Free Range Kids?

This month's Brainchild Magazine featured a fascinating essay by a Montana mother who was arrested for letting her 12 year old bring younger siblings to the mall, without an adult. Susan Linn recommended the book Free Range Kids, (also a blog) but I have been a bit put off by some of the romanticizing of the "good old days" when kids ran free in the wild, since I think there was also a survival of the fittest / Lord of the Flies element to peer socialization that we want to circumvent for good reasons. I'm more sympathetic to the Brainchild story because the mom is a little less sure of herself, and a little more tired -- she lets the kids go because she reaches her own limit AND thinks it is fine (enough). I believe in the tenants of "good enough parenting" and think each of us will sort out the boundaries depending on our own temperments and experiences and those of our children... and yet, still, there are community norms and guidelines, too, that matter... At what age can kids roam Mackworth Island without an adult? At what age can kids be free on the playground with supervision? At what age can kids be left alone in the car while a parent runs in? At what age can kids be left home alone? So many questions without clear answers... I'd love to hear how others in our community are sorting it out!

A Sing-Along with Ellie tomorrow

Rain or Shine, Ellie will grace us with songs and stories at 11am... bring a picnic lunch to eat inside, if you'd like... get ready by looking at some of the school songs on the sidebar....

Fwd: Come Celebrate the Hardy Days of Summer

If anyone has the ummph to think about driving to Waterville, this looks pretty cool... Even more ummph for starting something like this in the Portland area would be fab!   For more information, call (207) 861-8131

Begin forwarded message:

Come Celebrate the Hardy Days of Summer

 

Hardy Days is a unique, interactive summer program for girls in grades 3-6.  This new and exciting two-session program is being offered for the first time because we want all girls to have the chance to participate in fun and engaging summer activities.  The program will give girls the opportunity to meet with other girls from around the area and participate in hands-on, low cost activities. During the sessions girls will get to meet women who are defying gender stereotypes and challenging notions of what a girl or woman "should" do or be; participate in team-building games and learn skills such as public speaking; and learn to think critically about media images through art projects. Workshops will be lead by community volunteers (local artists and martial arts instructors), members of the Hardy Girls' Girls Advisory Board, and Hardy Girls' Director of Programs.

 

Hardy Days will be held July 13-16, 2009, 12 pm - 5 pm.

1st Session: 3rd-4th graders July 13 & 14

2nd Session: 5th-6th graders July 15 & 16

• Sessions are $50 per girl and include healthy snacks and materials for all activities.
• Scholarships are always available for sessions! 

Children Are Frequent Targets of PG-13 Movie Ads, Group Charges (NYT)

I thought folks would be interested in this article.

NYT, June 24th, 2009, 3:17 PM

Children Are Frequent Targets of PG-13 Movie Ads, Group Charges

By Brooks Barnes

A Harvard-based children’s advocacy group is stepping up its confrontation with movie studios over how PG-13 films are marketed.

Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood on Wednesday sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and the Bureau of Consumer Protection demanding that the government take action to assure that films rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America are not marketed to young children. The organization complained that the FTC’s exhortation to the movie industry in 2007 to address concerns over the marketing of such sexualized and violent movies through self regulation has failed.

“The M.P.A.A. still has not done what the FTC urged it to do: adopt an explicit policy, incorporating objective criteria, for the marketing of PG-13 films,” the 10-page letter reads.

Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood is particularly concerned about the marketing of PG-13 movies through fast food toy giveaways and the sale of licensed merchandise, particularly the advertisement of such offers on television. The organization presented the government agencies with research it has conducted about four PG-13 movies that have been released since May 1.

Researchers for the organization monitored ads for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Star Trek,” “Terminator Salvation” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. with a heavy eye on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, which typically target children age 6 to 11. Between March 17 and June 14, the group counted 2,734 commercials for the films, their licensed toys and related fast-food promotions. (Not included: ads for branded food products like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” M&Ms.

A representative for the FTC could not be immediately reached for comment. A spokeswoman from the M.P.A.A. had no immediate comment.

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

Fwd: Organic News, Events & Resources

What's On My Food Database. If you ever have wondered about pesticides on your food, or in your drinking water, in particular which of those pesticides are most hazardous, the California-based group Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) has just the resource for you. Today, PANNA launched a detailed and informative website -www.whatsonmyfood.org. The site hosts an easy-to-use, searchable database of government test results for pesticide residues in food. The database shows what pesticides are found on each food, in what amount, and, for the first time, links those residues to the health effects associated with exposure to each of the chemicals.

 

Computer Camp

The Friends School Computer Program for 10-14 year olds will be offered July 20-24 & August 10-14. This student-centered, project-based day program offers children an opportunity to explore the creative use of computers through the use of the Apple iLife creative suite of software, including iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, and Garageband. Program Director, John Jaques, has his Masters Degree in Instructinal Technology and 15 years of experience working with groups of children and adults in computer-based instruction. For more information and to register go to: http://friendsschoolofportland.org/friends-summer-computer-program

Stories by the Garden (or inside, if it is raining)

The story program will happen tomorrow, rain or shine!

FSP's own Katie Clark will read her books, Seagull Sam and Grandma Drove The Garbage Truck and there will be some activities to go along with the stories... come see old friends, bring new friends, and escape from another cloudy day!

Care for Caregivers @ Freeport Library

The Sandwich Generation: Taking Care of Your Children, Your Parents and Yourself without Losing Your Mind

When : Mon Jun 22 6:30pm – Mon Jun 22 7:30pm Where:Community Meeting Room 10 Library Drive Freeport ME 04032 Your children still live with you (or have moved back in). Your elderly parents need help making medical and living arrangements. How do you manage all of the responsibilities, copy with stress and still find time to take care of yourself? This FREE one hour presentation by the Community Counseling Center (www.commcc.org) will equip you with specific questions to explore about elderly parents' needs, concrete tips to manage stress, and ideas for self-care.

Summer Reading Programs

Portand Public Library's summer reading program starts on June 22 with a puppet show @ the East End School at 10:30. On June 24th they are offering a kids-sized version of the Edible Book project, called "Eat Your Words" at 5pm.

Falmouth Library's reading program kicks off with a concert @ 5:30 on June 23, but it looks like they require registration...

FSP Passion Flower

FSP PASSION FLOWER (Courtesy of Scott Peterman)