MyDigitalFamily Releases New Book by Child Psychiatrist Urging Texting Ban While Parenting
Who even heard of texting five years ago? Now we have federal and innumerable state bans on texting (and cell phone use) while driving, providing yet another example of how we are a step behind in reacting to the explosive changes wrought by technology in our lives. But the impact of technology on our kids and families has been just as explosive and can be even more destructive than traffic accidents. So how about a texting ban while parenting? A doctor tells why and shows how.
Chicago, IL, January 27, 2010 --(PR.com)-- "Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families" by child psychiatrist Eitan D. Schwarz MD describes developments in neuroscience that urge parents to rethink the place of media in their lives: "Be fully present with your children. Ban distracting media from your family time in the car and at home. When distracted online, a phone call, or texting, you may be interrupting the vital bond your kids need for healthy wiring of their brains."
Warning that family life and childhood development itself are being weakened by technology use, a distinguished psychiatrist has written a book that helps parents turn technology into a positive family resource rather than a threat. A recentl Kaiser Family Foundation study shows that older children are engaged with the media as much as eight hours a day; only 1/3 of families limit media; but even when parents do set rules, media consumption by kids drops by only 1/3. Limiting and rule making are just not enough.
Dr. Schwarz provides an indispensible guidebook for parents of children from infancy through eight years. The book's goal, he says, is to help parents lead youngsters towards beneficial and positive uses of the Internet, videogames, smart phones, and other electronic media, “As they grow, they will form better habits than today’s media-soaked teens, 1/5 of whom now get as much as nineteen hours of media daily.”
After over a decade of explosive expansion of media consumption by children, we finally have a sensible, readable, and comprehensive guide based on what children and families need. Dr. Schwarz makes wise and comprehensive recommendations based on a lifetime of clinical experience and the latest scientific knowledge. It is the first comprehensive and practical child- or family-centered instruction manual offering step-by-step instructions on how to turn digital media into powerful parenting tools that enrich family life.
“The instruction manuals we receive with digital media devices don't teach parents the most important things -- how to use the new gadgets to fully benefit youngsters and family lives," says Dr. Schwarz. "My work with parents and families showed me the problems technology is creating for them and helped me identify the type of information they need to make certain that these devices contribute to family life in a positive way.”
"Kids, Parents, and Technology: A Guide for Young Families" rapidly gets parents to start treating media consumption in the same healthy ways they already employ to manage children’s food diets. They can make children’s home consumption of media a safe and rich asset to family life through step-by-step guidelines and fresh and credible thinking that helps parents, educators, therapists, doctors, policy makers, businesses, and anyone else working with children. Finally, the book provides in-depth thinking about the uses of digital media as therapeutic tools, looks at its future uses, and an example of a non-violent, educational, value-oriented action game.
“We can’t just make laws and rules. Restriction and quick fixes won’t work. Parents of young kids need to start thinking early, managing daily, and planning for the long-term,” warns Dr. Schwarz. "By applying sound child-rearing and family support principles, parents can now create balanced media plans that lead youngsters to the values and orientation they will need to succeed in an increasingly media-rich world." Dr. Schwarz lists how parents can benefit:
· You will take charge of your family’s media, as you already do your automobile and other appliances.
· You will set proactive, positive goals.
· You will reform dramatically how your kids spend time.
· You will create a new environment around the interactive media promising mutuality, fun, and development for the entire family.
· You will redefine the role of the online computer and other gadgets in your home and adopt a brand-new, powerful framework in raising your children as they interact with streams of information from newly-available media.
Eitan Schwarz MD FAACAP DLFAPA, is a doctor who knows kids, media, and families. He is board-certified in both general and child and adolescent psychiatry. During his nearly 40 years of distinguished practice and teaching in a variety of public, private, and academic settings, Dr. Schwarz has been steadily learning about the needs of children and families. Since medical school, he has also been studying the uses of technology in health care and the practice of medicine. Currently on the faculty of Northwestern University, he has recently researched the use of digital media in play therapy with children.
Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families, is published by Lulu.com in paperback and e-book.
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Warning that family life and childhood development itself are being weakened by technology use, a distinguished psychiatrist has written a book that helps parents turn technology into a positive family resource rather than a threat. A recentl Kaiser Family Foundation study shows that older children are engaged with the media as much as eight hours a day; only 1/3 of families limit media; but even when parents do set rules, media consumption by kids drops by only 1/3. Limiting and rule making are just not enough.
Dr. Schwarz provides an indispensible guidebook for parents of children from infancy through eight years. The book's goal, he says, is to help parents lead youngsters towards beneficial and positive uses of the Internet, videogames, smart phones, and other electronic media, “As they grow, they will form better habits than today’s media-soaked teens, 1/5 of whom now get as much as nineteen hours of media daily.”
After over a decade of explosive expansion of media consumption by children, we finally have a sensible, readable, and comprehensive guide based on what children and families need. Dr. Schwarz makes wise and comprehensive recommendations based on a lifetime of clinical experience and the latest scientific knowledge. It is the first comprehensive and practical child- or family-centered instruction manual offering step-by-step instructions on how to turn digital media into powerful parenting tools that enrich family life.
“The instruction manuals we receive with digital media devices don't teach parents the most important things -- how to use the new gadgets to fully benefit youngsters and family lives," says Dr. Schwarz. "My work with parents and families showed me the problems technology is creating for them and helped me identify the type of information they need to make certain that these devices contribute to family life in a positive way.”
"Kids, Parents, and Technology: A Guide for Young Families" rapidly gets parents to start treating media consumption in the same healthy ways they already employ to manage children’s food diets. They can make children’s home consumption of media a safe and rich asset to family life through step-by-step guidelines and fresh and credible thinking that helps parents, educators, therapists, doctors, policy makers, businesses, and anyone else working with children. Finally, the book provides in-depth thinking about the uses of digital media as therapeutic tools, looks at its future uses, and an example of a non-violent, educational, value-oriented action game.
“We can’t just make laws and rules. Restriction and quick fixes won’t work. Parents of young kids need to start thinking early, managing daily, and planning for the long-term,” warns Dr. Schwarz. "By applying sound child-rearing and family support principles, parents can now create balanced media plans that lead youngsters to the values and orientation they will need to succeed in an increasingly media-rich world." Dr. Schwarz lists how parents can benefit:
· You will take charge of your family’s media, as you already do your automobile and other appliances.
· You will set proactive, positive goals.
· You will reform dramatically how your kids spend time.
· You will create a new environment around the interactive media promising mutuality, fun, and development for the entire family.
· You will redefine the role of the online computer and other gadgets in your home and adopt a brand-new, powerful framework in raising your children as they interact with streams of information from newly-available media.
Eitan Schwarz MD FAACAP DLFAPA, is a doctor who knows kids, media, and families. He is board-certified in both general and child and adolescent psychiatry. During his nearly 40 years of distinguished practice and teaching in a variety of public, private, and academic settings, Dr. Schwarz has been steadily learning about the needs of children and families. Since medical school, he has also been studying the uses of technology in health care and the practice of medicine. Currently on the faculty of Northwestern University, he has recently researched the use of digital media in play therapy with children.
Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families, is published by Lulu.com in paperback and e-book.
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Contact
MyDigitalFamily
Jessica Schwarz
312.664.0241
www.mydigitalfamily.org
Jessica Schwarz
312.664.0241
www.mydigitalfamily.org
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