Clever Currents

Rockin' Out at Summer Camp – No Canoes, Lots of Jamming

Music camps that feature classical instruments and voice training have been around for a long time. But in the last few years, rock camps have made a splash. The rising popularity of rock camps among parents is due partly to the nostalgic link to classic rock, and partly to their recognition that it's easier to get kids excited about bass guitars than harpsichords. They want their kids to learn music, and they know that you are most likely to learn what you are passionate about. Summer camp puts your child in a safe place over a short period of time, and your child experiences a completely new environment, new people and new processes. The discovery that they can get with the program and make new friends is a confidence-builder that lays the groundwork for exploring their options as a young adult.


The Blue Lake take on it:

If your kid thinks being a rock star sounds like fun, we think rock camp is a great idea. One of the most established operations, The Paul Green School of Rock Music says that "the combination of private lessons and group band practice with their peers is the best way to motivate kids to practice hard, overcome stage fright, and become amazing musicians." Others say that it's not just about learning to play electric guitar or drums – their curricula also include basic music industry business skills. In addition to honing their musical and performance skills, Camp Jam teaches aspiring rockers about "polishing their image and understanding how to capture an audience." The Power Chord Academy, a sleep-away camp, has week-long sessions in which they promise to "show kids how to go from the garage to an internationally renowned professional touring band." Some rock camps, including our hometown favorite Ethos Music Center, offer scholarships.

Pushing Sugar – Breakfast Food Industry Tries Self-Regulation

Newspapers across the U.S. carried this story last month: the Kellogg Company announced that they will discontinue advertising products that contain more than 12 grams of sugar per serving, 2 grams of saturated fat or 200 calories during children's television programming. What's behind this decision? Two advocacy groups, including Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, were preparing a lawsuit against Kellogg and Nickelodeon under a Massachusetts law that limits the marketing of junk food to kids. After a year of negotiations, the food giant agreed to these terms and the lawsuit plans were dropped. What does this mean to you? There are four grams in a teaspoon of sugar or a single sugar cube. Because of the work done by CCFC, your child is much less likely to see an ad for Cocoa Krispies and dozens of other sugar-laden products.



The Blue Lake take on it:
First, we salute the people at Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood for showing that grassroots organizations can impact influential corporate behavior. Now, about that sugar… it's easy to do your homework online. Market leaders Kellogg and General Mills do a good job of making nutrition information available. Note the serving size – higher sugar content cereal servings often report smaller portions (¾ cup) than less sugary choices (1 cup). FYI, a single unfrosted Blueberry Pop-Tart has 18 grams of sugar. Eight ounces of Sprite (two-thirds of a can) has 26 grams of sugar. And 100% real fruit juice? Eight ounces of some popular choices: orange juice (22g), apple juice (26g), grape juice (38g). And finally, the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley has a fun set of activities for kids to explore sugar in their lives.


Marketing the Baby Genius

Last year, Harvard psychologist Susan Linn filed a complaint with the federal trade commission, arguing that advertisements for so-called "baby-genius" videos in the US are false and deceptive because there is no evidence watching them helps babies learn. "The bind is that parents in this country are under terrible stress, so the idea that these videos might be educational is helpful for them, because it makes it OK to put babies in front of screens," said Ms Linn, co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. "These companies have been doing a really good job of convincing parents these videos are education - but there's no evidence that television is beneficial, and some evidence that it may be harmful." 



The Blue Lake take on it:
Look beyond the marketing. If you choose to have your baby watch videos, we recommend disciplined moderation. It's important to monitor what your kids watch and to avoid a daily ritual or "video as reward" system. As kids grow older, video fare aimed at them becomes more commercial. That's the focus of The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, and their website is worth reviewing. Richard Hill, a reporter from our hometown paper The Oregonian, has just covered the latest studies.