Google needs to have a student version of its popular search software.  It’s not because of pornography. It’s not because of meeting weirdos online.  It’s simply a matter of being able to concentrate on things that kids need to concentrate on without any distractions.
The classic example is Ethan Allen.  Enter the term into Search and you’re [...]

Toy Fair, an industry trade show in NYC this week, is one of my favorite annual visits, because it’s a chance to be a big kid in a candy shop full of toys that the public has not yet seen.
This year’s show feels a little recession strapped in that the toy manufacturers are packing volumes of [...]

I feel like the Grinch mentioning this around the holidays, but it’s a fact. Kids get homework even as the holidays approach. The rule of thumb is that kids get 20 minutes of homework per grade. So by junior high school you’re looking at between 2-3 hours of homework each evening–and that’s after a long [...]

What if your life were just an example to be parodied? That’s how I felt when I watched this perfectly executed parody of an earnest mom explaining how she can keep tabs on her college kids. If you’ve ever been part of the Internet safety discussion you’ve got to see this clip from The Onion.

Ernest Hemingway earned the name Papa at the ripe old age of 27. His parents hated his writing. In a literary duel with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway gave Fitzgerald’s critique a three word  brush-off: “Kiss My Ass”. Like MTV or “E”, Shmoop appeals to the quick moving, often purient interests of digital aged kids.  Hence, the [...]

Never mind you, which netbook will your kids be carting to and from 1st grade this year? Will it be the one with SpongeBob or with Little Mermaid? This week Dell announced a new netbook designed for the 6- to 12-year-old: the Inspiron Mini Nick Edition.

For those who haven’t been back-to-school in a while; things have changed.

It’s show time for the digital toy business. Time to trot out previews of the summer’s releases.  This season offerings has a few recurrent themes. First is low price. Almost all of the manufacturers are selling less expensive variations on their older toys.  The second trend is all about using the body and brain in combination. [...]

Have you tried shopping for educational toys  for young kids lately?
It’s a jungle out there.  If you’re looking to help them practice  reading, math, critical thinking, color matching  … whatever, there are hundreds to choose from ranging from the mundane to the sublime. And no way to know for sure much about what’s inside the box.
Leapfrog, [...]

If I had a dime for every spam mail offering me a free college degree, I’d be up to my ears in diplomas. Online colleges have a mixed-bag history of snake oil and success.
University of the People is out to legitimize free. Not only is a college degree free, anyone who has access to a [...]