A few years ago, I was distraught and overwhelmed with the negative effects of popular culture, electronic toys and media in general on children’s imaginations, play and general well-being. Then I met someone who quite literally changed my life: Diane Levin. Diane is one of the experts in our world on this topic. She has been a teacher of young children and is now a professor at Wheelock College in Boston. She is also a researcher and a writer. She has paid close attention to the evolution of violent and sexy toys in our culture, and has worked hard to inform parents, teachers and policymakers of the harmful effects of such toys.

Diane’s books include Remote Control Childhood?, Teaching Young Children in Violent Times: Building a Peaceable Classroom and most recently So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids, which she co-wrote with Jean Kilbourne. I have used Diane’s books in my work, and recommend them highly. She is also a founder of TRUCE (Teacher’s Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment) and CCFC (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood).

Taking Diane’s Media Madness summer institute was transformative for me personally and professionally. It opened my eyes to the depth and breadth of all the experts and organizations who were noticing the same trends I was noticing, and were working to defend children and protect healthy development. She helped me understand how we got to where we are, and gave me inspiration and ideas for how to fight back. Diane will be teaching Media Madness: The Effects of Sex, Violence and Commercial Culture on Children & Society at Wheelock this summer on July 9th and 10th. It is open to educators, students, human service professionals, activists and parents, and it can be taken for graduate credit or no credit. Registration is open until the end of this month…click here for the link.

This is the second year that I’ll be presenting at the institute. I’ll be there Friday, July 10th and hope to see you there. Spread the word to others who might be able to attend! It promises to be an incredible two days.