The cartoon network is currently testing out three new live action shows. One of the shows is called The Othersiders which is best explained as Teen Ghosthunters and is aimed at kids.

I’ve seen the first episode and some of the promotional material online and my main issues with this show are 1) that it assumes the existence of the paranormal as fact and 2) passes off sloppy thinking, “weird feelings”, and logical fallacies as critical thinking and true investigation.

This show claims to be “skeptical”, “scientific” and to conduct “thorough” investigations but in reality is credulous and obviously pro paranormal. Critical thinking is practically non existent. It wouldn’t bother me so much if they didn’t claim to be skeptical critical thinkers. If kids are watching this as an example of critical thinking they will be misinformed.

They say they do extensive research on the internet to find the most “credible” locations to investigate. KC, the team’s case manager, explains their decision to investigate the Lincoln Heights Jail in Los Angeles on their first episode, “The jail seemed credible because, so much stuff went on in that place there has to be paranormal stuff left over.”

Sam, the web master, explains why they use thermal cameras, “Paranormal energy is heat and our thermal detectors will pick that up.”

In the research they did about the location the kids read that when people entered a particular part of the jail they started to feel claustrophobic and dizzy. When two members of the team enter that part of the jail, surprise surprise, they also start to feel claustrophobic and dizzy. They consider this evidence of the paranormal. There is no mention that they may have fallen prey to the power of suggestion, that there may be a gas leak or that there may be any other explanation.

Check out the show and see what you think. If you, like me are not happy about this sort of stuff being marketed to kids, please write to the Cartoon Network and let them know what you think.  

Because this show is so new and they are still testing is out we can make a difference. 

Rational parents of the world unite!

Skepdad compiled a fantastic list of blogs, book recommendations, and other links:

These are sites I read, books I reference, documents I consult, or information I find otherwise useful and interesting. I’ve put it here specifically to be a central hub of information (hopefully useful for others) for all things skeptical, science, parenting, educational, or otherwise tangential to that.

Check it out.  You will be reading for days and days.

Update 5/24: My statement that “there is no other camp like [Camp Inquiry] in the world” was unnecessary hyperbole. Anyone considering sending their kids to Camp Inquiry should also look into opportunities at Camp Quest!

If you are interested in science or skepticism, and if you have kids, have I got a summer camp for you! Camp Inquiry is a week-long summer camp for children aged 7-16, which runs from July 6-12, and is hosted by CFI, near Buffalo, NY. It has all the regular camp stuff, like hiking in the woods, outdoor sports, and sleeping in bunkbeds. But, oh man, it has so much more!

Camp Inquiry has a three-part focus, teaching children about the arts and sciences, skepticism, and ethics. Every day at camp is different, but every day the campers will work on science projects, develop critical thinking skills, and work with professional scientists, skeptics, artists, musicians, and magicians. I’m afraid to name names, because contracts may not be finalized, but the kids who come to Camp Inquiry this summer will: » Continue reading “Fun, Educational Summer Camp for a Skeptical Kid or any Kid!”

Kids and the Internet!

There are so many fascinating things for kids to learn on the Internet. My kids (ages 7 and 5) know how to navigate around wikipedia both by clicking from one article to related articles and by searching for terms that they know or copy from science books. They like finding pictures through Google image search. They also like finding Astronomy movies on YouTube. I showed them the first two — the last one they figured out all by themselves…

On the one hand, I like for them to be able to take the initiative to explore their interests. On the other hand, I know I have to keep an eye on what they’re doing because it’s pretty easy to stumble upon stuff that’s not appropriate for kids. I’m not just talking about the sex (as I discussed here), but also violent or scary stuff, or just things that generally require a little parental guidance or discussion. (And once they learn to write well enough to “chat” we’ll have to have the talk about safety when socializing online…)

But the other day Nico was showing me the movies he’d found, and he showed me something I hadn’t even anticipated dealing with: conspiracy theory movies that (to a kid) look just like normal science movies!

Nico was watching movies on the relative sizes of the planets and stars (his favorite subject at the moment), and he found a film by a guy who claims that the Earth is growing! It’s actually kind of a cool thought exercise as he shows how the continents fit together perfectly (without the oceans) on a much smaller sphere: » Continue reading “Conspiracy Theories for Kids!”

Updated to add: This wasn’t clear enough in the original post, below, but we did know he would get religious content at the Lutheran preschool we chose.  (We’ve been listening to the bible verses he has been memorizing all year long.)  The main issue in this case comes not from the mere existence of the religious content, but my concern that  the teacher had gone too far by directly contradicting me in something I taught him, and my surprise to discover that this particular church believes in YEC. Rest assured, LSB is loved and cared for at his school, is being taught his letters and shapes, and other than this incident we have been absolutely happy with the teacher and the school, and with the exposure he has gotten to Christianity.

Here’s some background for you: Little Skeptic Boy is five, has four wiggly teeth, and wants Hulk Smash Hands for Christmas. He loves science, as do I, so the other day we had a detailed discussion about the big bang. Next year he starts public school kindergarten, but for now he attends one of the highest-rated preschools in the area, that just happens to be at a Lutheran church in the bible belt. Then today we had this conversation:

Little Skeptic Boy: My teacher said it, but she’s wrong!! » Continue reading “To change preschools or not to change preschools, that’s, well you know…”

LSG: “That’s pretty music!”

Me: “Yes, it’s from the bells in that church.”

LSG: “Mommy, do we not go to church because there are no churches around here that teach what we believe, or do we not go to church because there are no churches that teach what we believe?”

Me: “I guess the answer to that is that no church teaches what Daddy and I believe. There are many, many different kinds of churches in the world, and they all teach different things. My question is, which is right? And who am I to say which is right? The one thing most of them have in common is they teach that there is a supernatural being who has power over this world and the people in it. I decided a long time ago that I don’t believe there is a supernatural being who has power over the world. I believe the world is explained by science, and I don’t need to explain what I don’t understand by claiming it is because of a supernatural being. But Daddy and I want you to learn as much as you can and decide for yourself when you get older what it is you believe.”

LSG: “Yeah, because I remember learning in preschool that God used to talk to Moses and Noah all the time, but now you can only talk to God through prayer, and He never answers you out loud. And I thought, that doesn’t make any sense!”