kids

A new study from Harvard University has linked childhood trauma with changes in how fast one experiences biological aging. Known as adverse events in early life, this trauma can vary and include things like neglect, living in poverty, violence in the household, and similar things. Past research has linked these experiences with poor health outcomes later in life; the latest study builds upon that, linking trauma and abuse with earlier puberty and more.

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Little Tikes has introduced Tobi Robot, a new smartwatch that is made specifically for kids. Unlike most kids' wearables, the Tobi Robot promises a number of more advanced features, including built-in games and augmented reality experiences. Key to the new smartwatch is a friendly AI named Tobi, which has more than 100 expressions, animated arms and legs, as well as support for various interactions.

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Television has a solid history of Star Wars content for kids but has historically lacked similar shows featuring the industry's other favorite science fiction universe (the short-lived 'Animated Series' aside): Star Trek. That changed last year when CBS revealed that it would launch an animated Star Trek show for younger audiences, though it didn't provide many details at the time. Fast-forward more than a year and we finally know more, including the show's name, logo, and release date

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It's well known that breast milk offers beneficial compounds that help a newborn thrive and that may help protect them from various conditions later in life. A new study has found that the amount of these beneficial compounds varies based on, in part, how active the nursing mother is. Exercise was found to increase the amount of beneficial, protective compounds in breast milk, helping promote lifelong health in the baby.

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3D printing has definitely changed how hobbyists and tinkerers make things, allowing them to be more in control of their projects rather than being at the mercy of professional manufacturers and assemblers. All that, however, has been mostly the purview of grownups who don't have a monopoly on imaginative creations. Just as the likes of LEGO are trying to get kids started early on robotics and programming, 3Doodler is doing the same with its new Build & Play set, designed for the youngest makers and dreamers.

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For some kids, there's not thing cooler than seeing robots and machines moving on their own. Actually, some might find it even cooler to be the ones to build those robots and tell them what do. LEGO's MINDSTORMS theme was born out of that idea, helping fuel the STEM eductional thrust. After almost a decade in hiatus, LEGO is back with another set that taps into one of the current trends in technology, robots with personalities.

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Gaming has seen a huge surge in the past months but not all games and gamers are created equal. There will always be games not suitable for younger players but the latter group might not always know that. That's why Xbox has been steadily improving is Familly Settings on the console to protect these young gamers and now it is extending those controls so that parents and guardians can set or ease limits even when they're not currently at home.

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In addition to its various space and Earth science missions, NASA has focused on inspiring the next generation of kids by getting them interested in science. These initiatives have come in many forms, the latest being the release of several color and activity pages designed specifically for young kids. The pages are free for anyone to download and print.

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As part of the gaming "Play Apart Together" campaign going on here in the summer of global pandemic, Ubisoft's giving away a couple games. They're releasing Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece, and Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt, both for free, in a window one week long. Where Assassin's Creed is a game about historical missions run by ancient hunters of humans, Discovery Tour is all about the history - without all the violence.

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The relatively new Spotify Kids app has been updated with new features, enabling parents to monitor their kids and manage the music they listen to. The features are available in the dedicated Spotify Kids app, which is only available to Premium subscribers. Among other things, parents can sign into their 'grown-up' account to view a listening history of each child using Spotify Kids.

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The current global situation with COVID-19 has paved the way for a surge in both the demand and supply of apps for young ones. Many of these take the form of games or videos that keep kids distracted while there are a few try to impart lessons as well. Google is unsurprisingly jumping in on that trend and, just as unsurprisingly, it is putting its favorite AI and machine learning features to work in helping kids get better at reading and speaking even while stuck at home.

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Fitbit is preparing to expand its presence in the children's wearables market, a new report claims, with plans to release a 4G smartwatch made specifically for young users. The company is allegedly working with Doki Technologies on this wearable, a company that recently announced plans to stop supporting its own kids' wearables. The new model, assuming the rumor pans out, will join Fitbit's existing Ace 2 device.

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