The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/232947
A-6 Wednesday, December 25, 2013 The Press-Dispatch Is your child ready for a tablet? Tablets are poised to grow more popular in the years to come, and many children are anxious to get their very own tablet. But many parents wonder if their kids are ready for a tablet and if such devices would make good gifts for their youngsters this holiday season. According to a 2012 report from Pew Research, 22 percent of American adults now own some type of tablet, while In-Stat research estimates 65 percent of Americans, or more than 200 million people, will have a smartphone and/or tablet by 2015. According to a Fall 2012 report by the Me- dia Technology Monitor, an estimated 26 percent of the Canadian population has a tablet, more than twice the amount of tablet owners just a year earlier. As tablets become the device of choice, many different manufacturers have entered the tablet market, and children have begun to ask for tablets for holiday gifts, leaving parents wondering if their children are responsible enough to own a tablet that may cost several hundreds of dollars. Price-wary parents should realize that tablet prices vary greatly depending on the device. But a growing number of childfriendly tablets have entered the market, and such devices are designed to be more durable for children who have a tendency to drop and destroy things. Those on the fence about whether or not to purchase a tablet for a child can consider these options. * The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids is a tablet that comes with a selection of educational functions, games and e-books. The device allows parents to decide which apps can be accessed on the device and restrict use to certain periods of time. The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids boasts a seven-inch screen and will run Android 4.1 or Jelly Bean. The front and rear facing cameras are considerably lower in quality than Samsung's previous products, down to 3-megapixels and 1.3-megapixels, respectively. * The VTech InnoTab tailors apps to children in a compact device. The screen is just five inches in size, and the tablet comes packed with interactive e-books, learning games and other creative tools. It also has a modest price tag for a child's first foray into the world of tablets. * The LeapFrog Leappad Ultra is a kid's learning tablet designed for children between the ages of four and nine. It comes with a seveninch screen, Wi-Fi with kid-safe Web access and the ability to connect to a library of more than 800 educator-approved apps, books and more. * The nabi is an Android tablet that is geared entirely toward kids. The nabi comes in several different incarnations (nabi Jr., nabi 2 and nabi XD) depending on the age of the child and the desired features. In July of 2013, Fushu, Inc., creator of the nabi tablet, was received the "Best Tablet 2013: For Kids" award from Laptop magazine for its nabi 2 device. * The Amazon Kindle Fire is quickly becoming a go-to option for parents interested in acclimating their children to a tablet. Less than half of the price of its biggest competitor, the Kindle Fire still allows kids to access a bevy of features. Music, movies and Amazon's ever-growing trove of e-books are just some of the features that make the Kindle Fire a popular choice. * Though small, the iPad mini has all of the features of a larger iPad but in a more kid-friendly size. Many parents prefer the iPad mini for their children because they Indiana_Layout 1 9/12/2013 have Apple products and appreciate being able to share with their kids apps and information among all of the devices. Determining if a child is ready for a tablet is a difficult decision for parents, who must assess how well the child handles responsibility, toys and electronics in the home. Adults may opt for a more durable, less expensive tablet as an introduction to tablets for children and then gravitate toward more "adult" options as their children prove they can be responsible with the device. WES first grade play Mrs. Stephanie Shedd's first grade classroom at Winslow Elementary School put on a Thanksgiving play. They performed their play for other classrooms and for their parents. Pictured (l to r): Lily Deffendoll, Natalie Faith, Arie O'Neal, Dalton Kline, Alayna Markovich, Makynna Satterfield and Adon Lemond. Open auditions for 'Deathtrap' at Old Town Players Theatre Old Town Players community theatre will have open auditions for the comedy/mystery "Deathtrap" on Jan. 6 and 7, at 7 p.m. , at the OTP Theatre and Arts Center located on Broadway at Fifth Street in Vincennes. Parts are available for 3 men and 2 women. Newcomers are welcome and encouraged to try out. No advance preparation is required. "Deathtrap" is presented with assistance from corporate sponsor Toyota Motor Manufacturing, InIndiana_Layout 1 9/12/2013 1:29 PM Page 1 diana. Those auditioning will read aloud from various scenes in the script, and roles will be assigned upon completion of the auditions. For those interested in participating in a non-acting capacity, production assistants are also needed to help with set construction and painting, props, costumes, and more. Auditions will be conducted by OTP veteran Steve Gray. Performances of "Deathtrap" will be Feb. 21, 22, 23, 28, and March 1 and 2, with show times at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. More information is available at OTP's website, www.oldtownplayers.org, or email oldtownplayers@ gmail.org. One of the great popular successes of recent Broad- way history, the ingeniously constructed play "Deathtrap," by Ira Levin, offers a rare and skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients: gasp-inducing thrills and spontaneous laughter. It provides twists and turns and sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be held spellbound until the very last moment. Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college - a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. With his wife's help, Sidney devises a plan to offer collaboration to the student, and the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play. Indiana Indiana Indiana 1:29 PM Page 1 Indiana_Layout 1 9/12/2013 1:29 PM Page 1 The Greatest Spectacle in Reading Once every year, 400,000 race fans gather to witness the most prestigious event in motorsports the Indianapolis 500. That's impressive! But this crowd places second to the 426,000 Indiana The Indiana Passenger adults who visit a newspaper website every week. Combine that digital audience Once every year, 400,000 race400,000 race with the 2 million Indiana adults Once every year, fans gather to witness thea witness the most who read print fans gather tomost edition this prestigious event in motorsports - newspaper week, and the state's prestigious event in motorsports the Indianapolis Indianapoliscould fill the audience the 500. That's 500. That's impressive! impressive! But this crowd places But this crowd places Speedway Indianapolis Motor second to thesecond to Indiana times over. 426,000 the 426,000 Indiana five The Indiana Passenger adults who visit a newspaper a newspaper The Indiana Passenger adults who visit website every week. every week. website Combine that digital audience Combine that digital audience with the 2 millionthe 2 million Indiana adults with Indiana adults who read a print edition print edition this who read a this week, and the state's newspaper newspaper week, and the state's audience could fill thecould fill the audience Indianapolis Indianapolis Motor Speedway Motor Speedway five times over. times over. five Riley Bolin first grade sled winner Each year the students in Susan Craig's first grade class at Winslow Elementary School make predictions for the first snowfall and the student who predicts the date closest to the first snow wins a sled. This has been an annual tradition And in her class for several years. Riley Bolin was the winner of the sled this year. The Greatest Spectacle The Greatest Spectacle in Reading in Reading If you're a newspaper reader, you're in great company! And if you're an advertiser, remember that Indiana's newspapers can put your business in the driver's seat. Your logoSouth Gibson If you're here a newspaper a newspaper reader, you're in great company! If you're reader, you're in great company! if you're an advertiser, remember that Indiana's newspapers newspapers Call 812-753-3553 • Email nEws@sgstartimEs.Com And if you're an advertiser, remember that Indiana's can put your can put your business inseat.(Multimedia); Wikipedia (Indianapolis Speedway capacity) business in the driver's2012, R2 driver's seat. Sources: Scarborough Research the www.SGStartimeS.com