Weekend Fun and Games
Filed under: Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids, Activities: Tweens, Activities: Family Time, New In Pop Culture
Happy Friday again! If you don't already have plans for the weekend, here are some ideas as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media. Click on the links to read the reviews in full.
Movies
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" may have been inspired by a kid's toy, but it was definitely made with adults in mind. Brutal violence, sexual images and every bad word in the book make the film inappropriate for younger kids. Big special effects, too many characters and multiple story-lines make the film hard to follow and results in a movie that is more spectacle than special. Rated PG-13, Iffy for Kids 13+
On DVD
With a top-notch comedic cast, "Pink Panther 2" should be a rollicking good time. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese can't rival the pure genius of the original Inspector Clouseau, Peter Sellers. It might not live up to expectations, but with only slapstick violence, a little flirting and no objectionable language, at least it won't offend. Rated PG, OK for Kids 11+
TV
Set in the world of competitive gymnastics, "Make It or Break It" is yet another variation of the 'snobby bad girl versus the nice good girl' theme. If viewers can look past the tired plot device, the film offers an interesting look behind the scenes of athletic competition. Rated TV-14, OK for Kids 12+
Books
As the title suggests, "King of the Screwups" by K.L. Going is about a teen who is always messing up. His latest transgression has resulted in him being kicked out of his father's house and sent to live with a flamboyant relative. It's a well-written and sometimes humorous tale of a boy struggling to please his emotionally abusive father. OK for Kids 14+
Music
Although "The E.N.D" by The Black Eyed Peas is mostly a raunchy party album with songs about booty calls and sex toys, there are a few slightly more serious offerings as well. Most of the tracks have clean language, but the ones that don't might more than make up for that. OK for Kids 15+
Web
"Bill My Parents" is a site that allows kids to shop online at select retailers, choose what they want to purchase, and then send a request to a credit card-carrying adult to pay for it. Or not. Maybe it is a good way to give your teen some independent shopping experience without actually handing over the credit card. But it is bound to make hearing "no" a lot more frustrating to a kid who just spent an afternoon filling up a virtual shopping cart. Iffy for Kids 15+
Games
"My Sims Racing" for Nintendo Wii puts players in the driver's seat as rookie race car drivers who must save a town by winning races. It is fast-paced fun but requires lots of reading and easily frustrated kids might have difficulty with the controls. Rated E, OK for Kids 7+
Movies
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" may have been inspired by a kid's toy, but it was definitely made with adults in mind. Brutal violence, sexual images and every bad word in the book make the film inappropriate for younger kids. Big special effects, too many characters and multiple story-lines make the film hard to follow and results in a movie that is more spectacle than special. Rated PG-13, Iffy for Kids 13+
On DVD
With a top-notch comedic cast, "Pink Panther 2" should be a rollicking good time. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese can't rival the pure genius of the original Inspector Clouseau, Peter Sellers. It might not live up to expectations, but with only slapstick violence, a little flirting and no objectionable language, at least it won't offend. Rated PG, OK for Kids 11+TV
Set in the world of competitive gymnastics, "Make It or Break It" is yet another variation of the 'snobby bad girl versus the nice good girl' theme. If viewers can look past the tired plot device, the film offers an interesting look behind the scenes of athletic competition. Rated TV-14, OK for Kids 12+
Books
As the title suggests, "King of the Screwups" by K.L. Going is about a teen who is always messing up. His latest transgression has resulted in him being kicked out of his father's house and sent to live with a flamboyant relative. It's a well-written and sometimes humorous tale of a boy struggling to please his emotionally abusive father. OK for Kids 14+Music
Although "The E.N.D" by The Black Eyed Peas is mostly a raunchy party album with songs about booty calls and sex toys, there are a few slightly more serious offerings as well. Most of the tracks have clean language, but the ones that don't might more than make up for that. OK for Kids 15+
Web
"Bill My Parents" is a site that allows kids to shop online at select retailers, choose what they want to purchase, and then send a request to a credit card-carrying adult to pay for it. Or not. Maybe it is a good way to give your teen some independent shopping experience without actually handing over the credit card. But it is bound to make hearing "no" a lot more frustrating to a kid who just spent an afternoon filling up a virtual shopping cart. Iffy for Kids 15+
Games
"My Sims Racing" for Nintendo Wii puts players in the driver's seat as rookie race car drivers who must save a town by winning races. It is fast-paced fun but requires lots of reading and easily frustrated kids might have difficulty with the controls. Rated E, OK for Kids 7+TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
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Director Robert Rodriguez and Alexa Vega Talk Passing the Torch to a New Crop of Spy Kids
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Kate Middleton Says William "Spoils Me" During Busy Royal Weekend
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
6-29-2009 @ 4:06PM
damoki said...I agree with your assessment of the "Bill My Parents" site as "iffy". Common Sense Media's appraisal, pointing out the paucity of educational opportunity, is valid, and in my opinion, a little understated - there is a real harm lurking in the dark. In using this site, kids are being denied the opportunity to internalize money lessons through success and failure.
First: a parent, judging purchase decisions under the guise of education, in reality, is simply exerting control. As a result, kids just mentally and physically point and click... if approved, they get the "gimme"... if not, then try again. The only lesson is that parents are in charge, which misses the point.
Second: because a base concept of the site is to control spending decisions at various levels, kids may eventually learn to seek and become overly dependent on external approval as adults, thereby giving up their independence of thought and action to the whims and decisions of others... boss, spouse, significant other, and potentially even their kids.
What is missing? Authority. It is difficult to learn responsibility without authority. When you remove “authority” from the mix, the opportunity to make independent decisions and learn from good and bad results, you also remove the potential to develop positive decision-making behaviors, which, of course, is the point.
Additionally, the real money lesson herein is by charging “50 cents” per transaction, this site is more a moneymaker for them than an educational tool for kids.
DaMoKi
Reply