Book Review: Raising Generation Tech: Preparing Your Children for a Media-Fueled World by Jim Taylor Ph.D
With this morning's Guest Post, I thought this was a good day for this book review
(which funnily enough had a technological issue and didn't post last month when it should have- I should have let the 5 year old schedule it-LOL)!
Synopsis:
Today's children are being raised as ‘digital natives' in a world dominated by popular culture and technology. TV shows, computers, video games, social networking sites, advertisements, and
In Raising Generation Tech, noted parenting and new-media expert Dr. Jim Taylor explores how popular culture and technology shape children's lives. The essential message from Raising Generation Tech is that excessive or unguided exposure to popular culture and technology is not good for children. Rather than offering the usual ‘end of days' scenario, Dr. Taylor offers a balanced and optimistic perspective that offers parents insights and practical information they need to ensure that popular culture and technology are tools that benefit their children rather than weapons that hurt them.
Six Messages From Raising Generation Tech:
- Popular culture may be the powerful influence on children today and most of that influence is not healthy to children.
- Children are being exposed to technology earlier than ever without proper limits or guidance.
- Excessive exposure to popular culture and technology has been linked to many childhood problems including shorter attention spans, lower grades in school, increased sexual activity and drug use, and obesity.
- Too early and unguided immersion in popular culture and technology will actually hinder rather than better prepare children for life in the digital world.
- Key areas in which parents should focus their child-rearing attention include their children's self-identity, values, thinking, relationships, and physical and mental health.
- The goal for parents is not to disconnect their children, but rather to expose them to popular culture and technology when they are developmentally ready and then give them the perspectives, attitudes, and tools they need to thrive in this digital age.
Review: I swear it seems like kids come out of the womb nowadays already knowing HOW to use technology! Kiddo wasn't even 2 and she could figure out how to get around the password protection on her cousin's cell phone and call 9-1-1. Definitely one of those 'oh oh- there's our future' moments! She has a greater intuitive nature about using cell phones and tablets than I do, mainly because they are all she's seen. Not being able to be on the phone while using the internet, or not having cell phones is totally foreign to her And yes, when you look at the Black Friday sale ads for kids 'toys' this year, you are going to find the most prized items are the electronic computerized ones! What happened to Barbie's Camper, Cabbage Patch Doll, a Basket Ball Goal/Ball, Hockey Set, or even a Hot Wheels Raceway set, as being 'the' toy of the season? Right-no technology there.
Just last night we were watching TV and marveling at all the revised items for babies and toddlers- how more advanced they are than the ones that Kiddo had not even FIVE years ago! Don't even ask about the stuff when I was that age, LOL! Taylor is right when he says that corporations may start the process of usurping what 'we, the parents' think is right for our kids at a certain age, but when we give in to popular culture and think we need to give our kids a 'early start', we are in many ways entrenching the need for technology in our kids lives. I can't even begin to tell you how much grief I've gotten over not allowing Kiddo to watch certain kids shows, from friends/family and acquaintances! But does a 5 year old NEED to watch Barbie? I'd rather she watch Doc McStuffins or Handy Manny and learn MORAL lessons suited to her age. Too many parents let the TV be theie babysitter, WITHOUT being aware of what their kids are being taught, or shown in the commercials.(personally I think commercials should be called 'brainwashing' as much as they convince kids they need even more stuff, most of it NOT age appropriate!)
Taylor says there is a 'large chasm that lies between that artificial (media/corporate driven) culture and the genuine and caring culture (family) that they (kids) need to feel safe and secure. purpose of popular culture is to enculturate children into society by communicating to them accepted values, norms, attitudes, and beliefs. The intent of this process is to prepare children to be functioning and contributing members of that society. " Just think about those 2 sentences for a minute. What does it say to a 6 year old, when you take her clothes shopping and it's ok to buy her pants with 'juicy' on the butt? When you preach she needs sun protection as a toddler, and then suddenly it's ok for her to have an itty bitty bikini on at age 5? When she watches her favorite 'kids' show and the 'bad character' always says "ah man" and has a lack of respect for authority? When we take modesty, respect, and age-appropiateness out of our culture, should we be SHOCKED when 9 years want to date boys and 13 year olds are getting pregnant? We blame popular culture, but WE the parents are the glue that holds it together- when we cave to media and technology, we've abandoned our kids.
When we realize media and corporate ideas of what is right are directing what we do with our kids, we have to make a stand and say WAIT! Kindergarteners should not be having 5 TESTS every week in reading, phonics, writing, math and social studies! They should be in a safe environment being able to learn and experience, not being pushed to do work that 2nd graders from 8 years ago did! Why do we feel we need to push our kids SO much? We look at 20/30 somethings and see how they have a disconnect from traditions and family, and we wonder why? Taylor gives the reader a thorough understanding in his book, that when we let media become central in our kids lives, family life suffers, and our kids self-identity that they will take into their adulthood, is not the ones we wish for them.
I wish all parents would get this book as a baby-shower present, so they can get a grasp on how media and technology is going to be such a MAJOR factor in raising their kids, so they can decide when the child is a baby, how they as a FAMILY will handle issues that will arise. Taylor doesn't say we should shun media and technology, but we need to learn how to have an 'unmediated life'- where it doesn't rule our decisions, and where we as parents control how our kids are raised. The book is very approachable, and Taylor gives you all the information you need to have an eye-opening read about how much media and technology is influencing YOUR kids! We need to go on the offense and be pro-active, and if that means having 'no technology' weekends, so we can re-connect as a family, then we NEED to! Get the kids moving outside, have a family adventure, rediscover the beauty of the OUTSIDE world and empower your kids self-discovery, communication skills and problem solving skills. When we do, we give our kids a much stronger self-identity and personality, that truly lets them be 'all they can be".
I can't recommend this book enough! Get a copy today and have your eyes opened!
About the Author
Jim Taylor, Ph.D., has published more than 700 articles in scholarly and popular publications, and has given more than 1000 workshops and presentations throughout North America and Europe. He is the author of 13 books including Your Children are Listening: Nine Messages They Need to Hear from You and Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child. Dr. Taylor has appeared on NBC's Today Show, ABC's World News This Weekend, Fox News Live, and PBS. An expert on the psychology of parenting and technology, Dr. Taylor blogs on numerous web sites, including Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and SFGate.
Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent this book free of charge, from SourcebooksPR, for review on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to review the book.
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