Media Literacy Teachable Moment: Those Holiday Toy Commercials

You may already know about Frank Baker's media literacy/toy ad website. Now, he wants to alert you to a new addition to the site: last week the group which oversees toy advertising (CARU) cited a child's toy manufacturer for deceptive advertising practices. The toy in question is called Kick N Go. On his media literacy/toy page, he has just uploaded a link to the toy commercial in question, as well as CARU's official compliant AND a behind-the-scenes short showing the making of the ad. Go directly to the new page. It is his hope that you or your teachers can find time to help teach students the "techniques of persuasion" as well as "techniques of production," both a big part of the standards.