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

Sandra L. Calvert, the Director of the Childrens Digital Media Center, is a Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University. A fellow of the American Psychological Association, she has consulted for Nickelodeon Online, Sesame Workplace, Blue's Clues, and Sega of America, to influence the development of children's television programs, Internet software, and video games. She is author ofChildren's Journeys through the Information Age (1999), and co-editor ofChildren in the Digital Age: Influences of Electronic Media on Development (2002).

Barbara J. Wilson is a Professor and Head of the Department of Speech Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is co-author ofChildren, Adolescents, and the Media (2002) and three book volumes of theNational Television Violence Study (1997-1998).

Notes on Editors and Contributors.

Foreword (Aletha C. Huston).

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: Media and Childrens Development (Sandra L. Calvert and Barbara J. Wilson).

Part I: Historical, Conceptual, and Financial Underpinnings of Media.

1 Historical and Recurring Concerns about Children's Use of the Mass Media (Ellen Wartella and Michael Robb).

2 Business Models for Childrens Media (Alice Cahn, Terry Kalagian, and Catherine Lyon).

Part II: Media Access and Differential Use Patterns.

3 Media Use Across Childhood: Access, Time, and Content (Ronda Scantlin).

4 Children, Race, Ethnicity, and Media (Bradley S. Greenberg and Dana E. Mastro).

5 Gender, Media Use, and Effects (Stacey J. T. Hust and Jane D. Brown).

6 Media and the Family (Alison Alexander).

Part III: Cognitive Effects of Media: How and What Children Learn.

7 Attention and Learning from Media during Infancy and Early Childhood (Rachel Barr).

8 Media Symbol Systems and Cognitive Processes (Kaveri Subrahmanyam and Patricia Greenfield).

9 Learning from Educational Media (Heather L. Kirkorian and Daniel R. Anderson).

10 News, Reality Shows, and Children's Fears: Examining Content Patterns, Theories, and Negative Effects (Stacy L. Smith, Katherine M. Pieper, and Emily J. Moyer-Guse).

Part IV: Social Effects of Media.

11 Media Violence and Aggression in Youth (Barbara J. Wilson).

12 Prosocial Effects of Media Exposure (Marie-Louise Mares, Edward Palmer, and Tia Sullivan).

13 Make-Believe Play, Imagination, and Creativity: Links to Children's Media Exposure (Dorothy G. Singer and Jerome L. Singer).

14 Parasocial and Online Social Relationships (Cynthia Hoffner).

15 Fear Responses to Media Entertainment (Patti M. Valkenburg and Moniek Buijzen).

Part V: Health Effects of Media.

16 Media Use and Childhood Obesity (Elizabeth A. Vandewater and Hope M. Cummings).

17 Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders (Kristen Harrison and Veronica Hefner).

18 Media and Advertising Effects (Brian Young).

19 Adolescents and Media Messages about Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs (Dina L. G. Borzekowski and Victor C. Strasburger).

Part VI: Media Policy and Interventions.

20 The Childrens Television Act (Sandra L. Calvert).

21 Regulating the Media: Sexually Explicit Content (Joah G. Iannotta).

22 Media-Related Policies of Professional Health Organizations (Marie Evans Schmidt, David S. Bickham, Amy Branner, and Michael Rich).

23 The Rating Systems for Media Products (Douglas A. Gentile0.

24 Parent and School Interventions: Mediation and Media Literacy (Jennifer L. Chakroff and Amy I. Nathanson).

Author Index.

Subject Index.