Alan is also among 55 members of the Speakers’ Bureau from Stop Stigma Sacramento, of which all individuals share their personal stories of living with mental illness. He frequently speaks at schools, government agencies, and other entities that invite Stigma speakers.
Category Archives: Screen-Time Suggestions and Facts
Ideas for reducing and managing screen-time.
2019 Activities
January 2019
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January 26 SacTown VegFest at McClellan Conference Center
10 am-4pm Mindful Media & Music Making
Special activities, including music-making, at the Mindful Media booth! Festival tickets are $4 early bird and $5 at the door; $2.50 early bird for seniors and children $4 at the door. Kindergarten and younger are free.
March 2019 **********************************************************************************************************************************
March 13 Sacramento Adventure Playground
12pm Rocks & Minerals–Get Outside and Hunt!
Introduction to the rock-collecting hobby, including basic understanding of geology, stories of collecting and ways to enjoy rocks and gems. (Session offered to home-schoolers previously registered.)
March 20 Anderson Elementary School, Dixon, California
8:30am-11:45am Musical Fun with Kindergarten and TK Classes
Alan will bring a variety of musical instruments, share the physics of music, sing songs with the students and tell a story or two.
March 21 Southgate Library
3:30pm Preschool Story Time
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
April 2019
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April 3 Rancho Cordova Library
10:30am Preschool Story Time
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
April 13 Walnut Grove Library, Sacramento County
2:00pm-4:00pm Walnut Grove Library’s 100th Anniversary Celebration
Alan hosts a music jam with the musicians that met regularly at the Library while he was the supervisor, 2007-2013.
May 2019 ********************************************************************************************************************************
May 10-12 Whole Earth Festival, Davis, California
Friday: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Come visit our booth at the Whole Earth Festival in Davis, California. Play music with us and take a comb kazoo home. We’ll be sharing research on why electronic screens should be minimized with children.
Alan’s workshops on minimizing Screen-time will take place in the Memorial Union, Saturday 11am-noon, Sunday 11:30am-12:30pm. The event is free and recommended for families.
May 15 North Highlands Library, Sacramento County
10:30am Jug Band Music
Join us at the North Highlands-Antelope Library for a free, fun program for adults and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We’ll share Jug Band Music in which everyone gets to play!
June 2019
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June 14 Isleton Library, Sacramento County
6:00pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Adults)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program 2016-18. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. Space may be limited. Please check with Isleton Library.
“Alan and Nancy’s program on jewelry making with natural stones was a hit. Not only did Nancy present how to make beautiful wire-wrapped jewelry, Alan gave a wonderful presentation about Geology and brought in many examples to tempt anyone to go outside and explore. Our patrons loved it!”
-Berta Goegel, Branch Supervisor, Carmichael Library
June 15 Sacramento Adventure Playground
11am-4pm Crafts and Science Day
Enjoy specialized craft projects and fun science activities for all ages. Advance registration is not required. Alan & Nancy will be doing demonstrations of “The Science of Music” for participants. Suggested donation of $5 per crafter/scientist
June 20 Isleton Library, Sacramento County
3:30pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Teens)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program 2016-18. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. Space may be limited. Please check with Martin Luther King Library.
June 23 Crocker Art Museum
10am-2pm All Aboard! Free Community Festival
Families are invited to celebrate the Transcontinental Railroad’s 150th anniversary with live music and dance performances, storytelling, and hands-on activities that honor the people and cultures who helped build and shape the West we live in today. Join Mindful Media for the 150th anniversary celebration of the completion of the Continental Railroad. We’ll be sharing music and tips for managing screen-time. FREE FOR EVERYONE
July 2019
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July 2 Galt Library, Sacramento County
5:30pm Rocks Everywhere (Family Program)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby. Attendees will handle Coprulite and learn to identify common rocks. Children will take home a “pet rock”.
July 16 Berkeley Public Library – North Branch
6:00pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Teens/Adults)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhounds, Alan & Nancy Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program 2016-18. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. Space may be limited. Please check with Berkeley Public Library–North Branch.
6:00pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Teens/Adults)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhounds, Alan & Nancy Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program 2016-18. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. Space may be limited. Please check with Berkeley Public Library–North Branch.
August 2019 *********************************************************************************************************************************
August 28 Rancho Cordova Library, Sacramento County
10:30 am Musical Preschool Story-time
Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
September 2019 *******************************************************************************************************************************
October 2019 ********************************************************************************************************************************
October 12 Sacramento Adventure Playground
11am-4pm Community Fun Day
Join Mindful Media for an all-ages Community Fun Day at Maple Neighborhood Center! Sacramento Adventure Playground, La Familia Counseling Center, Inc., Powerhouse Science Center, 916 Ink, and the Crocker Art Museum are partnering for a day of “free play” with science, technology, art, engineering, creativity, and, most of all fun. Music, scavenger hunts, fort building, hands-on art projects, word games, mud play, tree climbing, the Crocker’s Art Ark, poetry-making, imaginative play, resource booths, food, and more! Location: Maple Neighborhood Center, 3301 37th Ave, Sacramento. Corner of Franklin Blvd and 37th Ave, just south of Fruitridge Rd.
Alan talks about 3 tools to manage screentime
2018 Performances
January 2018 ******************************************************************************************
January 11 Galt Library
10am Preschool Storytime
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
January 13 California Kindergarten Association Conference
1:45pm-3:00pm Rescuing Young Minds From Electronic Screens
Children spend eight hours per day with electronic screens! The sheer volume of time spent in front of screens supplants opportunities for children to grow, learn, explore, and create. Candee will share how unstructured play, music, exercise and engagement with children’s environments benefit children.
February 2018 **********************************************************************************************************************************
February 10 Georgetown Library
1:00 pm Adult Program: Rescuing Children From Their Electronic Screens
Adult conversation about the need to minimize children’s exposure to electronic screens. Content, physiological dangers and cognitive impairment from a stolen childhood are discussed.
February 28 Contra Costa Library, Danville Branch
3:30 pm School-age program: A Musical Journey Through American History
Sing along with familiar songs you didn’t know were hundreds of years old, and learn the history behind them. Kindergartners and first graders will sing, laugh, and learn!
March 2018 **********************************************************************************************************************************
March 7 Northside School, Cool, California
6:00pm-8:00pm Northside Family Night
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with reading games and activities. We will have our “wrench-a-phone”, comb kazoos, musical bottles, percussive spoons, and information for parents on limiting screen-time.
March 8 Galt Library
10:00 am Preschool Story-time
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
March 10 Sacramento Adventure Playground
11:00am-4:00pm Community Day at the Playground
All ages welcome at the playground at the Maple Community Center, 37th Avenue and Franklin Boulevard, Sacramento. Usually limited to 7-15 year olds, Community Days allow parents and younger siblings to attend. Wear clothes to get dirty in because there is a mud pit, painting, tree-climbing, and more. We’ll be making bottle cap musical shakers and providing screen-free information to parents. The event is free!
March 13 Walnut Grove Library
10:00 am Preschool Story-time
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
March 14 Sacramento Adventure Playground (Event for registered home-schoolers)
12:00 pm Introduction to Rocks & Minerals
Students will learn different ways to identify and classify rocks, handle a variety of stones–including “coprulate” (Look it up!), Some may be inspired to carry the rock-hunting bug with them as a lifetime hobby.
March 18 Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento
2:00 pm Screen-Time Savvy (Art of Parenting Series)
Children spend eight hours per day with electronic screens! The sheer volume of time spent in front of screens supplants opportunities for children to grow, learn, exlpore, and create. Candee will share how unstructured play, music, exercise and engagement with children’s environments benefit children. (Register online with the Crocker Art Museum for this FREE program. Children ages 4-10 can participate in a FREE art experience concurrently. Snacks provided.)
March 21 Anderson Elementary School, Dixon, California
8:30am-11:45am Musical Fun with Kindergarten and TK Classes
Alan will bring a variety of musical instruments, share the physics of music, sing songs with the students and tell a story or two.
April 2018
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April 19 Galt Library
10am Preschool Storytime
Singing and talking are two important pre-literacy skills. Young children will contribute to the creation of stories and songs, and enjoy singing and laughing with folk songs, storytelling, and original tunes. Pantomime and puppetry may be included, but compulsory silliness is mandatory.
April 30-May 6 National Screen-Free Week
May 2018 ********************************************************************************************************************************
May 18 Carriage Elementary School, Citrus Heights
1:30pm Rocks and Minerals From Around the World “Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby. Kids will handle Coprulite and learn to identify some common rocks. Children will take home a “pet rock”.
May 25 Carriage Elementary School, Citrus Heights
1:30pm Days of Gold Re-live and experience history through the eyes of the most successful gold rush musician: John Stone. View demonstrations of musical instruments derived from simple, portable, commonplace items found in a forty-niner’s knapsack. Children will sing along and learn to play and take home a comb kazoo. Alan Candee reprises the role of John Stone, a.k.a.”Old Put”, as he performed it at the World Gold-panning Championships in 2016. The science of music is also briefly presented in this performance.
June 2018
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June 6 Courtland Library, Sacramento County
11:00am Music is Everywhere (School-age)
This science-of-music program allows children to use musical instruments to discover how sounds are produced. Make and take a comb-kazoo and a percussion instrument from everyday materials. (Space may be limited. Check with Courtland Library.)
“The program was exactly what we were looking for at the Placerville Library. We wanted the kids to engage in the Science of Sound and why instruments make the sounds they do. Alan did a fantastic job demonstrating sound and gave the kids plenty of time to experiment themselves!” -Christina Roseli, Early Childhood Literacy Specialist, El Dorado County Library
June 14 Mary Stephens Library, Davis, California
2:00pm Days of Gold Re-live and experience history through the eyes of the most successful gold rush musician: John Stone. View demonstrations of musical instruments derived from simple, portable, commonplace items found in a forty-niner’s knapsack. Children will sing along and learn to play and take home a comb kazoo. Alan Candee reprises the role of John Stone, a.k.a.”Old Put”, as he performed it at the World Gold-panning Championships in 2016. The science of music is also briefly presented in this performance.
June 18 Cameron Park Library, El Dorado County
2:00pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Teens)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Program lasts 60-90 minutes. All supplies included. (Limit: 20 participants)
June 22 Courtland Library, Sacramento County
10:30am Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Adults)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program in 2016 and 2017. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. Space may be limited. Please check with Courtland Library.
“Alan and Nancy’s program on jewelry making with natural stones was a hit. Not only did Nancy present how to make beautiful wire-wrapped jewelry, Alan gave a wonderful presentation about Geology and brought in many examples to tempt anyone to go outside and explore. Our patrons loved it!”
-Berta Goegel, Branch Supervisor, Carmichael Library
July 2018
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July 3 Placerville Library, El Dorado County
11:00am Make It and Shake It! (school-age)
Children will create musical percussion instruments to take home. Children will perform call and response pieces, and feature individual groups of instruments as well as ensemble playing together. Instruments will include drums, tambourines, rain sticks, and maracas. Solo opportunities will be encouraged.
July 13 Courtland Library, Sacramento County
2:00 pm Rocks Everywhere: Make a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace (Teens)
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Mindful Media’s most popular program in 2016 and 2017. Expect this program to last 90 minutes. All supplies included. (Space may be limited. Please check with Courtland Library)
“Alan and Nancy’s program on jewelry making with natural stones was a hit. Not only did Nancy present how to make beautiful wire-wrapped jewelry, Alan gave a wonderful presentation about Geology and brought in many examples to tempt anyone to go outside and explore. Our patrons loved it!”
-Berta Goegel, Branch Supervisor, Carmichael Library
July 15 St. Joseph Catholic Church, Auburn, CA (adults, with Spanish language interpreter)
1:45-2:45pm Managing Electronic Screens at Home
Children exposed to unlimited amounts of video games, television, movies, and computer screens are more likely to exhibit symptoms of ADD, obesity, diabetes, nearsightedness, poor social skills, and limited academic performance. Learn simple tips to eliminate battles, put parents in control, and promote quality family time. Mindful Media Management’s Alan Candee provides insights.
July 17 Solano County Library, Vacaville Town Square
6:30 pm Design and Create a Gemstone Wire-Wrap Necklace
Adult Program (age 16 and up) “Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rock-hound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. (Registration required)
July 18 Colonial Heights Library, Sacramento
10:00am-2:00pm Pop-Up Adventure Play Day
Join us for an extended opportunity to play with cardboard forts, mud play, craft projects, painting, bubbles, chalk art, music and more! All ages of children are welcome. (In conjunction with the Sacramento Adventure Playground and Fairytale Town.)
August 2018 ***********************************************************************************************************************************
August 4 Walnut Grove Library, Sacramento County
10:00 am Rocks Everywhere: Making a Gemstone Wire-wrap Necklace
“Rock-hunting? Doesn’t sound very sporting. Do they move?” Join long-time rockhound, Alan Candee, to learn about the rock-collecting hobby and make a gemstone wire-wrap jewelry necklace. Program lasts 60-90 minutes. Supplies included. (Limit: 20 participants)
September 2018 ************************************************************************************************************************************
September 20 North Natomas Library, Sacramento
4:00 pm- 8:00 pm Pop-Up Adventure Play Day
Join us for an extended opportunity to play with cardboard forts, mud play, craft projects, painting, bubbles, chalk art, music and more! All ages of children are welcome. (In conjunction with the Sacramento Adventure Playground and Fairytale Town.)
September 22 South Natomas Library, Sacramento
10:00 am- 2:00 pm Pop-Up Adventure Play Day
Join us for an extended opportunity to play with cardboard forts, mud play, craft projects, painting, bubbles, chalk art, music and more! All ages of children are welcome. (In conjunction with the Sacramento Adventure Playground and Fairytale Town.)
September 28 McKinley Library, Sacramento
3:30 pm- 7:30 pm Pop-Up Adventure Play Day
Join us for an extended opportunity to play with cardboard forts, mud play, craft projects, painting, bubbles, chalk art, music and more! All ages of children are welcome. (In conjunction with the Sacramento Adventure Playground and Fairytale Town.)
September 28-29 Fairytale Town, Sacramento
10:00 am-4:00 pm Scholar Share Book Festival
Enjoy FREE ADMISSION to Fairytale Town Saturday and Sunday, and special activities, including music-making, at the Mindful Media booth!
October 2018 ************************************************************************************************************************************ October 3 Sacramento Adventure Playground (Event for registered home-schoolers)
12:00 pm The Science of Music
Learn how musical sounds are made with a variety of instruments. How do vibrations make musical sounds? Make and take home a comb-kazoo and a percussion instrument from everyday materials. Learn ways your body can make music without any external instrument.
Music Matters
Here is a link to a great article about the importance of making music a part of a child’s life every day.
http://www.forsmallhands.com/ideas-insights/music-matters
Consuming Kids-A “Must-See”Video
I recently watched a riveting video titled “Consuming Kids – The Commercialization of Childhood”. I highly recommend this video, released in 2008 by the Media Education Foundation.
It is available in U-Tube format. Click on the links below for the main video (67 minutes), and an excellent extra section titled “What Parents Can Do” (9:34 min)
Consuming Kids- The Commercialization of Childhood
Alan Candee, Storyteller and Musician
Alan Candee was recently included on the “Storytelling in Sierra Nevada Foothills” page of Sierra Nevada storyteller BZ Smith’s website, sierranevadastorytelling.org
NYTimes: Traditional Toys May Beat Gadgets in Language Development
Media and Children:compelling research
Please take the time to watch this Ted Talk – Media and Children presented by Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher of brain development in young children.
It will be well worth your time. – Alan Candee
Rediscover Nature
Between 1995 to 2015, I noticed a dramatic change in what children claim to be their favorite activities. Children used to routinely share activities such as bicycling, swimming and street games with their friends. With children’s time so dominated by screens today, almost all of their activities involve screen media. And if children only interact with electronic screens, who will be left to live in the real world? Please watch Rediscover Nature