Past Talks
Past Presentations
SUMMER 2015
Northern Ireland Early Years Organization 50th Anniversary Annual Conference
June 4-5, 2015.
Keynote Address “Changing Times, Changing Children: Meeting Children’s Needs in Today’s Technology-Driven World”
Preconference Master Class. “Changing Times, Changing Children: Meeting Children’s Needs in a Gender-Stereotyped and Sexualized World”
Learn more about the conference. See the conference program.
A Salute to Susan Linn: Celebrating a Commercial-Free Visionary
June 13, 2015.
Guest Speaker. Diane Levin is a co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Learn more about this event.
WINTER/SPRING 2015
New Hampshire Services’ Annual Caring for Our Children Conference
Portsmouth. March.
Keynote Address: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Teaching & Learning: The Special Challenges of Promoting Optimal Learning & development in Today’s Media-Saturated World.
New England Child Life Professionals Group Semi-Annual Meeting.
Boston. March.
“Promoting Play with Children and Families in Child Life Settings and Beyond.”
Greenwich, CT PTA
April.
Community-wide Parent Talk: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood.”
Talk for Early Childhood Professionals: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood.”
University of Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma. April.
4th International Infant & Toddler Conference. “Creating the Foundation for a Global Future.”
Keynote Address. Keynote Follow Up Workshop
Oklahoma University-Tulsa Early Childhood Education Institute Seed-Sowers Evening Community-wide Lecture.
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, MA. April.
Community-Wide Talk: “What Today’s Sexualized and Biased Media and Popular Culture Teaches Children about Gender and Diversity and What We Can Do about It.”
Summer/Fall 2014
38th Annual Early Childhood Conference, Concordia University, Chicago. August 8.
Keynote Address: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Teaching & Learning: The Special Challenges of Promoting Optimal Learning & development in Today’s Media-Saturated World.
Follow-Up Q. & A. Session.
Southern New Hampshire Services’ Annual Caring for Our Children Conference. Nashua. September 27.
Keynote Address: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Teaching & Learning: The Special Challenges of Promoting Optimal Learning & development in Today’s Media-Saturated World.
Follow-Up Workshop: “Practices to Counteract Remote-Controlled Teaching & Learning.”
Child Life Association Webinar. October. “Promoting Quality Play in Medical Settings in a Media-Saturated World.
Perot Science Museum. Dallas Texas. November. “Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood.
National Assoc. for the Education of Young Children. Dallas, Texas. November 5-8.
Conference Session: “Beyond Remote-Controlled Teaching & Learning.”
Play, Policy & Practice Special Interest Group Session. “The Play Imperative: Why Do All Children Need To Play for Learning & for Success in School?” Panelist with J. Almon, J. Johnson & S. Linn.
Spring 2014
World Forum on Early Care and Education
Puerto Rico. May.
Fall 2013
MOC Community Partnerships & Strengthening Families Alliance
Fitchburg, MA. September.
Workshop: Meeting Children’s Needs in Violent Times: What Parents and Teachers Can Do about Children’s Exposure to Pretend and Real World Violence”
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, Alaska. October.
Keynote Address and Training for teachers, parents, and counselors: “Beyond the Screen: Meeting the Needs of Children in a Media-Saturated World.”
University of Delaware Laboratory Preschool 4th Annual Jane Davidson Forum on Play
Delaware. October.
Keynote Talk: “Endangered Play: Counteracting the Forces that Undermine Play Today.”
AEYC Annual Conference
Florida. October.
Preconference Training: “So Sexy So Soon”
Conference Keynote address: “Beyond Remote Control Childhood”
National Assoc. for the Education of Young Children
November
Conference Session: “Beyond Remote Control Teaching and Learning: The Special Challenges of Helping Children Construct Knowledge in Today’s World”
Panelist for Play Policy & Practice Interest Group Session: “Creating a Voice to Promote Play in These Play-Challenged Times” (with S Waite-Stupiansky, S. Linn & J. Johnson)
Duke School
Durham, NC. November.
Session for teachers: “Beyond the Screen.”
Session for parents and community: “Beyond the Screen.”
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Washington, DC. November.
Featured Session: Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood: Teaching Young Children in the Media Age.
Panelist for ‘Play Policy & Practice Interest Group’ Session: “Play: Every Child’s Right.” (with S Waite-Stupiansky, J. Johnson, S. Linn & J. VanHoorn).
Spring 2013
Miami Area Episcopal School Parents
Miami, April
Teacher Talk and Parent Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Summit @ Wheelock College
Boston, MA, March
Keynote address: “Reclaiming Childhood Play and Learning from Corporate Marketers”
Alliance for Early Childhood
Winnetka, IL, January.
Annual Dinner Keynote: “Beyond Remote Control Teaching and Learning.”
Parent Session: “Beyond Remote Control Childhood”
Peabody Terrace Children’s Center
Cambridge, MA, January
Parent Talk: “Tough Guy Play for Boys, Princess Play for Girls: What’s the Problem? What Can We Do?”
Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
Stamford, CT, February
Teacher Talk: “Beyond the Screen: Helping Girls & Boys Grow Up in Today’s Media-Saturated World”
The Children’s School
Stamford, CT. February
Community Talk: “Beyond the Screen: Helping Girls & Boys Grow Up in Today’s Media-Saturated World”
Wayland Public Schools Parent Association
February
Parent Talk: “So S-xy So Soon”
Winter/Spring 2012
University of Peloponnese
Nafplio, Greece, May 30
Community-wide Talk: “Beyond the Screen: Dealing with the Impact of Media on Girls & Boys”
Annual Conference of the Parent-Child Home Program
Uniondale, NY, May 22
Keynote Address: “Beyond Remote Control Childhood”
West Virginia 4H and Family Extension Agents Association Conference
West Virginia, April 27
Keynote Presentation & Training: “So Sexy So Soon”
Center for Families
Cambridge, MA, February 15
Parent Workshop: “Beyond Remote Control Childhood”
Boston Medical Center
Boston, MA, January 18
Seminar for Pediatric Interns on Child Mental Health: “So Sexy So Soon”
Headstart Program
Enfield, CT, January 10
Staff Training: “Promoting Positive Social & Emotional Development in a Media-Saturated World”
Summer/Fall 2011
Michigan Montessori Association
Michigan State Univ., Troy, MI Nov. 11-13
Parent & Community Talk: “So Sexy So Soon” Intensive Professional Development Training
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Orlando, Florida Nov. 2-6
Invited Featured Presentation: “Compassion Deficit Disorder: A Special Challenge to Social Development, Behavior and Healthy Relationships”
Panel: Play Policy and Practice – “Where Is Play Today” with authors who write about play today
Institute of Technology Sligo
Sligo, Republic of Ireland, October 20-21
Early Childhood Conference Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Student Workshops: Remote Control Childhood and So Sexy So Soon
Trinity College Center’s Research Center
Dublin, Ireland. October 19
Seminar: “So Sexy So Soon”
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)
Madison, WI Sept. 22-24
So Sexy So Soon Sessions:
Grand Rounds Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin (9/22)
Public Presentation (9/22): “So Sexy So Soon”
Workshop for School and Community Workers (9/23)
Training Session for Early Childhood Professionals (9/24)
Save Our Schools Conference and March
Washington DC July 28-30
Conference Workshop: “How the ‘Corporate Reforms’ are Harming Young Children” (with Nancy Carlsson-Paige).
Winter/Spring 2011
Temple Tefereth Israel. Greenport, NY May 22
Community Talk: So Sexy So Soon
New Hampshire Annual Spring Professional Development Workshop for Early Childhood Professionals
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH May 21
Full-Day Training: “So Sexy So Soon”
Dartmouth College Annual Spring Conference for Early Childhood Professionals. Hanover, NH May 21
Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Workshop: “Endangered Play”
Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children Spring Speaker Series. Burlington, VT May 12
Community Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Professional Workshop: “So Sexy So Soon”
World Forum on Early Care and Education. Honolulu, Hawaii May 3-7
Preconference Institute: Peacebuilding and Advocacy in Early Childhood Settings
Montessori Training Center International. Denver, CO April 15
Early Childhood Community Talk: “So Sexy So Soon: What Parents and Professionals Can Do to Protect Children”
Cow Hollow School. San Francisco, CA March 22
Community-wide parent-teacher talk on “So Sexy So Soon”
New Haven AEYC. New Haven, CT February 8
Parent & Teacher community talk: Keeping the Child in Childhood: What Teachers and Parents Can Do to Promote Healthy Play and Counteract How an Increasingly Sexualized Culture Affects Girls and Boys
Talk: Community College Early Childhood Department
Chestnut Hill School. Brookline, MA February 2
Parent Talk: Remote Control Childhood”
Newton-Wellesley Hospital Parent and Professional Community. Newton, MA January 26
Talk: “Tough or Sexy at an Early Age: Dealing with Impact of Remote Control Childhood on Girls & Boys.”
Belmont Day School. Belmont, MA January 20
Parent Talk: “Compassion Deficit Disorder: The Challenges of Nurturing Social and Emotional development in These Times”
Temple Israel Preschool. Boston, MA January 18
Parent Talk: Remote Control Childhood
Wellesley Mother’s Forum. Wellesley, MA January 11
Parent Talk: “Sexualization of Childhood: How to Protect Kids”
Summer/Fall 2010
Westborough YWCA Early Childhood Grant. Westborough, MA December 2
Parent Talk: “The Real Toy Story”
Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference. Tucson, AZ November 13
Keynote Address: “Remote Control Childhood”
Community-wide Parent talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA November 4-7
OMEP Panel on Global Issues: How sexualization and violence are used worldwide to market products to children.
OMEP Panel on How to Be an Activist for Children
OMEP Film Festival: Child development practices in 3 developing countries
“Play Policy and Practice Panel” of Authors Who Write about Play
“Play and Peace.” With Walter Drew and Judy Van Hoorn
Westwood Public Schools. Westwood, MA October 20
Parent Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Mount St. Vincent University. Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA October 15 & 16
Community Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Professional Development Workshop: “Remote Control Childhood”
Lexington Public Library. Lexington, MA October 6
Community Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Capitol District Child Care Council Annual Education Conference. Troy, NY October 2
Keynote Address: “Endangered Play: What’s the Problem with Princesses and War Play and What can We Do about It?”
2010 Prevention of Early Learning Failure Conference. Saginaw Valley State University, MI August 16 & 17
Full-Day Training: “So Sexy So Soon” Parent Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Parent Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Wheelock College Alumni Weekend. Wheelock College, Boston, MA June 5
Presentation for Alumni: “So Sexy So Soon
Spring 2010
Vermont AEYC. Burlington, VT, MA May
Education Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon” Community-Wide Presentation for Parents and Professionals: “So Sexy So Soon”
Girls, Inc. Lynn, MA May
Staff & Parent Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Cambridge Public Library. Cambridge, MA April
Screening and discussion of : “Consuming Kids.” Co-sponsored by Cambridge-Somerville Child Care Resource Center & Henry Bears’ Park
2010 Reggio Emilia Pre-Institute on “Messing about in Science” and the Contributions of David & Frances Hawkins. Lesley University, Cambridge, MA April
Brief Presentation: “How the Lesley Open Education Masters Degree Program in the 70’s incorporated Messing about in Science into teacher preparation”
Coalition of Organizations Leading Children’s Programs. Romney, West Virginia April
Parent Talk: “So Sexy So Soon” 1-Day Training for professionals. “So Sexy So Soon”
Inly School. Cotuit, MA April
Parent-Teacher Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Summit County Violence and Injury Prevention Coalition Professional Symposium. Akron, OH April
Keynote: “Working with Children in Violent Times”
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Summit. Wheelock College, Boston, MA April
Workshop: “The Ethics of Marketing Violence to Young Children in Media and Commercial Culture: The Harm Caused to Children’s Play, Learning and Behavior.” Workshop: “Feminism Lost? Why It Is Unethical to Use Sex and Gender Stereotypes to Market to Children.”
New England Head Start Annual Conference. Newport, RI April
Talk & Workshop on “The Challenges of Nurturing Social & Emotional Development in These Times.”
American Montessori Association Annual Conference Boston, MA March
Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Winter 2010 Boston Institute of Contemporary Art. Boston, MA February
“Talk Back” Session on children, families and the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Part of events connected to an installation show in conjunction with recently returned veterans of the war.
Commonwealth School. Boston, MA February
All-School Student Meeting: “So Sexy So Soon”
Churchill School. New York City, NY January
Staff presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Churchill School. New York City, NY January
Presentations for Parents and Teachers: “So Sexy So Soon”
Cambridge-Somerville Child Care Alliance. Boston, MA January
Presentation for Directors and Teachers: “So Sexy So Soon”
FALL 2009
Boston Medical Center. Boston, MA December 17
Pediatric Residents’ Seminar: “So Sexy So Soon”
National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference. Washington, DC November 19-21
Presentation: “Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Or Is It? The Impact of the Iraq and Afghan Wars on American Children?” (with Judy Van Hoorn)
Panelist: CEASE’s 30th Anniversary Seminar: Media On, Media Off: Ways to Promote Children’s Positive Development Panelist: Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Screening of the documentary at the OMEP Film Festival.
Wittenberg University, Springfield Ohio November 5
Seminar & Lecture: “So Sexy So Soon”
Greenbriar County Annual Early Childhood Conference. Lewisburg, WV October 23
Keynote Address and Daylong Training: “So Sexy So Soon”
Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health. Traverse City, MI October 9
Full-Day Workshop: “Understanding and dealing with media in very young children’s lives”
Cambridge City Employees Lunchtime Family Support Talk. Cambridge, MA October 29
Lecture: “So Sexy So Soon”
Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston, MA September 29
Seminar: “So Sexy So Soon”
Boston Institute of Contemporary Art. Boston, MA September 29
Panelist discussing the Boston Premiere of the documentary film, “Playground”, about child sexual exploitation.
SMOC Headstart, Framingham, MA August 31
Inservice Conference Keynote Speaker: “So Sexy So Soon”
July 2009 Wheelock College. Boston, MA July 9 & 10
Summer Institute: “Media Madness: The Impact of Sex, Violence, & Commercial Culture on Children & Society”
June 2009 World Forum on Early Care and Education. Belfast, N. Ireland June 17-20
Presentations on Endangered Play and What We Can Do at an International Level.
May 2009 Chicago Children’s Museum Conference. Chicago, IL May 4
Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Beth Wilson [[email protected]]
Boston Independent Schools Collaboration May 14
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA May 20
Boston Screening of the new documentatry: “Consuming Kids” Panelist: Discussing “Consuming Kids” with other experts who also appear in it.
Child Life Association Annual Conference. Boston, MA May 22
Invited Address: “Endangered Play”
Contact: Danea Koss [[email protected]]
Donegal County Childcare Annual Conference. Donegal County, Ireland May 28
Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Avril Sweeney [[email protected]]
April 2009 Gloucester Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership. Gloucester, MA. April 4
Community Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Kirsten Bergethon [[email protected]]
Mount Ida College. Newton, MA. April 6
Professional Development Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Greenstein Marlene [[email protected]]
Child Care Resource Center. Full Moon Restaurant, Cambridge, MA April 7
CCRC Fundraiser Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Betsey St.Onge [[email protected]]
Commonwealth School. Boston, MA April 16
Talk to High School Students: “So Sexy So Soon and Children”
92nd Street Y, Goldman Center for Youth & Family. New York, NY. April 20
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon” Teacher Workshop: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Fretta Reitzes [[email protected]]
Bank Street College Children’s School. New York, NY. April 21
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Children’s Day School Community. Greenwich, CT April 22
Presentation: “Remote Control Childhood”
Contact: Maryanne O’Rourke [[email protected]]
Curry College. Milton, MA April 27
Educ. Dept. Annual Graduation Celebration Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Dottie Alexander [[email protected]]
Temple Beth Sholam Madison, CT April 29
Presentation: “Remote Control Childhood”
Contact: Bernadette Stak [[email protected]]
March 2009
Queens University. Belfast, N. Ireland. February 13-March 4
Presentation: TBD
Cape Town, South Africa. March 10-26
Activities: Variety TBD
Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference. Westboro, MA. March 28
Keynote Address: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Marcia Ferris [[email protected]]
February 2009
Shoreline Parent Cooperative Preschool Association. Seattle, WA. February 3
Parent Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Silje M. Sodal [[email protected]]
Puget Sound Association for the Education of Young Children. Seattle, WA. February 4
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Jennifer Karshna [[email protected]]
January 2009
Fayerweather Street School. Cambridge, MA. January 8
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Connie Biewald [[email protected]]
PS89. 201 Warren Street, New York, NY. January 12
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Charlotte Malkmus [[email protected]]
Resurrection Episcopal Day School. New York, NY. January 13
Parent Talk: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Laurie Hogen [[email protected]]
Horace Mann School. New York, NY. January 14
Faculty Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon” Parent Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Contact: Nicole Zissu [[email protected]]
Porter Square Books. Cambridge, MA. January 29
Book Reading & Signing: Jean & Diane
Contact: Ellen Jarrett [[email protected]]
December 2008
Center for New Words. Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple Street, Cambridge, MA.
Presentation and Discussion on Toys and Gender
Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. Farmington Hills, MI.
Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
November 2008
National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference. Dallas, TX.
Smith College Center for Early Childhood Education. Northampton, MA.
Presentation: “Remote Control Childhood: How Disney Princesses and Darth Vadar Contribute to Biased Thinking and Anti-Social Behavior.”
University of Massachusetts. “Rebuilding Sustainable Communities for Children and Families after Disasters” Conference. Boston, MA.
Keynote: “Understanding the Impact of Disaster and Helping Children Thrive Afterwards”
Center for New Words. Boston, MA.
Linda Paresky Conference Center, Simmons College—7PM Book Reading & Signing: “So Sexy So Soon” (with Jean Kilbourne)
October 2008 Keene State College. Keene, NH.
Seminar for Students: “So Sexy So Soon?
Book Event Organized by Village Books. Roslindale, MA.
Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige (author of Taking Back Childhood)
American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
Seminar: “So Sexy So Soon” (with Jean Kilbourne)
Wheelock College. So Sexy So Soon Book Celebration. Boston, MA.
Book Reading and Signing
Annual Early Childhood County Symposium Edison College. Fort Myers, FL.
Keynote and Workshop: “So Sexy So Soon”
YMCA Youth and Family Services. Washington, DC.
Community Fundraiser Presentation: “So Sexy So Soon”
Howard University. Washington, DC.
Seminar: “Promoting Play: Influencing Early Childhood Policy and Practice”
American Psychological Association Seminar. Washington, DC.
Seminar: “So Sexy So Soon”
August 2008 OMEP Canada World International Seminar. Quebec City, Canada.
Opening Plenary: “How Violent Entertainment in Media, Toys and Play Undermine a Culture of Peace”
American Psychological Association Annual Conference Boston, MA.
Symposium: “Sex, Violence, Media: Implications for Children’s Development, Self-Image, & Relationships”
July 2008 International Froebel Society Annual Conference. Wheelock College, Boston, MA.
Keynote: “Play: An Endangered Species”
June 2008 NAEYC Annual Professional Development Institute. New Orleans.
Featured Talk: “Remote Control Childhood?” Closing Plenary Session: “Opportunities & Challenges of the Technological Age on Children’s Development & Learning.”
Point Pines University. Annual Symposium on Psychology & Contemporary Childhood. Pittsburgh, PA.
Speaker and Panelist: “So Sexy So Soon: The Impact of Sexualization on Boys.”
New York State Independent Schools Association—Annual Meeting. New Paltz, NY.
Plenary Address & Workshop: “So Sexy So Soon.”
April 2008 Harvard Medical School & Cambridge Hospital. Dept. of Psychiatry Continuing Ed Conf. on Child Psychotherapy. Boston.
Plenary: “The Impact of the Sexualization of Childhood on Attachment Relationships”
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Annual Summit. Wheelock College. Theme for Summit: The Sexualization of Childhood.
Plenary Address: “‘So Sexy So Soon’—The Damage Marketers Cause Children” Workshop: “‘So Sexy So Soon’—What Teachers & Schools Can Do.” Roundtable Panelist: Discussing the Performance of “Only Children”
Watch Diane’s address
March 2008
Rockland County (NY) Headstart. Conference on abuse prevention with young children. Keynote: The Role Of Early Childhood Peaceable Classrooms in Abuse Prevention.
Workshop: Creative versus Imitative Play
February 2008
Pasadena, CA. Pacific Oaks College. Community-wide talk. “So Sexy So Soon.”
Walden School & Pacific Oaks Children’s School.
Parent presentation. “Raising Healthy Children in a Media-Saturated Environment.” Pasadena Unified School District.
January 2008
Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference (MiAEYC & Michigan Dept. of Ed. co-sponsors). Dearborn, MI.
1-Day Training Institute: “Combating the Hazards of Media Culture” Keynote Address: “Building a Peaceable Classroom” Workshop: “Building Conflict Resolution Skills with Young Children.”
Walden School. Chicago.
“Problem Solving Deficit Disorder.”
Lake Shore Schools. Chicago.
“Remote Control Childhood.”
Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood Annual Networking Dinner. (IL)
Keynote Address: “Buy, Buy Childhood: How Media and Marketing Affect Children In School.”
