Peewee PC

Windows 8 Parental Controls

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Our team has been continuing to tinker around with the new Windows 8.

Here’s more on the parental control features that Windows 8 is set to feature:

Similar to previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 will allow users to create a separate account for children with just a couple of clicks. Once a child account has been set up, parents will receive weekly activity reports that reveal how much time their children spend on the computer.

Parents can adjust the settings for safety on the Internet at familysafety.microsoft.com. Different filtering levels can be set by parents to filter out varying levels of websites depending on a sites' adult-only and kid-friendly content.

Family Safety, will keep parents in tune with what websites their child visits, their latest searches, and their most used apps and games. Of course, parents are not trying to spy on their kids, so features like this must be understood in context. Parents don’t have time to monitor all their children’s activities, which make simple solutions like Family Safety by Windows 8 all the more necessary.

"With Windows 8, you can monitor what your kids are doing, no matter where they use their PC," Microsoft's senior program manager for Family Safety Phil Sohn wrote in a blog post. "All you have to do is create a Windows user account for each child, check the box to turn on Family Safety, and then review weekly reports that describe your children's PC use."

We’re glad to see that parental controls on windows 8 are simple and not nearly as complex as previous versions of Windows parental controls. Older versions of parental controls would force parents to manually configure website filters, sometimes having to add websites one by one. Now parents simply add a profile for their child and click the Family Safe setting on.

As highlighted in a previous post about Windows 8 Parental Controls here are the mean features you’ll expect to see once Windows 8 is available in stores:

Web filtering: Chose between different levels of filtering.

Safe Search: Automatically filters out all adult-content (text, images, videos, etc.) once filter settings have been enabled.

Time limits: Easily restrict the hours your child is allowed to play on their PC.

Windows Store: Parental Control Reports include download and activity from the Windows Store.

Application and game restrictions: Similar to previous versions of Windows, certain programs and games can be restricted.

Check out this video from CNet to see Windows 8 live in action

PBS Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:28:00 +0000

PBS Kids online is a hot spot of made-for-kids videos and games. PBS Kids online features content from Angelina Ballerina, Arthur, Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! , Curious George, Sesame Street and other PBS Kids favorites.

PBS Kids online is colorful and lively mix of mouse-based videos and games that children can safely interact with. More advanced materials are lacking but the site is clearly driven to younger age groups that would appreciate all the songs, stories, pictures and movies from their favorite PBS Kids shows.

Access to the site is free as opposed to other paid-subscription educational kid sites. The site is free of commercials and is very easy to navigate which makes it truly built for kids. Interaction with the games is made easy by being primarily mouse-based and focusing very little on the keyboard, which can be difficult for the youngest of kids.

Much of the website is dedicated to games and activities. Activities are available for different age ranges and are easy to navigate. Some activities link to other PBS sites and may confuse very young browsers who are not very familiar with Internet surfing. Printable coloring pages are available and make for a fun activity under a tree in the yard or around the house.

PBS Kids online is a great add-on for your ‘approved website list.’ For those parents who filter websites on their kids’ pc, PBS Kids is one of the few sites that are guaranteed to remain family-safe. PBS Parenting is also available and features resources on child development, education, fun games and nutrition and fitness. PBS Parenting and PBS Kids truly embody family-friendly websites.

Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Windows 8, the official name for the next version of Microsoft Windows, will be available later this year.

You can currently download a Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISOimage on the Microsoft site. Follow the instructions on the Microsoft site and you can preview Windows 8 first hand.

One of the most interesting features of Windows 8 is the new user interface. The new “Metro” environment will feature a tile-based Start screen (pictured above) similar to the Windows Phone operating system. The tile arrangement of the application icons is set to resonate well with kid pc users and computers in classrooms. For adults, the simplicity of the easy access icons is convenient.

Windows 8 is another step up for Microsoft. The online family can expect to see the latest Internet Explorer 10, new authentication methods like picture password, which allows users to log in by drawing three gestures in different places on a picture and Pin log in, which allows users to authenticate using a four digit pin.

Windows 8 will feature built in parental controls that allows parents to effortlessly enable web filtering and SafeSearch’ing which will keep kids safe on the Internet. Parents will be able to set time limits and application and game restrictions which can block specific applications and games.

Kid PC's: Made for kids

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:38:00 +0000

A "kids PC" is a computer just like any other with one major exception, kid computers are designed to be kid-friendly so that even the youngest of children can safely explore and learn with computers.

Structurally, kid PC's are stronger; their built to put up with favorite toy treatment. Software-wise, they're filled with features that relate to children first. Kid PC's are also smaller on average when compared with standard computers and often offer less advanced features which kids would likely not use or appreciate.

With supervision and moderation, children can be easily introduced to computers. Parental controls really help parents with setting time limits, filtering websites and keeping your kid and their pc safe.

Here are some Kid-friendly features to look out for when researching kid PC's:

Rugged build and spill-proof features. Some Kid PC's are built to withstand tough kid use. These features include drop-proof computers and keyboards that are spill and water-proof.
Larger, easy to see program icons. Kid-friendly computers will usually feature a desktop with larger icons that is easy to navigate. Kids can easily click on their favorite programs and games without having to search for them.
Website restrictions and filters. Built-in filters block adult content and focus on family-friendly websites with content approved for children.
Restricted access to files and programs. Kid PC's will usually feature built-in restrictions to protect sensitive files and important programs that keep your PC running safely.
Kid-friendly, educational materials. Kid PC's come preloaded with educational software that entertain children while teaching them valuable skills. Software developers like School Zone Software dedicate their efforts to designing fun games that teach valuable skills like logic, reasoning, memory and math.

All in all, a kids PC is just as functional as a standard computer but is built tougher and filled with educational content. In fact, without the kid-friendly modifications, the stronger build and educational software, a kids PC is a PC like any other. This difference alone is what we at Peewee PC and other kid pc researchers focus on.

Kids can understand computers when they're given the right resources to explore. Any computer can be made kid-friendly by setting up the right monitoring features, including educational content that children will enjoy, and using other kid-friendly add-ons to protect children and their computers.

Simple additions like parent monitoring features can keep kids safe without parents having to constantly watch over their little ones. At the end of the day, a proper kids PC can go a long way. It's effective for children and provides parents with peace of mind while their kids develop essential computer skills early on.

How kids are making computers smarter

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Tables turned: UC Berkeley researchers study kids to make computers smarter

We came across this great article today on how researchers at Berkeley are studying kids to make computers smarter.

46 children who are enrolled at their Child Study Center are constantly engaging in activities that computers struggle with. Researchers are observing, interacting, and designing activities to shine light on the mental processes of children and how they learn and reason.

“Learning languages fluently to quickly figuring out what people are thinking and feeling"

are among the activities that researchers like Alison Gopnik, a leading developmental psychologist who studies children at the center, believe will aid in the development of artificial intelligence and smarter computers.

"We think about their brains as wonderful computers -- the most powerful computers we know about," she said.

Computers can perform straightforward tasks easily but cannot distinguish between information that is relevant and irrelevant. Similarly, computers cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. This is where children come in; children and infants have a remarkable understanding of cause and effect and can tell fantasy from reality. Researches are trying to understand the cognitive processes of little ones in order to integrate these problem-solving skills and cognitive abilities into computers. Understanding how children learn and reason will improve the chances of developing artificial intelligence that could hold limitless possibilities for the advancement of science and technology.

Berkeley’s Institute for Human hopes to unite developmental psychologists, computer scientists and even philosophers. “Together they hope to solve one of the most elusive mysteries in the universe: How do we learn?”

For more information read the complete article or visit the Institutefor Human Development @ Berkeley online.

KIDO'Z: The Internet for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:15:00 +0000

KIDO'Z: The Internet for Kids

We recently installed a trial version of KIDO'Z Internet Browser for Kids. Our first impression was that the installation was easy and the performance of the program itself is dependable.

Visually, KIDO'Z looks great. A recurrent issue we find with kids software and programs is that many of them look outdated. KIDO'Z is far from that. The colors and graphics are enough to keep any kid entertained while they explore all of the material that is featured by KIDO'Z. When we tested KIDO'Z in our computer academy classroom, the majority of our kids mentioned that they loved how the browser works and especially how it looks. Here’s a breakdown of the main features that KIDO'Z has to offer:

KIDO'Z is a protected, easy-to-use browsing environment that features thousands of the latest websites for kids in over 30 languages.

KIDO'Z adds new sites on a regular basis and automatically filters websites according to gender, age, nationality and language in order to make sure that every child gets the most relevant content possible. All shared websites are pre-approved by the KIDO’Z Moderation Team before joining the public domain.

KIDO'Z Email for Kids allows kids to send emails and e-cards to their friends and relatives. Kids can design their own email or e-card using the visual editor that features built-in drawing tools and libraries of animated backgrounds and stickers. KIDO'Z Email for Kids allows children to express themselves and their creativity even if they still don’t know how to read or write.

In addition to featuring thousands of kid-friendly websites, KIDO'Z offers videos and games that are fit perfect for children. With a little bit of searching, parents can easily find educational material that will entertain their children while they learn new skills.

For parents who want to feel extra secure with their kids use of KIDO'Z, there are parental controls that can be set to limit daily time allowances for play and monitoring features to hand-select use privileges for their little one.

As a parent, I feel the lifetime membership makes the most sense financially. The yearly membership is slightly less but requires that parents renew their subscription every year. Visit KIDO'Z and download a freetrial.

Kubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:48:00 +0000

The software that supports a computer's basic functions, such as scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.) is what is called an operating system.

Popular operating systems like OS X for Mac and Windows 7 perform these basic functions and differ in terms of features and system requirements. The issue with major, commercial operating systems is the large up-front cost and pay-to-upgrade policies that require users to pay when a newer version of the OS is released.

Linux based operating systems like Ubuntu, Edubuntu and Kubuntu are all free and it gets better. Every day developers and engineers around the world collaborate to make these systems better and more efficient. Upgrades are available for free and every year the systems get significantly better. As of very recently, the newest versions of these operating systems have been released and they look and perform great.

Today we installed Kubuntu on one of our Peewee Power Desktops and we love it. The interface is simple and we believe it’s probably the best fit for children who are learning to use computers. Together with the educational packages and academic emphasis of Edubuntu and the interface of Kubuntu, the strengths of the Linux operating system family are obvious. Navigating buttons for getting to the Internet and starting applications are easy to find and neatly organized. The performance of Kubuntu compared with Edubuntu and Ubuntu are on par and rival any commercial operating system.

The Kubuntu team prioritizes keeping up to date with the latest releases, triaging and fixing bugs on Launchpad, finding shiny new components, Stress-testing the greatest desktop environment ever, discussing and fixing any and all issues and developing new and innovative features.

Although some users may find Kubuntu to be “too simple” that’s what it’s designed for. Kubuntu is accessible, attractive and reliable. The Ubuntu software manager makes it easy to find add-ons that will make your Ubuntu machine complete. Simple plug-ins for Mozilla, for example, makes setting parental controls on the Internet very easy. Finding educational content and games is just as easy.

Fun facts:

Kubuntu ( /kuːˈbuːntuː/ koo-boon-too) is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system that features a simple, easy-to-navigate desktop.

"Kubuntu" means "towards humanity" in Bemba, and is derived from Ubuntu ("humanity"). The K at the beginning represents the KDE community on whose platform Kubuntu is built. By coincidence, Kubuntu also means "free" in Kirundi.

Ubuntu and Kubuntu differ typically in only the graphical applications and tools.

Edubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:55:00 +0000

A question we often come across is “What is Edubuntu?”

Back when polished versions of Ubuntu became widely available and became popular, our team began to use Ubuntu on our home computers.

Now we're convinced, along with thousands of schools and libraries across the world, that Edubuntu (an educational version of the Ubuntu operating system) is a truly useful and money-saving classroom computer solution.

Most importantly, Edubuntu is a “grassroots movement” that aims at getting easy-to-use operating systems (like OSX and Windows) into schools, homes and communities. Edubuntu looks great, its easy to install and will make maintaining your computer very easy.

Perhaps the best part of Edubuntu is the educational packages that it offers:

With Edubuntu you’ll have access to 8 Preschool Educational Applications, 22 Primary Ed Programs (including a typing instructor, paint, puzzles, flashcards and math exercises), 22 Secondary Ed Applications and 18 Tertiary Ed Applications (including advanced drawing and graphics programs, physics and math exercises.)

When asked, “What is Edubuntu?” the most intuitive answer is “ An attractive, easy to use operating system that comes loaded with educational materials and makes computers more affordable.” Proprietary operating systems that are more popular drive the cost of computers up and are not nearly as easy to use as Edubuntu. In by being free, computer manufacturers can focus their efforts on enhancing hardware and improving performance rather than spending in excess of $100 for licensed versions of more popular operating systems.

If you need software, simply search for a relevant application using the built-in software manager and click download. All applications are free and easy to use.

The truth is, you wont know how great Edubuntu is until you try it. Download Edubuntu and try it on your computer. Edubuntu can be installed on a partitioned drive that basically means you can have Windows and Edubuntu on the same computer. Partitioning your hard drive is easy, just click partition and install when you insert your Edubuntu start-up USB or CD.

Here's a screenshot of what Edubuntu looks like. The menu interaction is very simple. Once you have Edubuntu installed you can explore all the educational features of this inspiring operating system.

Qimo for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Qimo is a desktop operating system designed just for kids.

Qimo is based on the open source Ubuntu Linux desktop, which also comes in the form of Edubuntu that is designed for educators and students.

Qimo comes pre-installed with educational games for children aged 3 and up.

Qimo’s interface has been designed to be intuitive and easy to use, providing large icons for all installed games, so that even the youngest users have no trouble selecting the activity they want.

We installed Qimo on one of our Peewee PC's today and it works great.

The desktop is simplified for younger kids and comes with an illustrated Qimo custom desktop image and layout.

The main featured applications on the desktop are :

GCompris- A high quality educational software suite comprising of numerous activities for children aged 2 to 10. Some of the activities are game orientated, but nonetheless still educational. Below you can find a list of categories with some of the activities available in that category. Computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gesture, algebra: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror image, science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine, electric simulation, geography: place the country on the map, games: chess, memory, connect 4, reading: reading practice other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing, cartoon making and more.

Child's Play- Contains numbers and sound memory activities, keyboard training, keyboard training, puzzle flashcards and a billiards game.

Tux Paint- Tux Paint is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6). Tux Paint is used in schools around the world as a computer literacy drawing activity. It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program.

Tux Math- TuxMath is where mathematics meets the arcade. In this shooting game, asteroids threaten friendly penguin Tux. His ammunition? Mental arithmetic! The flying moon rocks are actually space division, multiplication and subtraction, and by finding the answer, you destroy them, and saving the penguin igloos from the devastating impact.

TuxMath is an open source, free game whose difficulty is appropriate for students from elementary to high school, in other words, 7 to 13 years. It offers dozens of missions that require calculations that get more and more complicated, ending up with some really tricky stuff, like

Laby- Teaches kids basic computer programming using ants and spider webs. Interesting open-source software for kids who want to start computer programming early on.

Other free resources like Open Office can be easily added. Open Office allows you to create word document, spreadsheet, and presentation files just like Microsoft Office only it's completely free for Ubuntu, Edubuntu and Qimo users.

Windows 7 Parental Controls

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Many Windows users don't know that Windows 7 has Windows Parental Control that can provide parents peace of mind when it comes to kid PC's. Below you'll find a video with instructions on how to easily accomplish any of the following:

1. Set time limits for when your child can and cannot access their computer.

2. Enable game rating control that allows your kid to play only the games that you feel are best for them.

3. Set what programs your child can and cannot use while they're on their computer.

The entire process is simple and is available to anyone who has Windows 7 Home and Office.

In case you're looking to regulate your kids usage of the internet as well, Windows Live offers Windows Family Safety. Windows Family Safety is available at no cost but may require a download and/or install. The Family Safety Filter monitors your kids using safety settings selected by you. The Family Safety website offers activity reports and allows you to manage your controls and accounts. Together with Windows Parental Control, Windows Family Safety is a great solution for parents who want to give their kid space to use and learn computers in a safe and supervised way.

Online Math Practice K-8 IXL.com

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:28:00 +0000

At Peewee PC we're always looking for new and worthwhile educational sites and content to recommend to our parents and educators.

IXL math comes highly recommended and its no surprise why...

In addition to having easy-access math lessons and activities, IXL members receive reports on the performance of their little one based on national and state educational standards. Parents and educators don't have to monitor all the progress of their child or student, IXL does that. IXL sends detailed reports for each math skill, showing time practiced, problems answered, and more.

IXL is organized into age groups to make choosing the right exercises easy. Most age groups feature hundreds of activities, all of which are sure to help your little one practice valuable math skills.

Unfortunately, Math is one subject in school that tends to intimidate and discourage kids. Solutions like IXL are working to combat just that. Games and the element of 'being online' help entertain kids while they strengthen their basic math skills that can help our kids in school and with standardized tests.

Here are some major features quoted from the main IXL site, IXL.com:

Not only do students gain new skills on IXL-they gain a whole new appreciation for how fun math can be! From the vibrant images that permeate IXL’s skills, to the enticing awards and certificates that are hidden throughout the site, students cannot wait to hop on IXL-and you’ll have trouble tearing them away.”

“When you’re truly “in the zone,” you can pick up new skills in no time. What that in mind, we designed IXL as the ultimate focused learning environment. Free from any gimmicks or distractions, IXL is a place where every minute is spend truly learning math.”

Memberships for parents and educators are available, check out IXL.com/membership/ for more information!

Kid PC Desktop Manager

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:46:00 +0000

The easiest way for younger kids to use computers without confusing themselves is for parents to install a desktop manager on their pc.

What is a desktop manager? It's a simple application that can be downloaded from the Internet, is usually inexpensive and sometimes free, that allows for kids to use their computers in a simple way.

Basically, the normal Windows desktop that we are all familiar with, turns into a simplified, easy to navigate desktop designed for kids. Surprisingly, there are not very many options for Kid Desktop Managers. I decided to download the major kid desktop managers in order to see for myself what the best option is...

1. Magic Desktop (www.MagicDesktop.com) is by far the best option. It downloads quickly, has easy-to-follow setup instructions and looks the best out of the major options out there. Its key features include:

Parental Control: Includes password protections and time restrictions to keep your kids from over-doing it on their pc's.
Safe Internet: Only websites approved by a parent or universally trusted by educators are allowed. There's no need to worry about the safety of your little one once you've restricted what sites they can and cannot visit.
Kids e-mail: Simple, kid-smart e-mail that will surprise you or a friend or family that you child is approved to communicate with.
Play & Learn: Tons of kid-friendly and educational games to explore.
Windows Protection: Magic Desktop limits the most important and sensitive files on your kids pc.

To give Magic Desktop a try, simply download the trial version, explore it and see if it fits with that you'd like for your little one. The only issue with Magic Desktop is that it requires that a parent select the software from the normal Windows desktop in order to start. After that, it will work on its own while your kids enjoy themselves. The up side to this feature is that your kid will come to you when they want to use their pc. The slightly older crowd can learn to click start the application themselves with simple instructions.

2. Kid Starter (www.kidstarter.com) Kid Starter keeps your kids safe by providing a safe, custom Windows environment for your kids. They make sure that both your kids and your PC stay safe while helping kids learn. Its key features include:

Kid Starter has time limits for your kids.
Windows Protection: Kid Starter keeps your most important PC files safe from accidents and keeps your
Audio prompts for helping kids navigate their pc's and multiple skins for customizing the look of the desktop.

To give Kid Starter a try, simply download the trial version, explore it and see if it fits with that you'd like for your little one. I personally had some issues with certain error messages that the software was giving me. I've contacted their customer service, which unfortunately is just a recording where customers can leave a message.

Some others which did not perform so well or seemed outdated are:

http://www.peanutbuttersoftware.com/

http://www.kidsavvypc.com/

(Screenshot from Magic Desktop)

Kid PC's

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:09:00 +0000

An article we came cross talked about how setting up a dedicated computer for our young ones still makes sense despite the popularity of touchscreen devices in the market of kid-friendly computers. Unlike popular mobile devices, the benefits of a powerful laptop or desktop are made obvious by the great kid PC games that are available for PC’s and Mac’s.

Most parents and grandparents who are researching for a kids computer take the following into consideration (although not in this exact order):

Finding the right software and games. Made easier by websites like CommonSenseMedia.org and Famigo.com

Measuring the difference between games made just for fun and games designed by educators to enhance learning through fun and games.

Ergonomically, finding what is best for their little one at their age and size.

Finding a computer that is “kid-proof”, spill-proof keyboards, spill-proof keyboard skins, drop-resistant computers and cases, and other kid pc accessories and features.

Here are some great tips we gathered from this article…

Sharing your precious tablet or computer with your little one is easy but can be risky. Parents spend time creating additional user profiles and setting restrictions on their pc when in reality kid-use is usually more likely to result in dropping or physically damaging a computer.

“If your budget allows, you’ll appreciate the flexibility of having a dedicated “kid computer.” And, in fact, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg: Given that most schools are using older hardware, most children’s software runs great on computers that are several years old. “ -Quoted from main article

Although the quality of kid computers varies, generally, all a parent or educator requires is a solid computer, build specifically with kid-use in mind, that can allow for them to access resources like online libraries, edutainment (educational games that use fun and rewards to teach positive skills) and other educational resources.

“But I can also tell you—again, from experience—that kids aren’t as careful with computers as most adults are. Laptops get dropped and stepped on, screens get poked and bent back, and food and liquids get spilled, no matter how many rules and warnings are issued.”-Quoted from main article

As we’ve learned in our Peewee Academy computer classes, kids usually require simple but clear instructions on how to treat their computer “like a friend.” Realistically, kids will be kids. With “kid-tough-use” in mind, our Peewee PC Pivot is built with a spill-proof keyboard and a drop-proof case. After years of watching kids interact with PC's features like should be standard for kid-focused PC's.

Once kids learn the basic functions and how to care for a computer, its up to parents to keep their kids focused on educational and positive content.

Services like Famigo.com rate games based on their “family friendliness” and organizations like Common SenseMedia. Org provide parents with resources on how to keep kids safe online and in a position to grow and learn on computers. Parenting.com has a line-up of the most popular kid games on the market.

Kid-focused keyboards and mice are widely available for kid pc users as well. Color-coded keys and a simple one-click mouse are among popular trends and solutions for kids who are too young or novice to computers to use standard keyboards. The article mentions great advice on setting up a computer station for your little one that supplements their posture while sitting and keeps them focused.

For the complete article check out Set up a kid-friendly computer: By Dan Franks

SPARX Video Game for Kids is Helping Battle Depression in Youngsters

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:23:00 +0000

Researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand have exciting news that will have a have widespread effect on the way games for kids are developed.

For years, game developers have been following the principles of behavioral psychology
in order to enhance the gaming process for users. Now game developers and psychologists are working together more directly to carry out therapy using games and what is generally referred to as "e-therapy." E-therapy includes the use of computers, the Internet and games to incite and reward positive attitudes and ideas.

SPARX is a new game, not yet out for customers, that guide players through a number of challenges that help children practice in situations that are similar to everyday situations. This recent study published in the British Journal of Medicine shows that the game is as effective as counseling in helping to treat depression and anxiety in a study group of kids averaging 15 years old.

In SPARX, players are teleported into a fantasy world full of situations that kids encounter on a day-to-day basis. The game challenges and empowers kids to identify and battle "Gnats" (gloomy, negative, automatic thoughts) and transform them into Sparx (smart, positive, active, realistic thoughts)

The game and the concept behind it are gathering a lot of attention and talk is underway of the SPARX group receiving government funding for e-therapy development; expect for the game to be polished up and perfected before its out on the market.

For more information check out these articles

TVNZ: Computer game could fight youth depression - research

medGadget: SPARX Video Game Shown Effective in Treating Depression in Youngsters

Edutainment

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Parents are searching for fun games that will educate their kids and more than often they find them in the game genre known as Edutainment. Games in this genre entertain children while rewarding them for solving puzzles and using problem-solving skills.

Edutainment also includes many DVD's and TV shows like Dora the Explorer that combine lessons with entertainment for children. Similarly, the audio Baby Genius series is a popular choice with parents and educators. On the Internet, there are a number of options that parents can explore.

ABCYA.com Easy access, free educational games for your child to play on. Access to the site and a restricted browser that restricts web surfing is all you'll need. No download necessary.

Quoted from ABCYA.com

"All children's educational computer activities were created or approved by certified schoolteachers. All educational games are free and are modeled from primary grade lessons and enhanced to provide an interactive way for children to learn.

Grade level lessons incorporate areas such as math and language arts while introducing basic computer skills. Many of the kindergarten and first grade activities are equipped with sound to enhance understanding. Fun children's Holiday activities are available in grade level sections! Apple, The New York Times, Disney Family Fun Magazine and Fox News have featured ABCya.com’s award-winning games and apps."

Visit ABCYA.com

Fabroom.com is a great source for educational, kid friendly web based activities and games that require no download. There are interactive books, live classes and games to choose from! Fabroom is made up of a very talented group of graphic artists, animators, web designers, filmmakers, educational consultants and writers and it shows. Your kid will have a blast with Fabroom.

Quoted from Fabroom.com

"the world's first online interactive children's museum. Children may attend real-time classes featuring live teachers, watch cartoons, collect points, create a customized brain character and participate in a variety of interactive activities designed to entertain, while stimulating the mind."

Visit Fabroom.com

World of Zoo by THQ Game Developers. Hand your kid the keys to a zoo. Your child can customize their own zoo experience and develop hands on relationships to earn the trust and love of their animals. Children can express their creative side with the “Animal Creator” that allows you to create new animals. 40 different animal species with National Geographic animal fact cards together with your little one sounds like a happy zoo.

Visit WorldofZoo.com

Peewee PC Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:54:00 +0000

We're happy to announce two lucky winners for our Peewee PC giveaway hosted by Woman's World Magazine. Each winner will receive one High-resolution Peewee Pivot Laptop along with lifetime support from our team. Congratulations to the winners!

Your new Peewee PC's are on their way!

Protecting our children on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:32:00 +0000

When children use social media networks to connect with friends in family, the benefits of the Internet are obvious. Nevertheless, it's hard for parents to monitor all of their children's usage of many popular social networking sites like Facebook. MinorMonitor is a simple solution for parents, here's how it works:

Quoted from MinorMonitor.com

"MinorMonitor is a free web-based tool that gives a parent a quick, easy view into their child’s Facebook activities and friends, through knowledge-based analytics. Via an intuitive dashboard view, parents can access either a snapshot, or full detail and specifics, of potential dangerous activities such as bullying, hate crimes, drug use and sexual references."

"MinorMonitor was developed by Austin-based Infoglide, a 15+ year technology company that developed deep security and fraud analytics that monitor and manage online reputations, and screen and detect suspicious activities, behaviors for government (such as the Department of Homeland Security TSA screening program), law enforcement, banking, and other big business customers. Infoglide executives developed MinorMonitor to leverage the company’s analytics and extend them as a service to benefit parents growing increasingly concerned over ensuring their child(ren)’s Facebook activities are safe."

For more information, follow the company on Twitter @minormonitor or on Facebook www.facebook.com/minormonitor."

The Internet for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Parents around the world get excited by the idea of their little one using computers and especially the internet. Although some dark corners exist on the web, it remains a great tool for conducting simple research, connecting with friends, teachers and family. The problem is, who has time to monitor their children while they freely use their computers and surf around the internet?

The good news is that there are several options for easily controlling your kids computer usage and ensuring their safety while getting to know the internet.

Here are a couple important solutions that thousands of parents around the world use to protect their little ones:

1. Famigo: By far, the best search engine for applications that appeal to families and kids. All of the "apps" applications (another word for computer, phone and tablet programs or games) are rated in terms of their family friendliness. Famigo saves parents from checking every game your little one would like to play with and learn from. Simply search for something like "math games" and you'll find apps that are approved for kid use, family friendly and educationally beneficial. Most websites that feature apps can be overwhelming with millions of products that may not be appropriate for your little one; Famigo solves this issue and using their site to find your favorite games is absolutely free.

Visit www.Famigo.com and see what the buzz is about!

2. Norton Online Family: According to Norton, children spend an average of 40 hours a month online. It’s important for you to know how your children spend their time while they’re online, so you can provide the same level of parenting that you do in other areas of their lives. Norton Online Family gives you insight into your children do online. You can keep them safe and teach them good Internet habits. “

Features Include:

Web monitoring and Blocking

Time Limits that make managing your children's computer usage a breeze

Social network monitoring keeps an eye on your children's social networking activities

Chat monitoring monitors your children's instant messaging

Search monitoring shows you what your children search for online

Custom alerts notifies you when your child performs any inappropriate activity

If caffeine is helping you keep up with your infant, you're not alone

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Results in a recent article in the journal Pediatrics show that infants are not affected by their mother’s caffeine consumption. The research proves that infants cannot absorb caffeine from tea or coffee the way their super moms, and adults in general, can. Studies that compared children to mothers with and without coffee preferences showed infants sleep was not distinguishable between the two groups.

According to a recent NPR article, how often a child wakes is partly controlled by age, with older babies waking less often. Factors such as daytime napping, breastfeeding, bed-sharing, being nursed to sleep, how responsive the parents are to a child’s stirrings, and parents’ own sleep habits effect the way our little ones sleep.

One Tablet PC per Child

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:19:00 +0000

In an effort to introduce kids to computers at an early age, Thailand is purchasing tablet pc's for every student entering into the first grade. The Ministry of Education plans to hand out the tablets to 1st Grade students before the opening of the new semester in May 2012. The tablets are being manufactured in China where tablet production has become a top priority following the success of Chinese made tablets like the iPad.

It's going to be interesting to see how the addition of tablet pc's into the classroom effect learning and the general organization of the lesson plans that teachers would normally follow with personal computers.

Click through for more coverage on the "One Tablet PC per Child" project.

The Next Step in Computer Assisted Tutoring

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:24:00 +0000

The mark of a great tutor is their ability to balance the joy of learning and the frustration it initially causes.

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Memphis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed “emotion-sensing” computer software that responds to frustration and boredom.

“Auto-Tutor” gauges the student’s level of knowledge by asking probing questions, analyzing their responses and proactively correcting misconceptions. The program can sense frustrations or boredom via facial expression and body posture. It changes teaching strategy in order to keep learners interested and helps students manage their negative emotions as well.

Team leader Sidney D’Mello said “Much like a gifted human tutor, AutoTutor and Affective AutoTutor attempt to keep the student balanced between the extremes of boredom and bewilderment by subtly modulating the pace, direction and complexity of the learning task.”

Teachers Get R-E-S-P-E-C-T

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:35:00 +0000

The Department of Education has launched project RESPECT

RESPECT stands for Recognizing Education Success, Professional Excellence

and Collaborative Teaching.

What is RESPECT all about?

Educational success means that the DOE is focused on improving student outcomes.

Professional excellence means that the DOE is focused on continuously improving practice and reorganizing, rewarding and learning from great teachers and principals.

All collaborative teaching means that the DOE is focused on shared responsibility and creating schools where principals and teachers work together with their peers, support each other, hold each other accountable and lift each other to new levels of skill and competence.

The purpose of the RESPECT project is to directly engage with teachers and principals across American in a national conversation about teaching.

At the launch of the project, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “Our larger goal is to make teaching not only America’s most important profession-but America’s most respected profession.”

Learning Disabilities Association of America Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:07:00 +0000

LDA in Chicago 49th Annual International Conference February 22-25, 2012

Every year new technology allows education to transform itself into new and exciting forms. To ensure success for all individuals with learning disabilities in school, at work and in life, product inventors and manufacturers are always looking for new ways to use technology as a tool for reaching learners with disabilities. This month, Peewee PC is heading to the Learning Disabilities Association of America Conference in Chicago, Illinois to continue our support for products and software that accommodate children with special needs.

Peewee PC is proud to offer products and software to accommodate children with special needs. Our assistive technology from Slater Software, a pioneer in the assistive technology software market, helps children with unique learning styles grow their skills with a rich early computing experience. And as always, using assistive technology on a Peewee PC ensures that your child will learn in a safe environment.

Visit the Learning Disabilities Association of America's website and see how LDA provides cutting edge information on learning disabilities, practical solutions, and a comprehensive network of information on learning disabilities.

Inspired By Savannah Features Peewee PC!

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Click right here to find out what Inspired By Savannah had to say about Peewee PC!

Inspired by Savannah is a blog written by a mother and with families in mind. Inspired by Savannah features helpful product reviews on everything from the most recent Harry Potter product releases to an array of products for children and families. Inspired by Savannah is also the birthplace of the SoothEaze Blanket ® which received a development grant from the Huggies Mom-Inspired program.

Peewee PC is heading to Orlando!

noreply@blogger.com (Peewee PC) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:58:00 +0000

The Peewee PC Team will be at this years Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference in Orlando, Florida on January 26, 2012.

The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is a leading association dedicated to education related to Assistive Technology. ATIA’s educational programs include webinars, conferences and leadership events on accessibility. ATIA educational offerings are designed to provide the latest information on AT products, services and best practices from leading regional, national and international presenters. ATIA believes its educational programs further increase awareness of the innovative assistive technologies and services that enhance learning, working, and independence for people with disabilities.

The ATIA Conference in Orlando is open to the public; Come by and interact with our team and our latest Pivot tablet computers.