ABSTRACT
By 4 p.m. on a dreary English afternoon, 8-year-old Sophie has been picked up from school by her mother, driven home, and is now watching Children’s BBC while having her tea in the living room. Her 4-year old sister, who will start school next year, is annoying her by chatting throughout the program; her older brother is off in his bedroom, watching television there while doing his homework. Her counterpart in Spain, Maria, finished school several hours ago and is spending the afternoon and early evening at an after-school club before returning to her family for the evening. In Finland, Pertti— also 8—walked home from school with friends a little while ago, and, delighted to find the house empty, is enjoying a quiet chance at the family computer before everyone else gets back. Danish Gitte went off to the library after school to complete her homework on the Internet there, as well as to change her books: Although she only recently started school, she is already adept at combining new and old media.
