Axe Deodorant and Disney Cars

My favorite image from Kid Power this year was Wynne Tyree's picture of a tween boy's dresser. It answers the question, "what is a tween boy?" Answer: he's halfling ricocheting between boyhood and lady's man. The Disney Cars in the center of his dresser, he tried to hide from the photographer. He proudly displayed the Axe.

Making waits less hateful

At Orlando's Kid Power this week, speaker David Calvert, "Corporate Director of Fun" at Starwood pointed out a guest service opportunity that rang with truth. Tired, antsy kids at hotel registration desks need distraction and entertainment. Starwood tries to make the experience fun--with giveaways and face painters.

What a sponsorship moment! Any kid (and parent) would look gratefully upon the company that popped for a puzzle. treasure map, or comic.

Some smart marketer should own the "I Hate to Wait" moment, not just in hotels, but wherever kids encounter it.

Dangerous Book for Boys

This week, I've cheered as this title zoomed up the charts.
Kids need more irreverant fun, more creative fun, more time in the real world. Evidently, a lot of parents agree. Hooray for boys and their dads!

Speaking of shapes

American Greetings brings us a square, triangle and circle-inspired characters. They're coming at licensing through the back porch. AG, a traditional licensor, courts broadcast entertainment partners for its own property--traditionally, it's been the other way around.

Geometry of kid characters

What makes characters who have no arms and no discernable expressions so popular among kids? Sponge Bob is a square, M and M's characters are circles and Pet is a triangle.

The McDonald's McNugget Buddies are ovals, and kids used to love the little Fry Guys who were round hairy mops on stilty legs--all they could ever do was play soccer. Kid squeal with they see Pet crawl across the screen. And the giant purple triangle, Barney, continues to be roundly loved.

Healthy Pet

Kids send in all kinds of imaginative fare in the "Pet Sightings" section of http://www.edgarandellen.com and why not? Edgar & Ellen's pet, "Pet," who appears to be a hairy eyeball, comes in a shape that's easy to spot and to imitate. I share this one with you in my quest to inspire ways to make healthy food fun.

Kids books and early learning

Hallway chat at an O'Hare forum hosted by the "Ready to Learn Parternship" yielded this gem--you can predict parents' engagment in children's learning via the 6-BOOK RULE:

Every 6 books in the house equates to 1 day a week that contains learning conversation. 12 books mean two days, 42 books mean 7 days.

The number of adult's books in the household often equals the number of kid's books.