PeaceSigns

Ohio high schoolers not far from Kent State, when asked to come up with non-verbal symbols, quickly imagined peace signs. When they had to draw the signs, the girls were able to. They wear them on clothes and accessories. The boys tended to draw Mercedes logos.
Carole, their teacher, recommended that they imagine them as dove tracks.

GirlMusicPSP

What makes a PSP more "like me" for girls? Not just the lilac color but the apoplexy-worthy artists that add fun to the games. Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Vanessa Hudgens--all via free downloads when you enter codes. It launched Monday.

VerveLife provided the artists, the microsite and music delivery system. Don't know who added the "z." http://vervelife.com/girlzplaytoo

KudosTraderJoe

I had thought that Trader Joe's check-out balloons were there to create a festive atmosphere. But Friday I witnessed the thrilled little girl who got to choose her favorite color to take home (you already know it). Her father's grateful pleasure and her shy joy sent a smile down the line. One happy child created contagious happiness.

I began to spot balloons bobbing on strollers in surrounding blocks.

So simple and visible. If I were a food manufacturer, I'd consider branding the helium tank or taking the idea to another retailer in return for balloon message-sharing.

HannaFan

Yesterday, I saw a little girl jumping and cheering at the sight of Hannah Montana in the Mich. Ave. Disney Store window. Her older brother's sympathetic comment was, "I'ma kill you if I hear anymore about Hanna Montana." Her mother seemed interested though. Today another nice mom, Raleigh, from Denver, posted this little girl's review of the movie, "Mom that was the BEST movie ever!"

PrincessParade

Little Caroline can take class called "Princess Ballet--and you can see why that's offered. Look what she lugs in her backpack: a posse of princesses. Later she found one more figure at the bottom, a lone prince.

You can keep your handsome prince. I put my chips on the princess square.

GrandGift

What to get a thoroughly modern grandmama for Christmas? A Flip! Anne filmed her little prodigy and sent this clip through email. The song is old and simple to sing, the camera is new and simple to use.

Navidad

At the Christmas Market in Madrid's Plaza Mayor, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snowmen (it barely snows) and ornaments have encroached on world of Nativity Scene figurines. Those lively villages spread over tables full of animals, mountains, innkeepers and lonely shepherds. But they no longer dominate the market.

I recalled the Lego insight, that boys build UP and girls build OUT. A tree rises to the ceiling, while a "Nacimiento" builds an extended community. Christmas in Spain may tilting toward the boy side.

Nacimientos, though, have a new trick: battery power. Boys goggled at the turning water-wheels, perpetually lucky fishermen, clothes-hanging washerwomen, and hammering blacksmiths. They pointed and grandparents plunked down their Euros.

Lucky boys and girls of Spain: they have two terrific ways to decorate and now, two gift occasions. They get gifts not just on Three Kings Day, but on Christmas day, too.

Girls multiply sales

In last month's Shop-along, three girls (each with $20 to spend) made identical purchases including pens, St. Patrick's Day hats and Play-Doh. POP aimed at girls would do well to reflect and encourage that propensity.

Pushing the right POP buttons

In last week's Shop-Alongs for KidSay, Ali Pohn, noted that boys headed straight for the toy section and especially responded to anything that moved, could be punched, bounced or pushed. The girls tended to wander more and pay attention to signage that to showed what was in the departments. The cuter the better, like this Peeps daisy signifying the Easter candy section.

Martha Barletta's book, "Marketing to Women" has similar observations to make about how men and women shop for a white shirt and a black dress. Men head directly to the shirts, women check everything in between and around the dresses.