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KIDS FIRST! NEWS 2002
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time

CQCM Newsletter Archive:
October 2002
September 2002
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June 2002
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The New York Times/KIDS FIRST! Guide to the Best Children's Videos

A unique collaboration between the top two experts in the field, the New York Times and The Coalition for Quality Children's (CQCM) KIDS FIRST!® initiative, this authoritative, definitive guide includes more than one thousand entries of kid-tested, adult-approved KIDS FIRST! - endorsed videos, and more than 100 CD-ROMs. Writers for the Times contributed original reports on the personalities, issues, and trends in children's entertainment as well as a list of five hundred feature films that the entire family can enjoy, selected by New York Times "Home Video" columnist Peter M. Nichols.

The GUIDE TO THE BEST CHILDREN'S VIDEOS, which will be updated annually, and only lists recommended videos, provides both a quantitative and qualitative score that presents parents with extensive, informative guidelines, enabling them to make informed program choices. Bearing in mind that not all children's programs are appropriate for all children, THE GUIDE TO THE BEST CHILDREN¹S VIDEOS is broken down into chapters devoted to specific age groups: Infant/Toddler, Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and Junior and Senior High Schools.

THE NEW YORK TIMES/KIDS FIRST! GUIDE TO THE BEST CHILDREN'S VIDEOS
(Click to buy)

Foreword by LeVar Burton; Preface by Linda Ellerbee

A Pocket Books Trade Paperback Original

Price: $16.00; ISBN: 0-671-03669-6 


KIDS FIRST!® AT 1500 HOLLYWOOD VIDEO STORES

Hollywood Video has forged an alliance with the Coalition for Quality Children's Media to help kids and families select videos that have a positive impact on their entertainment experience. Videos endorsed by CQCM's KIDS FIRST! initiative are featured at all of Hollywood Video's over 1,400 stores nationwide, supported by in-store signage and other materials, as well as at Hollywood Entertainment's on-line division, Reel.com.

"Hollywood Video has always been committed to parents and kids, and with KIDS FIRST! we are taking our involvement to the next level," said Jeff Yapp, President, Hollywood Video. "There really is an interest from our customers on the need for entertainment that positively affects kids and families, and we believe the KIDS FIRST! program will call attention to hundreds of deserving titles."

 Hollywood Video is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world, opening an average one new store every day, with a weekly average of seven million customers in its over 1,400 locations. Hollywood Video's World Wide Web site is located at http://www.hollywoodvideo.com. Reel.com's website is at http://www.reel.com.


MEG'S GIFTS DONATES 28,000 VIDEOTAPES AND CD-ROMS TO 254 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS!

For hospitalized children, traditional television programming has little to offer. Often, these children rely on television as a form of entertainment. "Children in our care have times that they are here without a family member or they feel too poorly to engage in other activities," says Cindy Williams, Director, Clinical Operations, Riley Children's Cancer Center. On December 11, volunteers from Fort Wayne, Indiana sorted, packed and shipped videotapes and CD-ROMs to 254 children's hospitals nationwide. This year for the first time, the hospitals that are members of the Children's Miracle Network have been included, thanks to the support of CQCM Board member John Herklotz and to Mardi Clemens, the Guardian Angel of Meg's Gifts.

Kudos to our Fort Wayne Volunteers who worked so hard under the guidance of Mardi and Dan Clemens to make this all possible: Rhonda Berghoff, Brendan and Sheryl Clemens, Kathryn Clemens, Paul Clemens, Phil Clemens, Grace and Brian Conway, William Cameron, John Cutter, Sandy Durly, Linda and Clyde Ford, Marcia and Jim Goheen, Amy Griffin, Carol and Jim Morton, Dan and Steven Motherwell, Barbara Ulmer, Sandy and Tod Wolfrum, and Michelle Young.

Speaking for our family and many others like us everywhere, we thank you for joining a project that celebrates life, love, courage, compassion and healing. You have become part of an incredible cast of heroes - unsung & invisible in most incidences, valiant in all. We are grateful to you and we commend your awareness of the intrinsic value of contributing your resources to our youngsters who need contact with the ‘outside' world. You have entered their dark world, filled with danger, fear and suffering bringing them messages of truth and beauty and light. For that you are good.

We thank you,

The Clemens Family

Thanks to those who donated products: Ablesoft, American Film Institution, B & D, Baby Einstein, The Baby School Co., Big Idea Productions, Children's Television Workshop, Digital Frog International, Fox Interactive, Garden House, Genius Products, Gizmo Gypsies, Golden Hour Productions, The itsy bitsy Entertainment Co., Kid Rhino, Kid Vidz, Linda Warwick Presents, Lyrick Studios, Minnesota Visual Entertainment Co., Paper Bag Players, Patch Products, Small Fry Entertainment, Stargate Pictures, Warner Brothers Publications and Sony

Last, a very special thank you goes out to our friends and colleagues at Fox Interactive. Fox donated more than 23,000 CD-ROMs to Meg's Gifts! Thanks to Eva Forberger and Evelyn Gray for their support. 


TOP 5 VIDEOS FOR 1999

According to our KIDS FIRST! evaluators, we are proud to announce the five top-rated titles for 1999.

 

*** BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE VOL. 4, I NEED A LITTLE HELP TODAY - Bear has a case of the sniffles, and he's taking some quiet time. Everyone is helping to make him feel better, and with all the help Bear will be back on his feet in no time. Adult Juror Comments: Characters are friendly and sincere. Plots are simple and well paced. Shows self-respect and compassion. Colorful production without being garish. Careful listening is required to develop language and problem-solving skills. Kid Juror Comments: Appealing. Humor perfectly suited to children's sensibilities. Variety of characters and expressive features make them attractive but not cutesy. "I could watch this every day." Video. 50 min.; $9.95; Age: 2-5. JIM HENSON COMPANY.

*** MAMA DO YOU LOVE ME? (DOORS OF WONDER).In a distant northern land, a little Inuit girl asks, "Mama, do you love me?" The answer makes for a charming tale about affection, adventure and wonder in this original and imaginative animated adaptation of the award-winning children's book. Adult Juror Comments: A lovely story about relationships that easily leads to discussions about Alaska, the Inuit people and family. Video expands on the theme of the book making it even more enjoyable. Excellent portrayal of Eskimos and their respect for animals. Kid Juror Comments: "It was great." "I want to know more about Alaska and sled dogs." "I thought about love and how I treat people." "Mother showed she really loved her daughter even when she was mad." Video. 30 min.; $12.98; Age: 3-8. SONY WONDER.

*** DEGAS AND THE DANCER (ARTISTS' SPECIAL SERIES).The 19th-Century French painter, Edgar Degas, paints to survive. Initially, he scorns painting dancers but gets caught up in a ballerina's life and becomes interested in a ballerina named Marie. They reveal their hopes and fears to one another. Adult Juror Comments: Worthwhile story, beautifully produced. Degas is shown as a self-centered old man whose art is more important than people. Marie's influence improves his behavior. Begs the question, "Does being a genius give you license to treat others badly?" Kid Juror Comments: "I learned about what it takes to be an artist." "I liked the way they all taught each other something. The painter taught her that if you don't make a mistake you'll never learn. She taught him not to be so grouchy and have respect for others." Video. 55 min.; $19.95; Age: 8-12. DEVINE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

*** IRON GIANT, THE -Features an all-star cast, including Jennifer Aniston and Cloris Leachman. Tells the story of a young boy and a fifty-foot robot who discover the power of friendship and learn rewarding lessons. Adult Juror Comments: Heart-warming, feel-good, child-centered parable which delivers a message about anti-violence and hope. Military stereo-typing generated discussion. Excellent animation. Contains violence which is relevant to telling the story. Kid Juror Comments: Enjoyed the rural Maine setting; felt sorry for the Iron Giant. Some were glued to the screen. "Hogarth was afraid of the Iron Giant, but he saved him anyway." "It showed how to be friendly to someone who is different from you." Video. 86 min.; $22.95; Age: 8-12. WARNER HOME VIDEO.

*** OUR FRIEND MARTIN The remarkable life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., using modern animated characters who travel back in time and meet Dr. King at various points in his career. Approved by the King family. Adult Juror Comments: Excellent use of live-action historical footage mixed with animation. Traces his influence on American history. Graphic images depicting racist behavior is best viewed with adults. Stellar cast, voices of Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta and others. Kid Juror Comments: Impressive. Many were not aware of the content. "This video taught us to respect other people, not hate each other because of color." "It taught me a lot of history, and it was sad." "I liked when they time-traveled." Video. 60 min.; $9.98; Age: 8-18. TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

These titles can be purchased online at Reel.com and are available for rent at your local video store. We encourage you ro check out the KIDS FIRST! section at Hollywood Video.


MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Some changes that CQCM has made to its membership services in 1999 include the launch of our online e-zine. The e-zine began in October and is sent out to all of our online members every two weeks. If you have not been receiving it, please subscribe below. Your subscription will begin with the next issue of the e-zine.

Our independent producer members can establish a link to their web site to sell any title that is not available from a major distributor for as little as a $200/year membership. For details, please email Lorilei at [email protected].

Through January 31, 2000 you may still take advantage of our Free book offer with your new or renewed family or individual membership. Please click here to purchase the book. You may now charge your membership on your VISA or MasterCard.


BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT

Karen Kurz-Riemer, author of the introduction to our parenting section of The New York Times/KIDS FIRST! Guide to the Best Children's Videos has recently finished a book. We recommend you check out "Infants, Toddlers, and Families: A Framework for Support and Intervention" by Martha Farrell Erickson and Karen Kurz-Riemer, New York: Guilford Press, 1999. It's written for practitioners in education, health, and social service areas who are working with or want to work with families of infants and toddlers. Kyle Pruett of Yale Child Study Center says: "The authors' warm, erudite voice is as robust and vital as their subject, exquisitely balancing our attentions between child and parent, context and relationship....The field is in desperate need of the passion and wisdom contained in this book."


WEBSITE NEWS:

We have made a number of changes and improvements in our web site this year. By the end of this year, images will be shown for 100% of the titles on our website that we have art for. We encourage producers and suppliers to check their titles on the site. If you do not see art for your title, it means that we are missing that and invite you to send either an electronic file or hard copy of your art as soon as possible.

Our web visitors now amount to approximately 300,000 hits/month. We are seeking sponsors for the web site. If your company is interested in sponsoring the site, please contact Ranny at [email protected] for stats and rates.


JUROR NEWS

Are you concerned about children? Are you troubled by the violence, and stereotypes associated with the media? Would you be interested in a program that involves children in the process of change? Consider becoming a juror for KIDS FIRST!'s nationally acclaimed community-based media evaluation program.

Here is how it works:

KIDS FIRST! uses professionally designed criteria, evaluation tools, and volunteer adults and children as jurors. An adult juror holds a degree in education, child development, library science, media or a related field. These jurors work together with a children's jury to complete a screening and evaluation of current videos, CD-ROMs and, starting this year - web sites.

The evaluation process itself produces an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to enhance their critical thinking skills, make a contribution and engage in creative expression. A child or young adult who is media literate can evaluate programming and content objectively, while encouraging them to explore the connections in his or her own life.

Currently we have a particularly strong need for adults who work with teens (ages 12-18) and for teen jurors. We have an ongoing need for jurors who can evaluate titles for children of all ages.

For more information, contact the Coalition for Quality Children's Media at (505) 989-8076 or email Suzanne at [email protected].

KIDS FIRST! will begin evaluating web sites next year. If you are interested in participating in our beta test program, please contact Mona at [email protected].

 

Subscribe!

Subscribe to our monthly E-Zine to stay up to date on KIDS FIRST! initiatives. - FREE -

Your e-mail address:



(privacy)

KIDS FIRST! NEWS 2002
Turning your TV Time into Quality Time

CQCM Newsletter Archive:
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002

June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002

 


 

2001

2000

1999

1998

1998


1997


1997

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