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University of Maryland Researchers Find Home Computer Use by Kids Brings Benefits, But Not to All


Image by University of Maryland Press Releases
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland shows that preteen children (ages 10-12) in the United States are generally benefiting from the steady rise in computer use among their age group.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, found that the benefits were not spread equally across children, but were concentrated among girls and minority boys. The results were consistent over the 1997-2003 and 2003-2008 periods.

"It is safe to say that we are not going to reverse the trend toward increasing use of the computer in middle childhood, and that adolescent achievement and adjustment generally benefit from it," said lead researcher Sandra Hofferth, professor of family science and director of the Maryland Population Research Center at the University of Maryland.

According to Hofferth the overall message of the study is that greater computer time can raise children’s achievement without increasing behavior problems, but that video game play still needs monitoring.

The researchers found that the use of computers at home increased between 1997 and 2008 for elementary school-aged children. Compared to 23 percent in 1997, 32 percent of children aged 10-12 used the computer at home in an average week in 2003. By 2008 that had risen to 55 percent. Between 1997 and 2003 the largest increase was in game playing. Between 2003 and 2008 there was additional increase in the use of the computer for emailing, surfing websites, and studying. In 2008, 22 percent of 10-12 children used the computer to look at websites, 20 percent used it for email, 24 percent used it to play games and 9 percent used it to study (see Table 1 for trends). Except for computer games, home computer use was higher among adolescents 16-18 in 2003, with 29 percent using a home computer for surfing the web, 40 percent for sending e-mail, 12 percent for playing games, and 20 percent for studying.

Video game playing increased the most between 1997 and 2003, and only slightly across the 2003-2008 period, suggesting that video game playing may have peaked. Of the total 4.1 weekly hours spent using the home computer and video games by 10-12 year olds in 1997, 20 percent was spent playing computer games, 16 percent was spent communicating, 3 percent was spent studying, and 61 percent was spent playing video games. Computer time increased to a total of 6.1 hours in 2008, of which 21 percent was spent playing computer games, 27 percent was spent communicating, 7 percent was spent studying, and 45 percent was spent playing video games.

In 2003 television remained the dominant medium in middle childhood, with viewing averaging about 15 hours per week for 10-12 year olds. Even though no decline was noted in television use between 1997 and 2003, its use declined between 2003 and 2008, to about 13 hours. In 2003 there were few tradeoffs between television viewing and new media; today, however, new media have begun to make inroads into television viewing time.

Following up on other research into children’s time, Dr. Hofferth set out to explore whether the increased use of media such as computers and video games was having a detrimental effect on children’s achievement or causing increased behavior problems such as aggression or withdrawal.

In spite of concern by parents about too much screen time leading to increased isolation from peers, to increased aggressive behavior, or to neglect of schoolwork, most of the fears were not realized. The reading and math achievement of white girls who increased their computer use between 1997 and 2003 and the reading scores of black boys who increased their computer use improved. Additionally, playing more on the computer was associated with reduced withdrawal problems for white girls.

One reason parents and experts expected there to be dire consequences for children’s achievement was that they expected new media to displace not old media but activities such as reading, studying, playing sports, being active out of doors, and socializing with peers — activities that are good for children’s achievement and behavior. This study found, instead, that displacement did not occur for computers. Computer time was compatible with studying and reading; therefore, the study found mostly positive effects of computer use on achievement, with one exception — white boys who spent more time looking at websites had slightly lower achievement scores.

In contrast, video game play was incompatible with most other activities. Except for sports, as video game time went up, reading and studying went down. Because video game play time was so much greater for them, an association between increased video game play and reduced achievement was expected for boys. Unexpectedly, no positive or negative associations with achievement for boys were found. Previous research had identified video games as potentially increasing aggressive behavior because so many video games are violent and aggressive. For both white and black boys, this study found that greater time spent playing video games between 1997 and 2003 was indeed associated with increased aggressive behavior, though the association was quite small. In contrast, there was a positive association for girls; black girls who played video games increased their math problem solving score.

Finally, this study documented a continuing digital divide in computer use, with the levels of use of black children one-quarter to one-third of white children in 2003, with a slightly smaller gap by 2008. It also suggested that black children’s achievement could benefit from more access to computers at home.

STUDY CONTACT: Sandra Hofferth, 301-405-6403 or 443-527-5894, hofferth@umd.edu

Research details
This research project, supported by grant R24-HD041041 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), analyzed data from a nationally representative survey of 3,563 children under age 13 and their parents that was collected by the University of Michigan in 1997, with follow-ups in 2003 and 2008. A typical week was constructed for each child using complete 24-hour diaries of children’s activities on a weekday and a weekend day. The activities of age groups of children were compared across two or three waves. More than 1,000 children were tested in 1997 and again in 2003 using standardized tests of achievement and parental reports of behavior. Sandra Hofferth is Director of the Maryland Population Research Center (MPRC) and Professor of Family Science at the University of Maryland. For more information about the research and about the programs go to the Maryland Population Research Center website.

New The Sims Medieval [Download] Product Review

The Sims Medieval [Download]

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Gaming Day-3901

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Gaming Day-3901


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Gaming Day-3907


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Complete NBA 2K12 (Covers May Vary) First Look

NBA 2K12 (Covers May Vary)

• Celebrates the legendary careers of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with three different game covers
• Features 15 legendary NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J and more
• Relive celebrated careers and heated rivalries from NBA history, re-created in meticulous detail
• Offers the most visually accurate NBA game to date by building off NBA Today’s real-time stats, rosters, schedules and ratings
• Dynamically update every graphic detail of the game from the shoes to player models and court floors

With over 5 million copies sold worldwide and over 20 Sports Game of Year awards, last year NBA 2K11 allowed you to BECOME THE GREATEST with MJ & the Jordan Challenge mode.  This year the NBA 2K franchise is back and bigger than ever, providing fans with the opportunity they’ve always dreamed of – to finally END THE DEBATE as to who are the best teams and players  of all time.  Featuring such NBA legends as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as well as all of your favorite NBA players of today, NBA 2K12 will be packed with new and exciting features that will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead that, come October 4th, will put fans center court of an unprecedented basketball experience.

Get back on the court as some of the greatest NBA players of all time in NBA 2K12. Featuring legendary players and teams from NBA history, NBA 2K12 lets you truly settle the argument of who is the greatest.

Relive the Finals

Play as legendary players

Synopsis

With over 5 million copies sold worldwide and over 20 Sports Game of Year awards, last year NBA 2K11 allowed you to BECOME THE GREATEST with MJ & the Jordan Challenge mode. This year the NBA 2K franchise is back and bigger than ever, providing fans with the opportunity they’ve always dreamed of – to finally END THE DEBATE as to who are the best teams and players of all time. Featuring such NBA legends as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as well as all of your favorite NBA players of today, NBA 2K12 will be packed with new and exciting features that will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead that, come October 4th, will put fans center court of an unprecedented basketball experience.

Key Features:

• Celebrates the legendary careers of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
• Features 15 legendary NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J and more
• Relive celebrated careers and heated rivalries from NBA history, re-created in meticulous detail
• Offers the most visually accurate NBA game to date by building off NBA Today’s real-time stats, rosters, schedules and ratings
• Dynamically update every graphic detail of the game from the shoes to player models and court floors
• Delivers a dynamic broadcast style featuring players promoting their upcoming games and pregame highlight reels set to 2K Beats music
• Shoot, steal, pass, dunk and dominate your opponents on the floor with all-new control mechanics for post play and ball control to offer intuitive gameplay
• Adds more than 1,000 new animations for realistic and life-like gameplay
• Follow-up to the award-winning Sports Game of the Year, NBA 2K11

Relive the league’s most celebrated careers and rivalries, re-created in unbelievable detail. Take to the court as 15 NBA legends, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more. Dominate your opponents on the hardwood with all-new control mechanics for post play and ball control that let you intuitively shoot, pass, steal, dribble and dunk. Experience the most visually accurate NBA game that builds off NBA Today’s real-time stats, rosters, schedules and ratings. Update graphic details from the shoes to the player models and court floors. Immerse yourself in the excitement and thrills of NBA action with an updated broadcast style that features players promoting their upcoming games and pregame highlights set to 2K Beats music. Are you ready to determine who is truly the greatest to ever play in the NBA?

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Latest Toy Story 3 The Video Game First Look

Toy Story 3 The Video Game

• Features -
• Ability download mini-games that will be playable with the PlayStation Move motion controller

The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring movie goers back to the delightful world of our favorite gang of toy characters in “Toy Story 3”. As Andy prepares to depart for college, Buzz, Woody and the rest of his loyal toys are troubled about their uncertain future. Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”), “Toy Story 3” is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3D that lands the toys in a room full of untamed tots who can’t wait to get their sticky little fingers on these “new” toys. It’s pandemonium as they try to stay together, ensuring “no toy gets left behind.” Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson (“Cars” and “Monsters, Inc.”) produces, while Michael Arndt, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities. In the Toy Story 3: The Video Game help Buzz, Woody and the rest of the Toys ensure no toy gets left behind. Dive into to all new heroic adventures in Story Mode or let your imagination run wild in the exiting new open world of Toy Box Mode! Come and play to infinity…and beyond.

List Price: $ 19.99

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New Sunbeam FPSBCML900 Cupcake Maker, Pink First Look

Sunbeam FPSBCML900 Cupcake Maker, Pink

• Cupcake maker bakes up to 6 cupcakes in just 10 minutes
• Cupcake-shaped housing; domed lid with easy-lift handle
• Power/ready indicator lights offer added convenience
• Nonstick cooking plates for effortless cake removal and quick cleanup
• Measures 10-4/5 by 10 by 6-4/5 inches
• Easy-lift handle designed for easy and safe use
• Enjoy fresh baked delicious cupcakes or muffins with the fun shaped sunbeam cupcake maker
• Non-stick plates make clean up easy
• Uniquely designed cupcake shapes allows you to create 6 cupcakes in 10 minutes
• Warm up and ready lights indicate that the cupcake maker is on and heating

Perfect for kids’ birthday parties, backyard picnics, and other special occasions, this adorable Sunbeam cupcake maker offers a delightful way to whip together desserts the whole family will enjoy. The unit’s charming cupcake shape hints at the delicious treats it creates, while its “sprinkle”-covered domed lid supplies a handle for convenient lifting. Inset with nonstick cooking plates, the appliance bakes up to six tasty vanilla, chocolate, lemon, or other flavored cupcakes in only 10 minutes – no more waiting for the conventional oven to heat. It can also be used to bake breakfast muffins such as blueberry, apple cinnamon, or banana nut. Enjoy frosting and decorating the cooled cakes or muffins with an assortment of whipped cream, fondant, or butter cream – and don’t forget the sprinkles, candies, chocolate shavings, or edible glitter for a dazzling finishing touch. The Sunbeam cupcake maker’s red and green power/bake ready indicator lights provide added convenience, while its easy-to-clean design means there’s plenty of time to mix up the next batch.

List Price: $ 39.99

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Honest Happy Birthday Sports & Games: Boys Birthday Gift Basket ~ Ages 8-13 Product Review

Happy Birthday Sports & Games: Boys Birthday Gift Basket ~ Ages 8-13

• Perfect Sports Themed Birthday gift basket for boys ages 8-13 years
• Includes sports themed games and snacks, water bottle, baseball cap candies and a Blockbuster video card for renting video games or movies with friends!
• Designed in a drawstring sports bag that is perfect for his little outings with friends
• Dim: 7″L x 3″W x 14″H
• Only .99 for UPS Ground Shipping!

A great boy’s birthday gift filled with sports themed games, water bottle, baseball cap, candies and snacks! Also includes a Blockbuster video card perfect for renting games or movies with friends. Designed in a drawstring sports bag that is perfect for his little outings with friends!

List Price: $ 52.99

Price: $ 52.99

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Honest Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics (Preschool & Kindergarten) Review

Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics (Preschool & Kindergarten)

• uild Reading Skills through Fun Activities & Interactive Storybooks.
• Practice specific skills or learn while following the adventure.
• Key Skills: Phonics & Decoding; Phonemic Awareness; Sentences; Vocabulary; Spelling; Comprehension
• Track success with progress reports. User-friendly program help.
• Mac OS 8.6 – 9.2/OS X 10.1.5, Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP

Join Reader Rabbit on a joyful journey to build reading confidence and success! Develop essential reading skills while exploring 26 Letter Lands filled with fun phonics activities and engaging storybooks. Practice language arts skills while playing with four fabulous word-making machines at the Word Factory. From letters and sounds, to words, and spelling, and on to reading comprehension.

List Price: $ 9.95

Price: $ 4.89

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Kids Food Basket Sack Supper Supplies July 11, 20118

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Kids Food Basket Sack Supper Supplies July 11, 20118


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For Macro Mondays: 1980s

Mario (マリオ Mario?) is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo’s mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation. Though originally only appearing in platform games, starting with Donkey Kong, Mario currently appears in varied video game genres such as racing, puzzle, party, role-playing, fighting, and sports.

1981–1990

Mario debuted as "Jumpman" in the arcade game Donkey Kong in 1981.[4] He is shown as a carpenter that has a pet ape.[17] The carpenter mistreats the ape, so Donkey Kong escapes and kidnaps Jumpman’s girlfriend, originally known as the Lady, but later named Pauline. The player must take the role of Jumpman and rescue the girl. The character was later renamed "Mario" in the 1982 arcade game Donkey Kong Junior, the only game in which he has ever been portrayed as an antagonist. In the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros., Mario and his younger brother Luigi are portrayed as Italian-American plumbers[18] who have to defeat creatures that have been coming from the sewers below New York. Their surname was "Mario", resulting in Mario’s full name being first given here as "Mario Mario".[19]

In Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario saves Princess Toadstool (later known as Princess Peach) of the Mushroom Kingdom from King Koopa.[20] To save Princess Toadstool, Mario conquers the eight worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom by going to the castle in each to defeat a minion of King Koopa. To reach each castle, Mario battles through three sub-worlds by defeating King Koopa’s henchmen. If Mario successfully fights his way through the castle and defeats the minion, he frees a Mushroom Retainer.[21] Inside the eighth castle, Mario has a final fight with King Koopa and frees Princess Toadstool. In Super Mario Bros. 2, the player could choose between Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Peach. Each character possesses unique abilities (Luigi has stronger jumping ability, Toad can dig the fastest, and Peach can float), with Mario being the most well-rounded. In Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario quests to save the rulers of seven kingdoms from Bowser and his children, the Koopalings, and Mario travels across eight worlds to restore order to the Mushroom World and to rescue Princess Peach.[22] Mario is introduced to new power-ups that augment his abilities.[23]

Kids play Snowball Blaster – Dorkbot SoCal 42


Image by G A R N E T
Project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZtIirXXtQ
Event: www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotsocal

This was a special holiday edition of Dorkbot SoCal, held at perhaps the most ambitious light display in Southern California. We met at the driveway of Ric Turner at 7pm on Tuesday December 28th 2010, and he demo’d and explained his latest Christmas Light video game project, Snowball Blaster.

Ric Turner is a former Disney Imagineer who created special effects for theme park attractions and shows such as Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

Kids love Snowball Blaster – Dorkbot SoCal 42


Image by G A R N E T
Project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZtIirXXtQ
Event: www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotsocal

This was a special holiday edition of Dorkbot SoCal, held at perhaps the most ambitious light display in Southern California. We met at the driveway of Ric Turner at 7pm on Tuesday December 28th 2010, and he demo’d and explained his latest Christmas Light video game project, Snowball Blaster.

Ric Turner is a former Disney Imagineer who created special effects for theme park attractions and shows such as Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

New Electric Silk Faux-Flame Battery Operated Torch Light Review

Electric Silk Faux-Flame Battery Operated Torch Light

• Brand new excellent quality Olympic Flame Torch
• Great finishing touch for any Olympic theme
• Size information: 13″ Height
• This posting includes: Battery operated table top faux-flame torch as featured

Perfect substitute for a an open flame in bars and dens, and a great decoration piece to celebrate the Olympics! The technology is perfectly simple – But showing it is next to impossible because you have to see the motion and vibrancy to get the whole effect. Essentially it is an elegant arrangement of a silk fabric, powered by high-intensity Quartz Halogen lights and a high speed fan to make the flame dance.

List Price: $ 14.41

Price: $ 4.09