Love a Happy Ending Lifestyle Magazine August 2013 | Page 34

INSPIRING THE KIDS!

E3 technology exposition in Los Angeles & Christmas
shopping for the kids 2013!

Plan ahead in order to make Christmas 2013 a great experience for their school age
children, whilst retaining control over the games they are exposed to.
Well, Happy Christmas everyone! It’s almost upon us. Santa will be here before we know it!.
Um…I know it’s August…but you can never be too prepared!

This article is inspired by the recent E3 technology exposition in Los Angeles. These
brand conferences happen all of the time, so when one makes the news you know it is
culturally important. The two big announcements of E3 were of new products that will impact
significantly on the Christmas lists our children write this year. Expect to see “Dear Santa,
can I have a Playstation 4 (or an Xbox One), I’ve been good this year” on a note coming to
you later in the year.

ABOVE: Two news articles announcing the new games consoles

Each time a child-centered product is released, the manufacturers traditionally bombard
children with TV and print advertisements to build the desire to own it. Things are different
now; apart from CBBC programmes on the iPlayer, my children generally watch TV via
YouTube. It allows me to select and vary their programming, to balance the more violent
cartoons with softer, traditional entertainment such as Mr Benn and Bagpuss. They are
wholly unaffected by traditional advertising as they are rarely exposed to it. As a teacher, I