All the usual clichés of the wider entertainment industry still apply; it’s super competitive, not all fun and games and not always what, but who you know. Still, more specifically, what advice would you give to someone looking to make their big break, creating content for kids?

I’ll start with three things I think are most important, but would love to hear some other professionals share their wisdom and help newcomers like Claudia find their way.

Focus.

Whatever goal or position you want to achieve, be specific and keep trying to get there. Telling people you want to work in the media is too vague. Think of it like this, if Steven Spielberg showed up on your doorstep and asked you to help him make a movie, what would you tell him you want to do?

Now there’s a caveat to this I wish someone had told me when I graduated. Unless you’re best friends with someone like Mr. Spielberg, you’re not going to simply graduate and become a Producer or Director overnight. College is merely the first step on that path, so figure out the route you need to take to get where you want to go.

Join In.

Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Blogs – the opportunity to discover what kids media conversations are occurring right now is immense. Learn from others, but don’t be shy; contribute your own thoughts and ideas too! Don’t be afraid to share your work either, it’s what will get you noticed.

Do Do Do.

I don’t have any solid evidence to back this statement up, but I bet Picasso’s first painting wasn’t as good as his last. Whatever creative skill you want to develop, design, animation, photography, writing, or whatever; you have to keep doing it all the time. It’s the only way you’ll get better. Again, tell the world about your work, get noticed.

So there you go! I would love some other professionals to chime in with their tips, and likewise if you’re looking for advice, be sure to get in touch.

The category for best website for kids had two great winners – Ziggity Zoom and Disney Digital Books. Take a look here to find out more about them.

In the category for best virtual world for kids, Webkinz World beat some very tough competition to claim the prize. Go here to learn more.

A very big well done to all of this years’ winners!

It seems hardly a month goes by without a study being released showing how society is putting too much pressure on kids to achieve. Whether it’s sports, music, dancing or just good old-fashioned grades – you name the competition, there are bunches of families spending their yearly vacation travelling across the country so their son or daughter can win it.

I know, this is an extreme example, but there’s a vocal group of objectors crying, “Just let kids be kids!” They talk about the dire consequences of putting too much pressure on children at such and young age, and use phrases like “unstructured play time”, which I think is the scientific way of saying, tip the sofa over and pretend to be a pirate or a cowboy or something.

But wait a minute. There’s another group of experts saying parents and teachers have adopted a win-win attitude that frowns on any child facing the trauma of coming in second, third… Heaven forbid, even fourth! Again, there’s a growing concern that we’re leading kids down a path that leaves them unequipped to the reality that for every winner, there’s a loser too.

Hold on, I’m not done yet. Forget whether children are being pushed too hard or not enough, it doesn’t matter, because there’s another faction claiming children are too busy getting overweight in front of their television or computer for it to matter. According to this group, kids are just junk food chompin’ zombies, too unmotivated to do anything anyway.

So which is it? Are children pushed too hard, not hard enough or does it not even matter because they’re all to obese to care?

The only connection I can gather from these contradictory views is that no matter what, today’s children are doomed. This is a tragic assumption. Did people have a similar view twenty or thirty years ago? Is it just natural to be pessimistic about the potential of near-future generations and what kind of message does this negative outlook give to a child?

As I’ve said before, I’m not a parent yet, so I’m going to reserve any judgment until I have my own experience to draw on. However it’s a question that concerns me and I would love to know what any parents out there might think.

• Knee Bouncers
• PBS Kids
• Dreambox
• Disney Digital Books
• Ziggity Zoom

But wait there’s more! About.com are also giving another award for the best virtual world. The list of contenders are as follows:

• The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks
• Webkinz World
• Chobots
• Club Penguin
• Webosaurs

Here’s what’s super-interesting. Take a look at the amount of votes cast for each category, or just keep reading this if you’re lazy. At present time of writing, there’s been nearly three hundred votes for favorite kids website, but there are nearly three thousand votes cast for favorite virtual world.

That’s a serious difference, and one I’d love to know the reason behind.

Could it be that the level of competition between virtual worlds is stronger? Are virtual world fans more passionate about their favorite? Or are virtual worlds simply becoming much more popular across a rapidly growing audience? What do you think? Share your thoughts!

Like everyone else on the planet, judging by the amount of people at LAX, I traveled back to the folks for Christmas for some rest and relaxation. It’s the last place I usually expect to put on my curiosity cap. Until, that is, one of my parents’ friends paid a visit, nine-year-old daughter in tow, along with a brand new Webkinz – a platypus to be exact.

“Do you guys have a computer?” Bella, the little girl asked, “I need to register Gabriel here”, waving the fuzzy creature, and confirming my belief that the box of my old toys which gets dragged out when kids come around, just wasn’t cutting it anymore.

So we went to the Webkinz site, and registered Gabriel, and this is where the magic started to happen for me. See, I know a lot about toys, and I thought I knew everything I needed to about Webkinz – you buy one, register it online and there are a bunch of rather basic games you can play with it.

No. There’s way more to it than that.

We started off playing the Webkinz Chef Challenge, a cooking game where you and an opponent must guess the right ingredients to include in such fantastical recipes as Knotty Numnums and Sorcusorbet. I figured it was a random scissors-paper-stone game mechanic, but again, I was to be mistaken.

Narrowly impressing the chef judges more than the other player, we were awarded a bunch of KinzCash to spend on virtual clothes and accessories. Not just any old bits and pieces though, Gabriel has specific needs. According to his bio, he likes skateboarding and painting, so that’s what Bella bought to keep the virtual version of Gabriel happy, along with food, drinks and a range of décor for his new room.

As if this buying frenzy was entertaining enough, it dawned on me that the shopping experience we were enjoying was almost exactly the same as a if you were buying something for real on Amazon or eBay. This kid was confidently clicking away at the same kind of thing I remember nervously doing for the first time myself, only I was twice her age at the time!

We played some more games, earned some more points and went back to the store for more accessories, including some furniture for the fluffy little creatures’ virtual room.

One of the items Bella picked was a television, and this is what blew me away – you can watch the TV and learn the ingredients needed to win in the Chef Challenge game we’d played earlier! The recipes weren’t random, there’s just more of the Webkinz world to explore and discover in one interlocking package.

This sums up my experience in two ways. Firstly I got a real kick out of the seamless experience involved in finding my way around the Webkinz site, it really is a deeply layered world offering a complete content package.

Secondly, and more importantly was a more introspective lesson. As a children’s media professional, there is so much content constantly being released, that in an effort to stay on top of it all, you’re often forced to get by with the basic concept of something really special, without fully appreciating it. I’m very happy to say this is one instance where I got to slow down and enjoy a great concept, and I encourage everyone to do the same thing.

This was too quirky for me to resist sharing! In celebration of Asterix’s 50th birthday, the French Air Patrol sky acrobatics team jetted off to paint a very special picture in the clouds…

Actually, I helped a bit, so blame any mistakes on me.

Beginning with the earliest kids brand we could think of, we feverishly made a list of other important ones and then set about researching the year they were released. It was a lot of fun, but also incredibly interesting to put some perspective on a lot of household names. Did you know Mickey Mouse is a year older than Popeye… who’s the same age as Tintin? Cool!

From a commercial point of view, it’s useful to note how many classic brands were created in the 50’s and how the market virtually exploded in the late 70’s, with brands that are stronger today than ever before.

However, the timeline isn’t finished yet. Eric and I need your help.

We still have lots of space to add other significant children’s brand names, so we’d love you to send your ideas to us to be featured on the timeline. Anything from television or radio shows, to toys and breakfast cereals are welcome, so get sending.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy scrolling through memory lane. Who knows what we’ll be adding in the years to come!

Similarly, Paris has become the center of much celebration for the 50th birthday of one of France’s greatest cultural heroes; a plucky big-nosed Gaul who likes nothing more than bashing a few Romans with his rotund superhuman friend.

But while the masses are clamoring for more Sesame Street, fans of Asterix around the world are generally agreed – enough, sadly, is enough.

While Sesame Street continues to evolve and entertain, Asterix seems to have run out of magic potion, however both brands continue to release new content. The difference lies in the fact that to countless Asterix fans, every new adventure book is a disappointment, gradually chipping away at the value the brand has built over the years.

So when, if ever, is it time to draw the curtains and put a brand to bed?

Some brands are in a constant state of expansion, keeping their core concept, but adapting to the times; Mickey Mouse might be digitally animated, but he’s still the same character. Similarly, Star Wars continues to explore a galaxy far, far away with a constant stream of video games, cartoons, toys and even an upcoming television series. Other properties may drift in and out of public conscience, but there are a rare few that are always at the fore, and seemingly untouchable when it comes to sustained popularity.

Then there’s the most unique of all brands; the one with a defined ending. The kind of book or show that finished with the audience wanting more, instead of eventually jumping the shark. Further products may still be released, but the core remains the same.

J.K. Rowling adamantly proclaims there will never be more Harry Potter books written, or movies made. Many people, myself included may find her integrity in telling a specific story admirable, but I’m left wondering if authors like A.A. Milne or J.M. Barrie thought the same thing about their creations decades ago. Both Peter Pan and now Winnie-the-Pooh have been given the sequel treatment, years after their original creators have passed away. Should their creations be left alone, with or without their estate’s approval?

Nowadays there is another element to consider – the fan created piece. Gone are the days when content was developed purely between dedicated creatives and the studios who funded them. The Web is absolutely heaving with videos and fan fiction, creating a dearth of new content. While it’s almost never recognized as an official component of the brand, the amount of content falling into this category is growing, and some brands even encourage it.

Of course the elephant in the room is the question, where are all the new brands being created? There are only so many re-makes that can be made, surely?

There are still many new ideas being explored, even more so as the technology involved in creating and delivering media continues to develop and become more accessible, however studios will continue taking the safest financial course by investing in a brand that already has a proven track record, be it securing younger new audiences with an already successful format, or luring back older audience with an existing emotional connection to the brand.

At the end of the day, profitability is going to define whether a brand continues to generate new material, but if we continue to creatively pursue new ideas, and tell new stories, it’s okay to accept a time when a character or series has finally ran it’s inevitable course. Or bashed it’s last Roman.

What’s most intriguing about this years conference is the new perspective many experts are beginning to have when it comes to keeping kids safe online. The danger of online predators are being dialed down, but while this obviously still remains a pressing concern, research by the Internet Safety Technical Task Force indicates that a more immediate problem lies with children encountering peer-to-peer bullying and self-destructive online behaviors.

Instead of increasing the fear factor for children staying safe online, conference speakers, including CNET safety blogger, Larry Magid will be placing an emphasis on media literacy and digital citizenship, encouraging kids to be positive internet users.

The two-day conference will also feature a range of workshops and sessions on subjects such as playing online games responsibly and how to use mobile devices safely. Find out more about how to register for the event, here.

The Chicago International Children's Film Festival

For ten chilly fall days each year, the Windy City becomes the center of my children’s media world. Starting today, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival will celebrate, not just 26 years of world-class children’s entertainment, but 26 years of empowering kids to become media literate and aware of the influence television, magazines and the internet can have on their everyday lives.

I interned for the CICFF in 2004. It was my big break into the world of children’s media, and I’ve never looked back. When I started working there I was full of energy and totally on board with all the hopes and expectations of a typical fresh-faced little media darling; the glitz and the glamour and the chance to be creative for a living – cool!

But there was more to it than that. I started to hear all kinds of things about the impact on-screen violence has on children; about consumerism and pester-power and the general dumbing-down of a generation or two of kids.

I didn’t believe a word of it. In fact, I resented such a crazy notion. If you’re reading this and you grew up in the 80’s like I did, you’re probably thinking the same thing as me – I grew up with He-Man/G.I. Joe/Ninja Turtles, and I turned out just fine.

For most of us that’s true, but we didn’t spend our childhoods in an instant information world where every kind of media format, both good and bad, bombards us almost every minute of the day. Let’s be honest here, nobody’s quite sure what effect this state of being “always-on” has on growing children.

Before you say this is alarmist, I’m not asking for a blanket ban on any kind of media nastiness. I don’t believe our youth are doomed to become sociopathic vegetables, numbed to scenes of violence, or slaves to consumerism. As broadcasters, it’s our responsibility to share information, tell a story and entertain. I’m just asking you to think about what effect that ad your writing, the show your animating, or the online community your developing might have on impressionable minds.

Ok, enough with the serious eyebrows. This year the CICFF will be showing over 200 films from 40 countries and will also host 25,000 kids as well as a wide range of activities and interactive workshops to get involved with. There’s something for kids of all ages, and plenty of filmmakers and celebrities show up too. There I go with the glitz, again!

If you’re anywhere near the Windy City over the next few days, I can totally recommend taking the kids for a visit. Even if you’re not in town, take a look and see if there’s a film fest for children in your area. You’ll see the magic of the big screen in a whole new way.

Happy film watching!