Over the last decade, marketers and television executives have unleashed a tide of gruesome, dark products on kids. Violent video games, gory books and edgy television shows have become standard fare for elementary-aged kids.

Two Minneapolis parents, fed up with these messages aimed at their own young children, decided to create their own positive, healthy, thoughtful entertainment for their kids.

Lonny and Robin Kocina have created Camp Wacki Kooki stories, a series of audio cassette story tapes for elementary-aged kids. The Kocinas have promoted the tapes through their Twin Cities public relations firm, Media Relations, Inc. The tapes are currently being sold in Target stores and book stores around the country, as well as on the Internet.

"We originally created the tapes to help our kids unwind and fall asleep at night," said Lonny Kocina, president of Media Relations, Inc. "But my wife and I are so sick of all the dark edgy shows and other products out there. We wanted something silly and light for our kids, that would make them laugh."

The first Camp Wacki Kooki tape was released in 1997, and tested on focus groups of area kids. The response was overwhelmingly positive from children and parents alike. It prompted the Kocinas to form a subsidiary of Media Relations called Mid-America Events & Expos Corp., which is devoted to creating and promoting quality children's entertainment. Two new Camp Wacki Kooki story tapes, and a full color children's book soon followed.

The Kocinas knew their colorful, active characters and storylines would be perfect for a children's cartoon. It would stand out among the typical violent, "fighting evil" cartoons out there, and offer kids a lighthearted, funny and positive show to watch. Unfortunately, the networks didn't agree.

"Both broadcast and cable networks said that while they liked our concept, they were looking for 'edgier' programming," said Robin Kocina. "It just goes to show that networks aren't listening to what parents want for their kids. We want entertainment for kids that's innocent-not edgy and violent. Kids still like innocent programs that rerun from 30 or 40 years ago. Our children haven't changed, it's the networks that have changed."

Statistics from the Parents Television Council show that network television is a worse place for kids than it was a just a few short years ago. Violence, foul language and sexual references are on the rise on all networks when compared to just two years ago. References to sex during the family hour have increased by 77 percent in the past year and a half, and violent content nearly doubled in frequency. Foul language increased by 58 percent over the last two years.

In the face of this deterioration, the Kocinas are offering positive programming suitable for young children. Even child experts agree that the Kocinas have tapped into a powerful and important tool with Camp Wacki Kooki stories.

"The Camp Wacki Kooki series is an excellent example of healthy, innocent entertainment parents can offer their children," said Robert Reiher, Ph.D., president of the Center for INNER-tainment, a California-based organization that helps companies create positive products and programs for kids.

He continues, "Camp Wacki Kooki is an upbeat, positive, imaginative concept. The characters discover, through their individual and group choices, how their own personal fears and innocent misjudgments can shape their perceptions, and how these same unfounded perceptions become altered and resolved through the fun adventure of the Camp Wacki Kooki experience."

The Kocinas are excited about future possibilities for the Camp Wacki Kooki concept. They are currently in the process of developing a Camp Wacki Kooki cartoon series on videotape.

"As parents, Lonny and I are especially committed to developing positive entertainment for our kids," Robin said. "We are excited about the response we've gotten from kids and parents about Camp Wacki Kooki, and we want to take the idea even further. Most parents feel the way we do-that there's too much negative stuff out there for kids-we are lucky to be in a position to really do something about it."

Media note: Camp Wacki Kooki tapes and book are available upon request. For more information, or to arrange an interview with Lonny and Robin Kocina call Media Relations at (800) 999-4859.