Wiley-Blackwell The Handbook of Children, Media, and Development: 1 (Handbooks in Communication and Media)

The Handbook of Children, Media and Development brings together an interdisciplinary group of experts in the fields of developmental psychology, developmental science, communication, and medicine to provide an authoritative, comprehensive look at the empirical research on media and media policies within the field. 25 newly-commissioned essays bring new research to the forefront, especially on digital media, developmental research, and public policy debatesIncludes helpful introductions to each section, a theoretical overview of the field, and a final chapter that offers a vision of future researchContributors include key, international authorities in the field Review “This handbook provides readers a balanced approach in understanding the role of the media in the lives of children and adolescents.” (PsycCRITIQUES, April 2009) Review "This handbook is a meticulously researched "tour-de-force" of the role media play in shaping child and family development. Through a multi-disciplinary analysis of the varied impacts the media are having on children's learning, social interactions and healthy development, the handbook offers an authoritative, balanced perspective, while identifying pressing issues to be addressed by policymakers. The handbook is a must read for those who wish to understand the rich and subtle ways media influence children's lives every day." –Michael Levine, PhD, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop "This book assembles the most accomplished researchers in the field and presents in-depth and theoretically driven analyses of the most important research advances, including novel theorizing on recent technological innovations in the media. Essential as a text or reference for students, scholars, and policymakers. Understandable to undergraduates, but with depth and accuracy that scholars will appreciate." –Joanne Cantor, Director, Center for Communication Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison "Calvert and Wilson have gathered together a collection of papers providing up-to-the-moment research on how children use and are influenced by various mass media, but also on the business models underlying the industry and an array of possible policies and interventions designed to protect children. Students, scholars, policy-makers and parents will all find this book an invaluable resource." –Donald F. Roberts, Thomas More Storke Professor Emeritus, Stanford University From the Inside Flap Every day children spend a significant amount of their waking time watching and interacting with media. Once a mass experience that was generally one-way and observational, media have increasingly become more interactive. Cell phones, DVDs, plasma monitors, and wireless interfaces add increased control, clarity, and access to media wherever children may be. Media use starts early, in the first year of life. Initial experiences are controlled by parents and caregivers, but increasingly give way to children’s preferences as favorite programs and preferred modes of interaction emerge. The degree to which these experiences are a positive as well as a negative source of developmental change in the cognitive, social, and health areas is an ongoing intellectual debate with significant implications for today’s society. The Handbook of Children, Media, and Development brings together an interdisciplinary group of experts in the fields of developmental psychology, developmental science, communication, and medicine to provide an authoritative, comprehensive, up-to-date look at the empirical research on media and media policies within the field. From the Back Cover Every day children spend a significant amount of their waking time watching and interacting with media. Once a mass experience that was generally one-way and observational, media have increasingly become more interactive. Cell phones, DVDs, plasma monitors, and wireless interfaces add increased control, clarity, and