The Didj is a handheld video game console that plays only Leapfrog games. While I haven’t seen the games, they’re supposedly designed to train players in skills such as math and literacy, and they’re organized by age and skill category. Players can connect their Didj to a PC to customize the game to emphasize particular learning skills and proficiency levels. As they progress, the players earn points that allow them to download more game add-ons. Star Wars, Nancy Drew, Indiana Jones and Sponge Bob are included in the Didj game roster. One nice point is there appear to be as many games appealing to girls as boys.

An added benefit for parents is the new Learning Path (coming later in August), an online tool for parents to follow and become involved with their kids’ Leapfrog activities. Once you sign up (free) and connect your Leapfrog products (it works with with several Leapfrog products) you can keep track of the skills your kids are learning, see what questions they answered correctly or incorrectly and print out additional worksheets. This strikes me as a very valuable tool to keep parents involved in both kids’ leaning and play. If you (or your kids) get a chance to try it out, please let me know what you think.

• First, the Mino ($179), is an update of the original Flip camcorder, which I loved when I first reviewed it for E-Gear magazine. The Mino is only 3.3 ounces but includes 2GBs of built-in memory for about an hour of recording at 640×480 resolution, 30fps. That’s equivalent to standard definition television. Like all Flip cams, this one basically is all about one button–the red one in the middle which starts and stops recording. There’s a digital zoom, but avoid it. The transmissive LCD screen is quite bright and easy to see outside except that it’s also quite small–only 1.5 inches. Navigating thru your recorded videos is also easy with the lite touch buttons. The built-in rechargeable battery gives you about 4 hours of shooting, less if you do a lot of playback. Compared to earlier Flips, this one does much better in low light and the sound quality is also greatly improved. The software for editing is built into the cam itself. When you plug it into a USB port on your computer the program automatically launches off the cam, so you never need to load it on your PC. Video editing is simple using the basic muvee interface, then you can email directly or send it to youtube to share with friends. Picture quality is very good, better than what you get with the video function on most still cams, but the lens angle is a bit narrow so you need to back up when shooting.
• The RCA Small Wonder Traveler ($149) works on the same premise as the Flip–simple one-button operation and 640×480 MPEG4 video. The main difference is the traveler was built to take a bit more of a beating. There’s a lens cover and slightly more rugged construction, making it good for hiking, camping and such. It also does an hour on 2GB but the Traveler’s memory can be upgraded with a larges memory (SD) card. Unlike the Mino, the Traveler uses AA batteries. This can be a plus for people who find themselves far away from an AC outlet. I also like the Traveler for its much larger (2.5-inch) LCD screen. The software is mostly identical to the Flip and offers email, youtube and DVD options. You can also hook it right up to a TV via the video cable. The only downside–it’s a lot bigger than the Mino, and the USB jack is in a very awkward location (you need to peel off the top of the cam to release the USB). The Mino wins the fashion (iPod look-alike) award, but for $30 less and a mostly the same functionality, I’d go with the Traveler, especially for kids who can be hard on electronics.

• Earlier this month a teacher in Harrisville was arrested for texting or emailing a 13-year-old 5,000 times. Some of the messages were described as lewd, though it’s not known if there was a physical relationship between the two.
• In Pennsylvania a gym teacher was accused of sending a student nude pictures of herself via a cell phone.  
• In March an Overland Park Kansas teacher was investigated after a mother allegedly found inappropriate messages on her daughter’s cell phone.

So, this begs the question: Aside from banning teachers from texting/communicating with students, should parents prevent their kids from texting anyone or even having cell phones (my own kids want, but don’t have phones or email addresses). What protective measures are appropriate and what are extreme? I expect that most parents of teens would be shocked if they knew the content of their kids’ phones or social networking sites. Please hit the comment link to share your thoughts on this topic.

By the way, the picture above is of Erica Chevillar, who was not involved in any innappropriate student relationship. Rather, she was a Florida high school teacher who got in some hot water after posing for a US National Bikini Team. Parents complained, but the school board determined that she didn’t do anything illegal.

The research, aside from revealing the obvious, turned up a few things to ponder:

• More kids are 4-14 (75%) are using computers than televisions (70%).
• 14% of kids 4-14 have their own computers.
• Personal media player (PMP) use has increased from 4% to 28% in the last three years.
• Of the kids with PMPs, 88% primarily use them for music, but 3 in 10 are using them for video.
• There has been a marked increase in kids’ (age 4-14) use of social network sites. The study did not address whether this use was being moderated by a parent.

The survey was based on 3,179 responses by parents of kids are 4-to-14. It appears the kids themselves were not asked any survey questions directly. The study also did not ask how often the parents turn to their kids for tech support.

Photo by Audrey Gray