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Media Detectives: Bridging The Relationship Among Empathy, Laugh Tracks, And Gender In Childhood, Sruti Kanthan, James A. Graham, Lynne Azarchi

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Empathy in college-age students is decreasing at unprecedented rates. Understanding empathy in children can act as primary prevention in tackling the problem. This study considers laugh tracks’ capacity to bias reality, foster empathy, and investigate differences across time and gender in 181 fifth grade students. The results from this quasi-experimental study suggests that students’ perceptions of the relationship between empathy and canned laughter changed significantly from pretest to posttest survey questions. Statistically significant differences were present for gender, as well. Theoretical and practical implications of using laugh tracks to increase empathy in middle and late childhood are discussed.

Predicting Parental Mediation Behaviors: The Direct And Indirect Influence Of Parents’ Critical Thinking About Media And Attitudes About Parent-Child Interactions, Eric E. Rasmussen, Shawna R. White, Andy J. King, Steven Holiday, Rebecca L. Densley

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Many parents fail to interact with their children regularly about media content and past research has identified few predictors of parents’ engagement in parental mediation behaviors. The present study explored the relationship between parents’ critical thinking about media and parents’ provision of both active and restrictive mediation of television content. Results revealed that parents’ critical thinking about media is positively associated with both active and restrictive mediation, relationships mediated by parents’ attitudes toward parent-child interactions about media. These findings suggest that media literacy programs aimed at improving parents’ critical thinking about media may be an effective way to alter children’s …

The Littlest Pilgrim, Annie Huish

Children's Book and Media Review

Mini, the smallest pilgrim in the village, has always been good at looking for things she could to do to help with the village chores. One day, Mini decides to be extra helpful. She goes to different people in the village to see what she can help with: her brother making a woodpile, her sister mending some clothes, her mother making some bread, the village boys fishing in the river. But everyone says that Mini is too little to help. Mini is determined to find something special she can do. On her way back home, she decides to pick some …

Caddy's World, Cynthia Frazier

Children's Book and Media Review

Caddy and her three friends Alison, Ruby, and Beth have been inseparable since the first day of school when they were five. Now they are twelve and each is dealing with her own challenges that include a new baby sister born too early, moving to another country far away, going to a new school where she knows no one, and growing taller, bigger and faster than everyone else her age. On top of all these complications, Dingbat, their communal boyfriend has decided to dump three of them and focus on only one of the four girls. How each of them …

Reading Journal For Kids: A Reading Log For Kids Aged 7 - 11 Years (And Their Book Loving Parents), Ashley Roggow

Children's Book and Media Review

This book is a journal or review book for kids and the books they read. Reading is fun, but sometimes children do not get the full reading comprehension just from reading. By learning to retell the story or discuss it, kids can better understand each story and develop their critical thinking skills by keeping a diary of books they've read and to write reviews of each one. At the beginning is a note to the parents where it describes the book, it's purpose, and it's benefits. The book also includes a list of twenty books it recommends that children read …

Book Review, Erika M. Baril

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism By Barry M. Prizant with Tom Fields-Meyer (2015) New York: Simon and Schuster, 272 pages ISBN 9781476776231 (Hardcover)

Donald Trump And The Sex Industry, Robert Brannon

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Nocturnal Enuresis Among Primary School Children In Zarka District, Damietta Governorate, Egypt, Al-Zahraa A. Hassan, Hewaida M. El-Shazly, Mahmoud E. Abu Salem

Menoufia Medical Journal

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of nocturnal enuresis (NE) among primary school children in Zarka district, Damietta governorate, Egypt. Background NE is a common medical and psychological problem worldwide among school-age children. Participants and methods The study was a nested case–control study that was conducted during the academic year 2013/2014 on 325 students aged 6–12 years in Damietta governorate. A questionnaire was designed and was filled in by the parents of randomly selected children attending two different primary schools. A comparative study was conducted in which the children having NE ( …

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Rural Mothers Towards Home Injuries Among Children Under 5 Years Of Age In Menouf District- Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, Mohamed A. Megahed, Nora A. Khalil, Reda A. Ibrahem, Reham S. El Disoki

Menoufia Medical Journal

Objective The aim of this study was to assess rural mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices as regards first aid for home-related injuries among children under 5 years of age before and after implementation of educational program and to measure the prevalence of these injuries. This study was conducted to assess rural mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward home-related injuries and their first aids among children under 5 years of age before and after implementation of educational program. Background Accidental injuries are a major health problem in children. They are the most common cause of death in children under 5 years …

Using Storytelling To Raise Interest In Vultures, Elise C. Osenga

The STEAM Journal

The tradition of oral storytelling is an art that stretches back to humankind's earliest cultures. While storytelling is often considered as a form of entertainment, it has also long been used as a teaching tool as well-- a way of engaging listeners to come to new understanding of their world through subtle means. It is my belief that stories, particularly stories with a clear tie to students' sense of place, can be more widely applied to effectively generate interest in specific scientific topics and help students to form emotional connections with the topics under discussion. The following personal narrative describes …

My Bike, Jacquelin Marrero

Children's Book and Media Review

The main character Tom is on his way to work and although the title refers to his bike, the story actually is about how he uses it to get there. He chooses to ride a bike and describes it, and further describes everything he sees along the way on his path. Tom passes multiple types of vehicles, circus animals, and other things as well. Once he arrives at work, he also describes how he gets ready and what he does in the circus.

If You Ever Want To Bring A Piano To The Beach, Don't!, Carlie Smith

Children's Book and Media Review

Magnolia ignores her mother’s warning and decides to play with a piano at the beach rather than a boat, a Frisbee or a shovel. Once the piano goes into the water, the tide sweeps it away. Instead of reeling in her piano, Magnolia catches something even better: a sea shell which serves as a boat, a Frisbee, and a shovel. Magnolia concedes that her mother is right and echoes the original advice, “If you ever want to bring a piano to the beach, DON’T!”

Dot., Kati Penovich

Children's Book and Media Review

Do you know how to tap, to tweet, to tag? Dot does! Dot is a smart young girl who knows her way around computers. She’s a pro at surfing, searching, and swiping, and she LOVES to talk. But in her quest to master technology, has she forgotten all about playing outside with her friends? With a little help from her mom, Dot rediscovers her love for the great outdoors and reminds all of us of the importance of recharging with nature and reconnecting with friends.

A Review Of Internet Resources Related To Spoken Language Intervention For Spanish-Speaking Parents Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Karen F. Munoz, Lauri H. Nelson Phd, Brittan Barker

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify website information related to hearing loss, hearing technology, and spoken language development available to Spanish-speaking parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).

Design: An exploratory, descriptive design was used to determine the presence or absence of parent education information on a variety of websites.

Study Sample: The study explored Internet resources provided by national, state, and parent support organizations in the United States.

Results: A total of 53 organization websites were identified that had information for parents of DHH children learning spoken language, eight of which were …

Is Advertising On Television To Children A Problem?, Brian Young

Irish Communication Review

Why are people concerned about television advertising and its influence on children? Is this concern justified? These are the two main points I want to consider in this paper.

View Of Advertising Practitioners, Peter O'Keeffe

Irish Communication Review

I am concerned to make the case for the rights and liberties to communicate commercial advertising messages to children. Consequenlly, I am amused by the identification of advertising with witchcraft; witches ceased to be burned a long time ago. However, this comparison, illustrates the excessive concern shown about how strangely influential advertising is.

Children And Television Advertising, Farrell Corcoran

Irish Communication Review

I am particularly frustrated by the lack of debate on issues concerning the media and children in this country. That may be a sweeping statement but we tend to react rather than take an active interest in trying to influence things. These reactions tend to be shaped by moral panics. There is nothing as depressing as a moral panic that arises, usually in the area of violence, every year or two, in response to something happening near us, for example in Manchester, Liverpool or perhaps closer to home. The same tired old arguments and positions are taken with little sign …

No Quick Fix: The Failure Of Criminal Law And The Promise Of Civil Law Remedies For Domestic Child Sex Trafficking, Charisa Smith

University of Miami Law Review

Pimps and johns who sexually exploit children garner instant public and scholarly outrage for their lust for a destructive “quick fix.” In actuality, many justifiably concerned scholars, policymakers, and members of the public continue to react over-simplistically and reflexively to the issue of child sex trafficking in the United States—also known as commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC)—in a manner intellectually akin to immediate gratification. Further, research reveals that the average john is an employed, married male of any given race or ethnicity, suggesting that over-simplification and knee-jerk thinking on CSEC are conspicuous. This Article raises provocative questions that too …

Abcmouse.Com, Cynthia Phillips

Children's Book and Media Review

ABCmouse.com is an online learning center for children ages 2-7. It has received the “Mom’s Choice GOLD Award,” “Teachers’ Choice Award”, and “Parents’ Choice GOLD Award.” There are thousands of games and learning activities included in the site. The children can learn using the designated learning path or explore individual activities on their own. The website is designed to follow your child’s development so that the activities are appropriate for their age and abilities. The children earn tickets for each activity and can trade them in for products in the “store” such as virtual pets, clothing for their avatar, or …

Giants Beware!, Kiersten Carr

Children's Book and Media Review

Claudette is an aspiring giant slayer who wants to be just like her dad, a retired adventurer and swordsmith. The only problem is that she lives in a nice, safe town where giants are only stories. Determined to make her dream a reality, Claudette convinces her friend Marie, an aspiring princess, and her little brother, Gaston, who wants to be a swordmaker-slash-pastry chef, to sneak out of the city with her and go find a giant. Along with their faithful dog, Valiant, and with most of the town chasing after them, the three children encounter a crabby witch and her …

Learning To Feel Good And Stay Cool: Emotion Regulation Tools For Kids With Ad/Hd, Emily Darowski

Children's Book and Media Review

Understanding emotions and how to cope with them is something everyone must learn. This book focuses on helping children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tackle this task. Twenty emotions are described with real-life scenarios, noting that some emotions feel good and others do not. This work helps children identify their “feel good zone” and “upset zone” and develop strategies that will help them feel good more often. Some strategies involve building routines and habits (e.g., eat enough protein, get adequate sleep). Other strategies teach children how to deal with specific negative emotions (e.g., shift attention when frustrated). Short games …

I Am Their Kin, Nihit N. Mehta

Akesis

In trying to answer the question, “what consumes me,” I was reminded of a question, one that has been asked of me over these past few years: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question that I’ve encountered many a times along this journey of life. Yet, when I recently encountered this question, my answer was like a clarion call to the recesses of this heart. “I want to be a pediatrician. I was a really sick child, so the way I see it, I’m their family member, helping my kin feel …

Imagination Station, Kristina Lasker

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Kristina Lasker, a student in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue University, describes her experience with Imagination Station, a nonprofit organization located in Lafayette, Indiana. Imagination Station introduces elementary and middle school students to a wide range of information about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines through exhibits and hands-on learning activities.

Improving Mental Health Of Elementary School Children, Alexa Proctor

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Alexa Proctor is an advanced practice student on clinical rotations with the Purdue University College of Pharmacy. In this article, she describes her experience working with Mental Health America (MHA) of Tippecanoe County and third grade children, in addition to her passion to help improve mental health in students of all ages.

Nobody's Perfect, Bryn Stephens

Children's Book and Media Review

Everyone has heard that no one is perfect. In this story we view this fact through the eyes of a young boy as he interacts with those that he knows. He sees how his sister, friend, mother, and himself all have flaws and are less than perfect. But he comes to realize that those very things that can annoy him about the ones that he knows are also the things that he likes about them.

Master Gardener–Led Lessons Increase Knowledge In Gardening And Environmental Science For Iowa Summer Camp Youth, Bruce J. Black, Cynthia Haynes, Denny Schrock, Kevin Duerfeldt

The Journal of Extension

Gardening and nutrition lessons for children can affect knowledge, actions, and behaviors that support more healthful lifestyles. The objective of the study described in this article was to determine the effectiveness of a master gardener–led education program for youth at a week-long summer camp in Iowa. Garden knowledge was assessed via a pretest, a posttest, and a 6-month follow-up. Campers increased their garden knowledge after the week-long camp. In addition, a 6-month follow-up questionnaire was mailed to parents to obtain information about changes in participants' behaviors. More than 75% of parents noticed positive garden-related behavior changes in their children.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy, Cynthia Frazier

Children's Book and Media Review

What do you get when a widower takes his four daughters, ages twelve to four, and a dog on vacation? You get a story set in a time before cell phones and internet, when playing sports, make believe, and exploring was the way to spend an enjoyable summer. Mr. Penderwick, a biologist, loves plants and the country is full of interesting specimens. Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty are his daughters. Each has her own personality, talents, and foibles weaving a wonderful story of family love and sibling interaction. Add a young boisterous dog, named Hound, who eats inappropriate things like …

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, Cynthia Frazier

Children's Book and Media Review

Jacob Portman is 16. He comes from a rich family, has a job in the family business that he hates, is a nerd, has only one friend, regularly has nightmares about monsters and has a beloved Grandfather whose dying request changes Jacob’s life. A Jewish child during World War II, Grandpa spent the war in an orphanage run by a Miss Peregrine on an island in Wales. Jacob and his father travel Europe to help Jacob fulfill his grandfather’s wish. Jacob finds Miss Peregrine’s ruined house, he finds a trunk of strange old photographs of people and places, which leads …

Hug Machine, Chelsie Troxel

Children's Book and Media Review

The Hug Machine is busy all day giving out his specialty--hugs. Everyone loves his hugs and he hugs everything and everyone. The Hug Machine is always at work making everyone feel better. Fueling the Hug Machine is simple: pizza. By the end of the day, the Hug Machine is tired and cannot give any more hugs. However, when the Hug Machine is tired, he is always up for a hug from his mother.

Sea Rex, Chelsie Troxel

Children's Book and Media Review

On this particular sunny day, a little boy, his mother, and T. rex head to the beach to play in the sand and water. The rules to having a fun day at the beach are laid out simply. Both the little boy and T. rex find ways to play while staying safe and keeping mother on her toes. A few more dinosaurs and friends join along in the adventuring in the water and sand as they learn to share and have a great time.