PBS KIDS Lab offers parents tools that are flexible to spark their kids’ imaginations and excitement about learning, and to help them build skills for success in school.”

Math has typically been a challenging curricular area for parents and caregivers to help their children better understand.  According to a recent study1, parents “may create fewer opportunities for children to learn about mathematics than language” and “concrete examples of how to maximize children’s mathematics interests would help parents overcome their mathematics anxieties and show parents why early mathematics education is important.”  To help parents support their children’s math learning, PBS KIDS recommends introducing number, counting and basic mathematical concepts by adding simple activities to a family’s daily routine like these five easy ideas, with more available on the PBS KIDS Lab site.

When driving in the car, count the trees as you pass by.
Call out street signs and identify their shapes.
Count aloud the seconds it takes for a child to brush his/her teeth.
Cook with the kids; count ingredients.
Play grocery store with household items. Count out the change.

“By taking activities that children already enjoy and adding elements of play that foster a better understanding of math, we are bringing mathematical thinking into everyday life in a fun and natural way.  The combination of playing games through the PBS KIDS Lab site and then extending the games at home or in the neighborhood helps to create lifelong students of math,” said Debra Sanchez, Senior Vice President for Education and Children’s Content at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.   “Through the support of the Ready to Learn Grant in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, we are providing programming and content that actively engages young children in learning.”

Available for free, the PBS KIDS Lab (PBSKIDS.org/lab) is the largest offering of interactive math content for preschoolers to date with games that comprise several suites, each of which is centered around a beloved PBS KIDS media property – from CURIOUS GEORGE to THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!.  Each suite links a set of games across different devices and is built around a math framework, leveraging games on a variety of platforms to support key math skills. The Lab also aggregates games by age and skill area so that adults can search for the games that will be the best fit for their kids. Additionally, the site helps parents and teachers learn how the games support learning by providing details on the games’ curriculum-based content.

The PBS KIDS Lab furthers PBS KIDS’ efforts to innovate across platforms to both educate and entertain America’s children.  PBS KIDS is increasingly serving children wherever they live, learn, and play – online, on mobile devices, on TV, and in the classroom.

9-year-old Anthony Aranda reviewed this for us last weekend and he loved it. Here’s what he has to say:

This movie is awesome because there is a lot of action and everything the chipmunks and Chipettes do is so funny. The movie is all about Dave, the chipmunks and the Chipettes who go on vacation and have a really big adventure. They go on a cruise ship and Alvin keeps causing lots of trouble on the ship (like always). Alvin comes up with a really great idea to fly on top of a kite. All of the chipmunks and Chipettes are holding the kite while Alvin is flying but the wind picks up too hard. They start to fly away and Simon tries to help by tying the kite to Dave’s chair (while he is sleeping). This still doesn’t work and the chair and the chipmunks start to move down the deck of the ship. Eventually, the kite slips off the chair and the chair flips over. Dave wakes up to see the chipmunks and the Chipettes fly away on the kite.

Some of the main characters in the movie are Dave, the chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore), the Chipettes (Eleanor, Jeanette, and Brittany), Zoe, and Ian. My favorite character is Alvin because he is always having fun and causing lots of trouble. I also like him because in the end he learns that he can still have fun while being responsible.

My favorite part in the movie is when the chipmunks and Chipettes meet Zoe on the stranded island. She invites them to meet her friends and when they get there they see that her friends are a bunch of sports balls. It’s really funny because it seems like she is a little crazy since she has been on the island for so long. We figure out later that there are spiders on the island that change a person’s personality and make them act differently. Later in the movie Simon gets bit by one of the spiders and then he starts acting like someone else. It is really funny.

I recommend this movie for all ages because it is super funny and there was no violence or parts that would scare anyone. It also shows how much family means and that most families would do anything for each other. Go out and see this movie in theaters on December 16th.

Reviewed by Anthony Aranda, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

If you want to have the perfect Christmas, you must see this movie! Three of our youth critics who watched it loved it. Here’s what they have to say:

This movie is about family fun, working it out, and knowing that your loved ones are there for you. It all takes place at Christmas with wonderful stories for you to come along! The music in this move is so cool and I really enjoyed listening to the lyrics. It is a musical, so be prepared for the most pop Christmas Music you can imagine. I think it is a lot of fun and even though it seems a little early, I am always ready for some Christmassy cheer.  My favorite part in this move is when they are sliding on the sled. Everyone is happy. It’s a wonderful scene with lots of Christmas joy and laughter.  The MakaiCcolvin.jpganimation in this movie is so detailed you can really see the wardrobe of the characters. My favorite photo is of Barbie’s sitter’s sparkly coat and boots. This outfit is very shiny and pretty, just my style. I enjoy fashion and that is one thing this Barbie movie delivers.  “Barbie: A Perfect Christmas” is best suited for ages 2 to 10. I’m not sure older kids will like it because sometimes, or most of the time, you grow out of Barbie. But I still like Barbie because of the fashion ideas I get from the movies. Girlie girls will love this movie, and maybe even some boys who enjoy fashion and good stories about Christmas and family. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars! Credit: Makai Weber Colvin, Age 10, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. Video review here.

This movie is about Barbie and her three sisters Stacie, Chelsea, and Skipper. They are on their way to New York City to have the perfect Christmas with their Aunt Millicent. Due to a snowstorm, they have to land in Rochester Minnesota. There, they check in to the magical Tannenbaum Inn and they meet the amazing Christie Clauson, and the Elif family. Do they make it to New York in time for Christmas? You must see this movie for yourself to find out. My favorite part is Skipper’s Christmas Concert, especially the opening act where the dogs are dancing. My favorite characters are Christie Clauson, because she loves Christmas aNy__Asia.jpgnd giving to others, and Barbie, because she loves her sisters and really tried to get them to New York to have the perfect Christmas. I rate this movie 5 out of 5 stars, because it’s the perfect holiday movie, and I recommend this movie to everyone. Reviewed by Ny’asia Bell, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 8. Video review here.

Barbie: A Perfect Christmas is an uplifting film that will put you in the mood for Christmas. It’s about Barbie’s plan to take her sisters, Skipper, Stacie and Chelsea to New York for the perfect Christmas, but a storm delays their plane flight, causing them to stay in a hotel a bit far from New York. If you want to find out how Barbie and her sisters improvise their plans so that they can still have a wonderful Christmas in the hotel, watch the movie to find out!

This movie contains a lot of musical numbers emphasizing the spirit of Christmas. Barbie and her sisters face many obstacles in the movie, but I found it inspiring how they always resolved their problems by having an optimistic mindset, which led them to come together in the end. Therefore, the essential message of this movie is that if you think positively and keep all of your options open, your goal may come true! On the contrary, the animation of the characters in the movie is a bit rigid.

I recommend this film for children ages 4 and up. This movie will appeal more to little kids because it is very straightforward and cheerful. Even if young children can’t understand the plot of the movie, they will still enjoy the music and singing. This family film will spread the Christmas spirit and bring children and their parents closer together for the Holidays!Credit: Gabriella Chu, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. Video review here

The Littlest Angel, based on the fifteenth best-selling children’s book of all time, tells the story of a young boy who arrives in heaven before his time.  Have you ever wondered what Heaven looks like? The Littlest Angel is an adaptation from the book The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell. The movie is about a clumsy angel who has difficulty adjusting to Heaven because his wings are not developed yet. He is very homesick, so he goes on an adventure with his dog to Earth to retrieve his treasure box containing things that are precious to him. Will the littlest angel complete his mission despite his clumsiness? Watch the movie to find out. All of the characters have such different personalities, so it’s comical to watch them interact with one another. I also thought the voices of the characters were well suited to their personalities. The movie is very jubilant and shows that you should treat people the way you want to be treated. For example, the littlest angel was kind to everyone, including those who didn’t initially like him, so he earned respect. The movie also shows that practice makes perfect, but perhaps the essential message of the movie is that it’s the thought that counts which makes a gift valuable.  I recommend this movie to all ages, but I think it suits more for children 3 and up. I enjoyed the CGI animation of the movie because it is simple, and the facial expressions of the characters are easily readable and adorable, so everyone can understand it. Credit: Gabriella Chu, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Watch Gabriella’s video review here. 

Looking for something new to watch this holiday season? “The Dog Who Saved Christmas” features the voice talent of Mario Lopez (”Dancing With the Stars,” “Saved By the Bell”) as Zeus, a mischievous yellow Labrador who appears to be less than the dependable guard dog the Bannister family needs.  What happens when a Christmas present goes horribly wrong? Find out along with the Bannister family when they adopt a K-9 watchdog who does not even know how to bark! An All-star cast is sure to impress with names such as Gary Valentine (”King of Queens”), Elisa Donovan (”Clueless; Sabrina the Teenage Witch”), Charlie Stewart (”The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”) and many more. With the holiday season approaching, the Bannister family agrees they need either an alarm or a watchdog to keep their new house secure. Zeus sadly is no watchdog. While the kids fight to keep their loving dog Zeus, Zeus tries to prove himself to his new family. The poor dog is constantly reminded he cannot bark by his new mother Belinda and two hilarious talking mice who share his new home. After failing a mock-burglar test and breaking the Bannister family’s gift to their Grandma, Zeus has run out of chances to prove himself worthy of protecting his family. But just as the Bannister’s leave to spend Christmas Eve with their Grandma, and begin saying their goodbyes to their Pound bound mutt, Zeus is given one more chance to prove himself. With the threat of two robbers and no family around Zeus must snatch the chance to be a hero, he even gets help from an unexpected source to defeat the criminals. This fast-paced comedy is a perfect addition to the holiday season, and will become a family-friendly tradition for future Christmases to come.

Also, look for The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation with the same talent.

Masterful Martin Scorsese has transformed the wonderful book, The Invention of Hugo Caberet by Brian Selznick into a film that is truly a gift to all of us this Holiday season. The story itself is similar to Scorsese’s own life story. Here are what two of our 14-year-old critics have to say about it.
Hugo is the thrilling story about Hugo Cabaret (Asa Butterfield), the orphan clockmaker who, with help from Isabelle Melies (Chloe Moretz), fixes an automaton that was created by magician and filmmaker George Melies (Ben Kingsley). I thought this movie was great, particularly the scenery which takes place in Paris. I also loved the soundtrack, which really helps set the mood. The acting is great, especially considering that Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz are only 13- and 14-years-old. They do a fantastic job. The only thing I don’t like is that the movie takes place in Paris, but the people have English, not French, accents. I recommend this film for ages seven and up because  some themes may go above younger kids’ heads. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

By Daniel Menegaz, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Hugo is about a little boy, no more than ten or eleven, who works at the train station running the clocks. Hugo and his dad are clockmakers, until his dad dies when he (Hugo) is very young. His grandpa takes him into the clocks at the train station, but leaves him there after a short amount of time. All Hugo wants to do is fix the automaton he and his dad were fixing…

The movie is amazing, the acting is great. I have to hand it to the two main characters: Hugo (Asa Butterfield) and Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz), both are children, my age or younger, and they portrayed the characters very well.

The Cinematography is eye-catching, in the middle of winter, the shots they take from the clocks, or just in the train station are great. What is a movie without a sound track? This movie’s music sets the scene up very well, making you think you know what is about to happen.

I recommend this movie to people 7 and up, it doesn’t have much violence or language or anything like that. Overall I rate this move 8.5 out of 10.

Credit: Jonah Menegaz, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

PBS KIDS will feature the broadcast premiere of the original Curious George movie, which will air as part of the CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular on Wednesday, November 23. A three-movie on-air event that is sure to be a new family tradition, the Holiday Spectacular kicks off with Curious George, featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore and Dick Van Dyke, as well as the music of Jack Johnson, followed by Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas. Encore presentations of the Holiday Spectacular will air on PBS KIDS throughout Thanksgiving weekend (check local listings).
“We’re excited to extend the fun and engagement of CURIOUS GEORGE, the #1 preschool series in the U.S.*, into this special holiday movie event,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “George has a natural curiosity and eagerness to learn, making him an ideal trusted guide for our young viewers. We hope that the CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular will take families on even more adventures with their favorite monkey, fostering excitement in exploring the world around them.” CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular Program Descriptions
Curious George Curious George follows everyone’s favorite spunky monkey as he sets off on a series of (mis)adventures. In the film, after the Man with the Yellow Hat accidentally brings back George from a business trip to Africa, the unlikely twosome embarks on a fun-filled journey through the big city, and ultimately finds their way to a lasting friendship. Featuring gorgeous and old-fashioned two-dimensional animation that echoes the simple colors and shapes of the books by Margret and H. A. Rey, Curious George includes voice talents Will Ferrell (as the Man with the Yellow Hat), Drew Barrymore, and Dick Van Dyke, as well as all-original music from Jack Johnson.Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey
In Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, the fun-filled sequel to the hit animated movie, Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat set out on a madcap cross-country adventure to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. This unlikely trio faces all types of comic calamities and colorful characters and in the end learns that with family, friends and determination you can achieve anything. Curious George 2 features the voices of Tim Curry, Matt Lauer, Jamie Kennedy and Jerry Lewis.

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
In A Very Monkey Christmas, Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There’s only one dilemma - neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.

Tips for Creating Family Traditions

PBS encourages families to take part in traditions new and old. PBS Parents provides additional ideas to create meaningful traditions for the family such as:
1) Write an annual letter to your child. The holidays are an appropriate time to mark your child’s growth with a special message that will be cherished for a lifetime. Seal letters and store them in a keepsake box until they are old enough to read and enjoy them.
2) Do a Secret Santa gift exchange for charity. Turn the tables this year. Instead of buying a present, make a donation or spend time volunteering for a charity of the giftee’s choice.
3) Make a family walk an annual event. Walking is a great way to spend time with each other, and work off those extra gingerbread cookies! Set aside time — even if it’s 30 minutes — to get outside and stretch your legs with the family.
4) Leave a legacy that lasts (and helps the environment). Each New Year’s Day, plant a tree in honor of your child(ren). Hold a special ceremony in which everyone in the family plays a part in planting that year’s tree, and take lots of pictures, both when the tree is planted and over the years as it grows.
5) Take part in a community service project as a family. Designate a day that will be devoted to serving others in your community.
6) Select a recipe and make it a tradition to make it together as a family, giving each family member a task in preparing it. In honor of the CURIOUS GEORGE Holiday Spectacular, make monkey bread or a banana dessert.
More details and ideas can be found on PBS Parents.