Crains New York - August 6, 2012 - (Page 34)

SOURCE Earliest adopters get iPads LUNCH: DONNA HANOVER Continued from Page 33 by Andrew J. Hawkins first because they felt it would spoil them or cause screen addiction. But they are quickly giving in, partly from peer pressure and their children’s nagging, and partly from the realization that early use of technology can be beneficial and is unavoidable. According to a 2011 study by marketing agency Kids Industries, 24% of U.S. children ages 3 to 8 own their own iPad, and 20% in that age group own their own iPod touch. Another 2011 survey by financial advisory firm Piper Jaffray found that 80% of teenagers own a type of iPod, 22% have an iPad and 17% have an iPhone. “Kids are getting these things younger and younger,” said Robert Davidman, an advertising executive who lives on Long Island. Mr. Davidman’s 9-year-old twins and 7-year-old all have their own iPod touches. “I don’t want to be like my grandparents were with my parents, saying, ‘Rock ’n’ roll will ruin you.’ I want them to experience modern technology and culture.” Experts say that cultural attitudes around young children having their own sophisticated gadgets are changing rapidly. “Even a few years ago, negative attitudes and a stigma toward parents who would provide young children with their own iPhone, iPad or other similar gadget were arguably the overwhelming majority,” said Dr. Joseph Cilona, a psychologist in Manhattan. “These parents were often viewed as overindulgent, lacking discipline or otherwise lacking in parenting.” Now, Dr. Cilona said, attitudes focus on the utility and convenience of these devices for children. DANGEROUS GAMES MEDICAL EXPERTS aren’t against kids using electronic devices, but they warn that time should be limited, and subject matter, well, matters. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages kids from spending more than two hours a day on screened entertainment; more time could have a negative impact on learning or create problems with children’s attention spans. Equally important, experts say, is the content kids view on these devices. “We have a lot of evidence that children who play violent video games are associated with increased violent behavior,” said David Hill, a pediatrician and the author of Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro. “At the same time, there are good reasons to think that educational programs for kids ages 3 and up can help with learning.” “Reading a book on a Kindle or an iPad is a very different thing from playing a violent video game,” he added. —MIRIAM KREININ SOUCCAR A new stage in a diverse career F Ivan Gabel, vice president of operations at a public relations firm in Manhattan, gave his 4-year-old son, Everett, an iPad a year ago, and said it has been a lifesaver at times. “There’s a perception that children shouldn’t have it, but until you’re in those shoes, you don’t realize what a great device it is,” Mr. Gabel said. “It’s a huge asset when we’re in the car to not have to deal with a screaming child.” Hand-me-downs Some parents said children are getting these devices at younger and younger ages because of the older-sibling syndrome. Andrea Seedorf, a 10-year-old who lives in Pelham, N.Y., has hit the technology jackpot. She has an iPod touch, an iPad, an iPhone and a MacBook. She also has two college-age siblings who exposed her to the technology at a young age and passed down their devices when they got upgrades. “She’s been tech savvy since kindergarten,” said Andrea’s mom, Felicia Seedorf. Still, Ms. Seedorf has her limits. She does not allow Andrea to take her iPhone out of the house.“There are kids at Andrea’s school with BlackBerrys,” she said.“I’m not into kids walking around with the iPhone at such a young age.” Other parents are still coming to terms with their kids’ tech obsessions, even as they buy the devices. Eileen Watson’s youngest son took over the family iPad for himself when he was 2-1/2, even figuring out how to stream movies from Netflix at that age. Since then, everyone in the family has ended up getting their own tablet.Now,at the end of a busy Saturday, Ms. Watson said, everyone comes home and grabs their iPad to unwind. “If anyone had ever told me I’d be a mom of a 7-year-old and a 4year-old and we would have four iPads in our family, I would have said, ‘No way,’ ” said Ms. Watson, who lives in Summit, N.J. “But the times have totally changed, and I’ve made peace with it.” or seven years, Donna Hanover had a frontrow seat to politics as first lady of New York City. But now, she’s reluctant to discuss her tumultuous marriage to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani or her thoughts on next year’s mayor’s race. The former broadcast journalist would rather talk about her acting career, including her role as Barbara Brinkley in the late Gore Vidal’s political melodrama The Best Man on Broadway,or her job as an anchor for CUNY TV’s Science & U! These days, Ms. Hanover jets back and forth between New York and California, where her husband, Edwin Oster, practices law. The Best Man’s final performance will be Sept. 9. When did you start acting? How about the material? The political machinations? The deal-making? Very interesting. Gore Vidal himself came to one of our rehearsals. It’s very current, oddly, even though it’s [the 1960s], the birth of television covering conventions. And it was when political conventions really mattered. In terms of the meaning of it, when you watch James Earl Jones and John Larroquette going at it, you’re blown away by the power of these two men, by the hunger for power. And by the weight of what it would be to run this country. And how much people are willing to do to achieve a dream that they wanted. A lot about corruption. Did you get into broadcast journalism to get into acting? JOIN CRAIN’S ADVISORY PANEL Looking for readers to share views and opinions. I started in the mid’80s. But not so much on the stage—TV and films. When I was at WPIX, big directors like Sidney Lumet wanted the verisimilitude of a real news anchor. So I did Turk 182 and a couple movies for Sidney Lumet. I was in Ransom by Ron Howard. And then I met Milos Forman at an event for Czech artists. My heritage is Czech. Milos said, “Would you consider a different sort of role?”And that’s when he mentioned The People vs. Larry Flynt for the role of [ Jimmy Carter’s sister] Ruth Carter Stapleton. I was a real estate agent in the first episode of Sex and the City. A judge on Law & Order. Occasionally still a news anchor. Not at all. I worked in so many different cities, anchoring news, doing reporting. I’m a journalist—that’s really what I am and what I was JOE ALLEN trained to do. This is a RESTAURANT blessing that came my way. 326 W. 46th St. One of the reasons I be(212) 581-6464 came a journalist was bewww.joeallen restaurant.com cause I enjoy meeting interesting, talented people. WHERE IT WAS AMBIENCE: Showbiz types mix seamlessly with tourists grabbing a bite before the next show. WHAT THEY ATE: Grilled Pacific swordfish entrée with spring vegetables, hot water with lemon Grilled freerange chicken sandwich with house-made potato chips, iced tea Tab: $71.20, including tip How did you get involved with CUNY TV? That job came to be because my former executive producer on Good Day New York is doing the science show.She gathered some of her people who could work part-time. I’d say it’s about five days a month. I have a lot of fun doing it. And I’m sort of mentoring one of the young producers coming up. How has the experience been working with the major actors in The Best Man? New York can be tough place if you have a famous name. Has the media glare been tough for you and your kids? Sign up for FREE today. www.crainsnewyork.com/advisory CRAIN’S NEW YORK BUSINESS It’s a master class in acting.All the supportive actors feel that way. They are incredibly gracious. You can tell by the people that they cast that they were looking to mine and maximize the humor. John Larroquette, James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, Candice Bergen and now Cybill Shepherd. These people all know how to get humor. And I’m not talking slipon-a-banana-peel humor. I’m talking character-based humor. I don’t really talk about that. Do you have a favorite in the mayor’s race next year? Too soon to tell. I’m working on my career. What are your future plans? We go through September [with The Best Man], so I haven’t started auditions yet. But I’d love for it to translate into an episode arc on The Good Wife or The Newsroom. INSIDE TIP The waitstaff will get food out quickly for actors and other Broadway folk who are in a hurry to make curtain. 34 | Crain’s New York Business | August 6, 2012 http://www.joeallenrestaurant.com http://www.crainsnewyork.com/advisory http://www.crainsnewyork.com/advisory

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - August 6, 2012

Crains New York - August 6, 2012
Contents
In the Boroughs
In the Markets
The Insider
Business People
Opinion
Greg David
From Around the City
Report: Business of Sports
Classifieds
Small Business
Real Estate Deals
Helluva Town
Source Lunch
Out and About

Crains New York - August 6, 2012