Sunday, April 18 – Ann Wilson: Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Ann showed a DVD about how big corporations are trying to reach our kids with commercials. A few facts: there are more than 52 million kids under the age of 12; they have a purchasing influence of over $700 billion/year. Corporations target kids for cradle-to-grave brand loyalty. It’s all about what the product can do for you: Stuff can make you happy; you are what you have; what you buy is who you are; it’s all about “me”; life is about buying. What parents can do: Restrict the time w/commercialism; teach them about money, saving and how to be smart consumers; talk about advertising – how it works; get them out in nature; kids need time to be kids. “Our kids are getting older younger.”
Sunday, April 25 – Dr. Stephen Klineberg: The Houston Survey and Kids. Harris County is now a minority – majority county with Anglos making up only 36% of the population. The younger the age group the larger the percentage of minorities with Latinos making up 45% of the 18 to 29 age group but only 11% of the 60 to 93 age group. As a result, the HISD elementary schools are dominated by Latino children. Main conclusion: Houston, which bases its current success on a knowledge-based work force, can only continue to be a prosperous city if it finds a way to address the educational needs of these changing demographics.
Sunday, May 2 – Dr. Winifred Hamilton: Kids and the Environment. The main environmental issues she discussed include: lead from paint (children from Galveston have 4 – 5 times the national average blood lead levels.); toxic materials used in toys; air pollution including high ozone levels; second-hand smoke (correlated with bronchitis, pneumonia, wheezing and coughing, ear infections, asthma attacks, and sudden infant death syndrome); pesticides, rodenticides, and fertilizers; mercury (from eating contaminated fish – even while pregnant); and possibly extended exposure to cell phone radiation. What parents can do: I:nsure that your child has a safe, healthy environment.
-John Freeman
