‘Gen We’: Today’s kids and parents happy to consume, create media ...

The parents of Gen We are also comfortable with the ubiquity of advertising and media, as well as technology. And they are encouraging their kids to understand it and learn how to customize it for their own use. "Parents of Gen We's don't see technology as the enemy and don't need to moderate it as much: They see it (as a way to) help them with parenting. They see it as a bonding experience," Robinson said. "As a kind of media Sherpa, they're encouraging kids to not just absorb what media tells you, but to think about how you can change it." Although television is far from going the way of the betamax, with TiVo, downloadable movies and YouTube, the viewing experience is now more interactive and customizable. According to a 2004 study of viewing habits, kids spend an average of three hours a day watching TV, the same amount from five years earlier.

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Cookbooks to light a fire under creative kids

Getting youngsters into the kitchen to help prepare meals and master some survival skills need not turn into a culinary tug-of-war -- if the right incentives are used. Kid friendly cookbooks will help ease the transition from table to kitchen for those young people who wish to lend a hand when it comes to planning and preparing meals. • "Kids Cook 1-2-3" (Bloomsbury, ages 9 and up, $17.95) by Rozanne Gold combines lavish illustrations with more than 100 healthy and mouthwatering recipes. By focusing on recipes that use only three ingredients, chef Rozanne Gold simplifies the process and assures young cooks success on their initial foray into the kitchen. There are great ideas here for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and delicious desserts.

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Super Franks keeps kids, adults happy

PLEASANTON — Some people spend half their lives dreaming about owning a particular kind of business before actually even thinking of making it a reality. But for Frank Tate, his new business started out as a joke. There weren't any longtime, lofty dreams, just a joking challenge from his wife. After yet another trip to Chuck E. Cheese ended up in a headache — and missing baseball playoffs on television — Tate's wife dared him to do better. Only kidding, Tate began to tell his friends how he was going to open a family entertainment center that was fun for all family members. He joked that it would be called "Super Franks." But his friends didn't think he was so crazy. Two years later, his "joke" is now reality. "This is a dare gone wild," said Tate, a Lafayette resident.

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