Today I played the game “3 Foot Ninja” on the MilkRocks! website. This is the website advertised on school milk cartons in grades K-12 throughout the country. Well, I wasn’t too good at the game, and quickly died a gruesome death – with my red blood spilling out. Nice way to start the day.
I urge you to contact Milk Media, the company running the “Milk Rocks! Plug in. Drink up.” campaign in schools. You can email them at info@milkmedia.com or info@milkrocks.com. They claim to be concerned about children’s health and well-being, but their motivation seems unclear. Urging kids to go online and play video games isn’t in children’s best interests. To me, Milk Media is taking advantage of the trust that kids have in their schools and pulling a fast one on parents who don’t even realize their kids are being marketed to this way.
I also contacted my local dairy, which supplies my son’s school and heard back for them today. They are “no longer participating in national campaigns promoting websites, movies or any media venue.” Now that is the type of email that makes my day.
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Now for more good news about Empowered by Play:
Our fall has been a busy one, with successful workshops and presentations from New Orleans to Washington, DC to our home base in New York. Check out some of these responses to our workshops:
“Now you are making me think differently about what to buy for Christmas!” -teen mom
“Then why do they make those Baby Einstein videos!?”-teen mom
“Thank you so much for your energy and ideas!”-teacher
“You’ve inspired me to begin chipping away at this problem at my own school.”-teacher
“I wish we could have you present every week!”-director
A special thanks to our new Board of Directors:
Deborah Meier – pioneer educator and writer
Avi Silber, MD – dynamic pediatrician
Steve Bywater – entrepreneur and father of five
Kathy Clunis – educator and activist
Our goals for 2010 include launching our new website, establishing weekly workshops for parents, continuing our presence at national conferences, and gaining our official 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
Our in-kind and financial donations for the first three months have been close to $10,000. This is great. We are skilled at stretching our money and at making a big impact with not a lot of funds! Please consider making an end-of-the-year donation – see below for specifics about how you can help:
$200 will sponsor a workshop for teen moms.
$160 will get wooden blocks into the hands and homes of 8 young children through our BLOCK PROJECT.
$100 will provide a matching grant for a presentation at a cash-strapped organization.
Or, make a $75, $50 or $25 donation in the name of a child. We will send an Empowered by Play postcard with the good news.
We thank you so much!
Best wishes,
Geralyn Bywater McLaughlin
Founder and Director of Empowered by Play
P.O. Box 10062, Newburgh, NY 12552
(Until we have our 501 (c ) 3 status, please make checks payable to Geralyn Bywater McLaughlin. Thank you.)
[...] Empowered by Play Update April 7th, 2010 | Tags: fight back, kindergarten, marketing in schools, teens, tweens, video games | Category: Uncategorized [...]
I am all about kids getting the chance to learn computer skills and enjoy online games occasionally but….after they have had the opportunity for active and creative play. Come on Milk Media consider combining the milk is healthy angle with an active lifestyle!