Annie Funelli and the Funsters show students how to have fun, stay healthy and take good care of themselves.

Annie becomes a one-man band to introduce the Funsters to the world of hearing and demonstrates in her own whimsical style how our ears provide enjoyment, help us learn and communicate, and alert us to events and hazards throughout the day.

Annie explains some common ear problems, including blockage, infection, and hearing impairment. She helps kids recognize symptoms of these conditions and, with the help of the Funsters, demonstrates what to expect on a visit to the doctor’s office.

Annie stresses the first principle of ear safety: Don’t put anything in your ears smaller than your elbow! She also warns against too much loud noise or music, blowing in someone’s ear, or rough play that might damage ears. 

Annie also talks to Funsters about how children with serious hearing impairment communicate, learn and play.

Learn to interpret media messages.

In the tradition of the Straight Talk series, practical ways for students to gain media literacy are outlined in this timely new video. Analyzing the purposes of media messages and interpreting hidden agendas is a vital skill for young teens under barrage from high-pressure marketing. FromStraight Talk About Sex, Gender, and Media, students will begin to develop a healthy critical approach to the many different forms the media takes, and to make more informed decisions regarding their own choices with regard to sexuality. This video raises the awareness of young people and promotes abstinence from risky behavior.

A dramatically different approach to puberty education. Please note that the working title for this video was Straight Talk about Mental Health. In this second Straight Talk program, hosts Lisa and Jason tackle issues that affect the mental well-being of young people:

• More about hormones and emotions
• Interacting responsibly with others
• Developing a healthy body image
• Making decisions based on facts
• Recognizing and resisting commercial pressures • Identifying, understanding, and expressing emotions
• Constructing a strong personal identity The question and answer format will help students sort out their conflicting thoughts, beliefs, and emotions and come to terms with themselves and their bodies. Straight Talk About Self-Image and Identity will help boys and girls approach maturity with grace and confidence.

Help students identify and maintain healthy relationships.

Early adolescence is a time of rapid and dramatic changes. Navigating the social and emotional complexities presented by daily life can be especially challenging during the teen years. Introducing this Straight Talk program, hosts Melissa and Randy present the concept of Self-Confidence, and show a group of students at a nearby junior high school talking about self-confidence and self-esteem with their guidance counselor.

Identifying seven basic concepts, the members of the group detail their personal experiences with a keener understanding of self-confidence. Providing guidance along the path to emotional maturity Straight Talk About Self-Confidence can help boys and girls improve personal insight and the ways they relate to others.

Learn to deal with social pressures.

Adolescent peer groups bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood, and friends can often facilitate what is sometimes a difficult stage of development. However, peer pressure can also be detrimental and lead teens into trouble. Straight Talk About Peer Pressure helps middle school students learn how to navigate through peer situations which conflict with feelings and values. Practical tips for self-reflection, coping mechanisms for maintaining friendships, and developing refusal skills are featured in this constructive presentation.

Learn to address conflict in appropriate ways.
Early adolescence is a time of rapid and dramatic changes. Navigating the social and emotional complexities presented by daily life can be especially challenging during the teen years. Introducing this "call in" program, hosts Melissa and Randy discuss the emotion of anger and the complications that can arise when reacting to this powerful feeling. 

Managing anger is a skill that can be learned, and getting in touch with underlying unmet needs is at the core of this process. In the variety of scenarios presented, young teens find ideas that resonate with their own lives and learn techniques to developing a healthy approach to controlling anger. Providing guidance along the path to emotional maturity Straight Talk About Anger can help boys and girls improve personal insight and the ways they relate to others.

This new program includes two parts (Part 1-Physical Changes/Part 2-Emotional and Social Changes.)  It's like getting two programs on one DVD!

Part 1

Ella confides in older sister Emily, who provides reassuring information on the physical changes to expect during puberty.  Topics include:

• When to expect the onset of puberty
• The female reproductive system
• The menstrual cycle
• Hormones
• Health and hygiene

Part 2

Emily and Andres discuss many of the emotional and social changes that boys and girls experience during puberty.  Topics include:

• Body image
• Self esteem
• peer pressure
• Cliques
• Bullying
• And much more!

This new program includes two parts (Part 1-Physical Changes/Part 2-Emotional and Social Changes.)  It's like getting two programs on one DVD!

Part 1:

Matthew s fun is over shadowed by a permission slip from school.  Big brother Adrew helps ease the fear of having "the puberty talk" by providing reassuring information on the physical changes of puberty.  Topics include:

-When to expect the onset of puberty

-The male reproductive system

-Hormones

-Common experiences of puberty, including voice changes, feelings of physical awkwardness, and nocturnal emissions

-The importance of good hygiene and healthy habits

Part 2:

Andrew and Emily discuss the emotional and social changes boys and girls experience during puberty.  Topics include:

-Body image

-Self Esteem

-Peer Pressure

-Cliques

-Social Awkwardness

-Bullying 

Puberty education for students with special needs. Intended for older students with special needs, this DVD readily stands alone, but also follows on developmentally from the Girl's Guide to Growing Up, giving parents and educators continued momentum in the vital task of educating adolescents with special needs. The DVD is organized in chapter format, allowing for lesson breaks and instructional focus. The chapters are as follows:

-Boys' Bodies details the anatomy and functions of male sexual organs.

-Girls' Bodies details the anatomy and functions of female sexual organs.

-Where Do Babies Come From? includes a definition of sexual intercourse with an emphasis on privacy and maturity.

-Public or Private? describes private and public places, appropriate behaviors and societal expectations.

-Staying Safe emphasizes rules about touching, secrets and strangers.

Designed for students with mild to moderate disabilities, the following special populations will find this reassuring title comprehensible, practical and positive. Students with:

-Developmental disabilities or delays

-Intrusive behavior or mental illness

-Down Syndrome

-Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Asperger's Syndrome

-Learning disabilities

-Behavioral disabilities

-Communicative disorders

Individual component parts are available for purchase. Call 1-800-821-3303 for details.

Introductory puberty education for students with special needs. A Girl's Guide to Growing Up presents puberty education in a sensitive and understandable format that is upbeat and focused. This DVD is organized in chapter format allowing for lesson breaks and instructional focus. The chapters cover the following important topics:

-External anatomy

-Physical and emotional changes of puberty

-Health and hygiene

-Privacy and safety

The following special populations will find this reassuring title comprehensible, practical and positive. Students with:

-Developmental disabilities or delays

-Intrusive behavior or mental illness

-Down Syndrome

-Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Asperger's Syndrome

-Learning disabilities

-Behavioral disabilities

-Communicative disorders

This title is also recommended for girls who are early physical developers.

Individual component parts are available for purchase. Call 1-800-821-3303 for details.

You loved the classic version of Growing Up! For Girls so in response, we offer this new updated version that promotes self-confidence as girls face the challenges of change and growth. This program provides authoritative information about the female reproductive system. One of our favorites for girls, it also details the emotional and physical transformations of puberty, and it takes a candid look at the basics of anatomy and development. Growing Up! For Girls provides useful advice on health, hygiene and nutrition, and it encourages a positive body image and sense of personal worth. The female narrator helps girls take a realistic look at the responsibilities of adulthood and promotes dialog with trusted adults.

You loved the classic Growing Up! For Boys so in response, we offer this updated version that promotes self-confidence as boys try to cope with the physical and psychological changes that are a normal part of growing up. This program encourages boys to take pride in their uniqueness while realizing that people are all reassuringly alike. Growing Up! For Boys provides useful advice on health, hygiene and good grooming; fosters the self-esteem that comes with accepting new responsibilities, and points to reliable sources for information during these sometimes difficult times.