KIDS FIRST! News

The Young Writers Program is a fun, free writing adventure for both teacher-led student groups and young solo scribes. On the YWP site at http://ywp.scriptfrenzy.org, these brave young writers will find all the resources they need for an unforgettable month of scriptwriting and creative exploration.The Young Writers Program website is completely separate from the Script Frenzy main site. YWP participants get to set their own page-count goals for April’s festival of scripts, and have the opportunity to make friends with other young writers around the world through our safe, private online message boards.The Script Frenzy Young Writers Program is broken into two phases. In March, they impart the basics of screenwriting and playwriting through weekly online lessons and exercises. It’s like an online scriptwriting boot camp (without the screaming drill sergeants): After only four weeks, participants will have written a three-minute play, movie, or TV show, learned about conflict and story arc, and become familiar with the arcane art of script formatting.Then on April 1, the Frenzy begins. Young writers will put their imaginations to the test by writing a script of their choosing in just 30 days. They can write with a partner or tackle the challenge by themselves. Either way, they’ll be encouraged throughout the month by the Young Writers Program staff and the group of scriptwriting experts who will stop by the site to offer their insights and advice in our Cameo section.At the end of the event, all participants will get a certificate for giving it a go. And those who reach their word-count goals will receive a special winner’s certificate and web icon. Not to mention the satisfaction of having spent an exhilarating month tackling an imagination-expanding, literacy-building creative challenge.Adult leaders will have access to a private Teachers Lounge on the site, where they can swap lesson plans and writing ideas. And all schools and libraries taking part will receive a free progress chart, and “Lights, Camera, Frenzy!” buttons.If you’re a kid or teen and would like to sign up, head on over to the Young Writers Program site!If you’re a parent, librarian, or teacher looking for something to get kids excited about reading and writing this spring, you’ve found it! In 2008, over 600 classrooms took part in the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program for our sister event, National Novel Writing Month. Kids and teens who had once seen writing as a detestable chore came away from the event with a newfound love of books and writing. They invite you to explore our Script Frenzy Young Writers Program site, and feel free to drop them a line with any questions!

Script Frenzy is an international writing event in which participants take on the challenge of writing 100 pages of scripted material in the month of April. As part of a donation-funded nonprofit, Script Frenzy charges no fee to participate; there are also no valuable prizes awarded or “best” scripts singled out. Every writer who completes the goal of 100 pages is victorious and awe-inspiring and will receive a handsome Script Frenzy Winner’s Certificate and web icon proclaiming this fact.Even those who fall short of the word goal will be applauded for making a heroic attempt. Really, you have nothing to lose—except that nagging feeling that there’s a script inside you that may never get out.Who: You and everyone you know. No experience required.What: 100 pages of original scripted material in 30 days. (Screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, and graphic novels are all welcome.)When: April 1 – 30. Every year. Mark your calendars.Where: Online and in person (if you want!). Hang out in the forums, join your fellow participants at write-ins, and make friends by adding writing buddies online.Why: Because you have a story to tell. Because you want a creative challenge. Because you’ll be disappointed if you missed out on the adventure. Because you need to make time for you.How: Sign up. Tell everyone that you are in the Frenzy. Clear your calendar. (US participants: Get your taxes done now!) Start some wrist exercises. Have fun!The 5 Basic Rules of Script Frenzy

1) To be crowned an official Script Frenzy winner, you must write a script (or multiple scripts) of at least 100 total pages and verify this tally on ScriptFrenzy.org.

2) You may write individually or with a partner. Writing teams will have a 100-page total goal for their co-written script or scripts.

3) Script writing may begin no earlier than 12:00:01 AM on April 1 and must cease no later than 11:59:59 PM on April 30, local time.

4) You may write screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels, or any other type of script your heart desires.

5) You must, at some point, have ridiculous amounts of fun.

This fall, Arthur and his friends are back for a 12th season premiering Monday, October 6, 2008 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings). In all-new episodes, Arthur, D.W., Buster, and the whole gang learn the importance of getting out, getting active, and getting involved in their community. New episodes will air Mondays throughout the fall, with five additional episodes premiering in spring 2009.In “Room to Ride” (October 13), Lance Armstrong makes a special trip to Elwood City during an episode about the importance of bike safety and good citizenship. Worried that there aren’t enough safe roads to ride their bikes, Binky and his friends take to the streets to convince residents to vote for new bike lanes. When all hope seems lost, Lance gives Binky support and encouragement to never give up his cause. Boston’s Bike Czar, former Olympic Cyclist Nicole Freedman, lent her expertise developing this episode. Freedman was hired by Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino in 2007 to help make the city more hospitable to bikes.“This fall is an especially crucial time for kids to learn the importance of voting and community involvement,” said Executive Producer Pierre Valette. “We’re so happy that Arthur and his friends–with the help of familiar faces like Lance Armstrong–continue to help bring awareness and understanding to kids about what’s going on in their world.”Additional episodes premiering this fall include “The Chronicles of Buster,” where Buster’s obsession with an epic film series on DVD starts to take a toll on his friendship with Arthur; “D.W.’s Stray Netikin,” where D.W. panics after a scary clown virus ruins the Read family computer; and “On this Spot,” where Arthur is thrilled to learn that the legendary Sitting Bull once passed through Elwood City–but wonders how he can get his friends to care more about local history than celebrity sightings.ARTHUR, based on Marc Brown’s best-selling books, is the highest rated weekday children’s series on PBS among children 6-11 (Source: For PBS, NTI Pocketpiece, October 2007-June 2008). ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA and six Daytime Emmys–four for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. Executive producers are Pierre Valette (WGBH) and Toper Taylor (Cookie Jar), and Marc Brown (Marc Brown Studios). Directed by Greg Bailey.

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According to posted in Marketing Daily, kids are still enjoying books, television and toys. Yes, a majority of kids under the age of eleven do hit the Internet on a regular basis, but not for long periods of time.What are kids doing when they do go online? In addition to game playing, kids are watching videos online. Nielson data released in June cites that children between the ages of two and eleven viewed more video than adults during the month of April.