Kids and the Media: What We Know and What We Need to Learn

Reviews the book, The handbook of children, media, and development edited by Sandra L. Calvert and Barbara J. Wilson (see record 2008-10558-000). The book discusses issues from obesity and cognitive development through online social relationships and the development of a personal identity. There are also sections on the business of children's media, public policy, and interventions. Clinicians and researchers, as well as parents and teachers, will be able to use materials from this volume to reduce the negative impact of media and also to promote positive outcomes from media use. This handbook provides readers a balanced approach in understanding the role of the media in the lives of children and adolescents. As many authors in this book reiterate, there is indeed need for additional research in order to successfully intervene. There are many unexplored issues regarding youth experience with media, and it is still unclear how children are affected as they are grow up in a media-saturated environment where televisions, computers, music, and video games are on in the background most of the time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)