Generation Text: Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything

by Dr. Michael Osit

Modern parents are concerned about the effects of technology on their kids. Younger and younger children are spending more and more time interacting not with human beings, but with gadgets – cell phones, computers, video games, and other devices. Do we have reason to be concerned, and if yes, how do we go about setting limits?

In the book Generation Text, Dr. Osit reveals how the combination of high-tech interaction and immediate gratification is putting our children at risk for developing distorted self-image, poor work ethic, a sense of entitlement, and weakened social skills, as well as aggressive tendencies. Parents owe it to their kids to set boundaries when it comes to the use of gadgets, for their kid’s long term physical, emotional as well as social health.

Statistics show that kids spend more than half of their playtime in front of screens. The effect of this is that kids are less connected to the family. Why should parents be concerned about this?

1. Impairment of social skills – when machine to machine interaction replaces person to person interaction too much of the time, kids will not readily learn nuances essential to social skills.
For example, texting eliminates many challenges socially that contain important lessons for kids and teens to learn.
2. Changing values – the attitudes and behavior of kids has declined because modern kids have access to the world. The messages they get are not always appropriate.
3. Anonymity – we get more brazen and nervy when using technology.
That is not always healthy for relationships.

Dr. Osit refers to access and excess in his book. Access refers to easy availability of the world and other people. Kids can be all over the world in their bedrooms. Children can be exposed to ideas and concepts that are disturbing and that can change their developing brains. In the past, parents tried to protect their kids from these influences until they were more mature and could make better decisions. Now it’s harder than ever to do so.

Excess – kids who live in economically privileged parts of the world have too many privileges and possessions. There is often is a sense of entitlement with these things. What is acceptable and common for the age group is not always appropriate. Parents need to think about what’s best for their child and family, not what the neighbors are doing.

Instant Gratification

Too much technology can lead to weak delayed gratification muscles. As parents we need to help our kids learn how to delay gratification in order for them to be happy, healthy adults. Many parents are going overboard in expending too much money, time and resources. Parents are operating in a busier, fast paced world and because of guilt we say yes, sometimes to compensate for a lack of time.

Studies show that kids – even teens – really do respect and admire their parents and want to please them. They also crave to spend more time with their parents. We need to start creating more balance with our kids and give them the gift of our focused attention instead of more gadgets.

When used the right way, technology can be an asset. For instance, shy kids can use technology to boost their social ability. It can compensate for their weakness. What is needed is to establish limits and boundaries with your kids before you give your child the privilege of using technology such as the internet. Instruct them on what they should do for example, if they come across pornography online.

Computers should be kept in a public area of the home and the rules of use posted nearby. Parental controls are easy to implement and some of these are free from the internet service provider. Kids should be coached to come to the parents if they stumble on something inappropriate online. Encourage them to come to you if that happens and help them understand that you will not get angry but will talk about it. This is an opportunity for you to hand down your values to your kids.

Dr. Osit suggests eliminating distractions during family times and setting a good example by turning off cell phones at the dinner table and on family outings. Model the behavior you want. If a parent is addicted to their Blackberry, then they can hardly criticize their child for being addicted to their handheld gaming system.

Carrie Lauth is the host of http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com/blog, a weekly internet talk radio show and podcast for natural families. To read more natural parenting book reviews, visit: http://naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/reviews/

by Cynthia Lair

So many women become interested in eating a whole foods diet once they become pregnant. Whereas before they were mostly interested in maintaining their weight, once they’re responsible for another life, it becomes more important to maintain health.

But then when baby starts eating solid foods, a curve ball is thrown into the kitchen. How do you prepare meals for babies, tots, kids and a hungry husband too?

Thankfully there are many awesome cookbooks available that make the job of preparing and cooking food for your family a little easier.

Feeding the Whole Family is one such cookbook. It’s not strictly vegetarian nor does it advocate any kind of exclusive eating regime.
It’s just what it says – a whole foods cookbook. You won’t find any recommendations for fake foods or boxed stuff or mystery ingredients that are hard to pronounce (except maybe for a couple of items that are only available at your local health food store). The recipes are simple and easy to prepare, tasty and appeal to everyone.

What makes this cookbook unique is that each recipe has a recommendation for feeding a baby. Many moms want to make their own baby food so as to give their infant the freshest, highest quality food they can, but don’t want to spend all their time in the kitchen.
That’s hardly feasible when you have a young baby anyway! Nor is it even necessary. All you have to do is remove a little of the food before adding salt or other ingredients that baby may not be eating yet. Simple!

The first section of the book provides an overview of what whole foods eating means, suggestions for alternative ingredients (such as healthier fats and sweeteners) and other tips for pregnant and nursing moms who may have questions about their diet. It gives instructions on how to prepare whole grains including some that may be unknown to someone new to whole foods eating.

This cookbook would be an excellent choice as a gift for a friend who is transitioning to a healthier diet or on any mom’s shelf who has already made a commitment to feeding her family well with a minimum of fuss.

Carrie Lauth is a single homeschooling mom of 4 who blogs at http://www.naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog

by Susan Kleiner, PhD.

The connection between diet and mood has always fascinated me, so when I came across this book, I had to pick it up and read it. It was a very interesting look into the science behind how what we eat affects our hormones, brain chemicals, sleep and therefore our mood.

While I didn’t agree with every word of the book, I did find that most of the advice was very solid and agreed with much of what I had already learned. For example, anyone prone to blood sugar imbalances knows that hypoglycemia can dramatically affect their thinking and feeling. Eating plenty of protein, frequently throughout the day is wise advice for anyone.

The most important things we should do if we want to feel better is: eat plenty of protein in the morning, eat lots of Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish, never allow ourselves to feel hungry (eat to prevent hunger), avoid refined carbs and choose whole grains instead, in moderation.

The book talks a lot about the importance of sleeping enough both to control weight and to improve mood, and gives specific diet recommendations to help with that. It also eschews some of the modern critics of foods like eggs and nuts. Instead of being too fatty or high in cholesterol or what-have-you, these foods are very important to our health and wellbeing.

The book promises to help you feel better in one day if you follow the guidelines, experiencing an ease in depression in one week, and weight loss in one month. I can definitely see how this would be true.

Carrie Lauth is a single, work at home homeschooling mom of 4 and “health nut”. She writes more book reviews at: http://naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/reviews/

The ABCs of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond: Delicious Alphabet Poems Plus Food, Facts and Fun for Everyone
By Steve Charney

We all know that we and our kids need to eat more vegetables in order to be healthy, but what do we do when our kids turn up their noses?

And what to WE do when we see strange items in the produce section of our grocery store?

The author of this book believes that the way to overcome resistance to our kids eating fruits and veggies is familiarity. Maybe he’s on to something! This book aims to teach kids a “new attitude” towards produce by telling them stories, jokes, riddles and poems about good eats.

The first part of the book reads like an alphabet book, with one vegetable or fruit for each letter of the alphabet from A to Z. Did you know there is a fruit that begins with the letter X, for example?

The second part is full of fun activities for kids that revolve around produce. For instance, you can make art with potatoes, a card for Grandma with herbs, make invisible ink with lemons. There are even kid friendly recipes for kids to try.

David Goldbeck claims that Americans have a “strange” attitude towards vegetables that we’re unfamiliar with. His book tries to change that attitude so that we don’t pass it on to our kids.

Carrie Lauth is a mom of 4 who tries to feed her kids as healthy as she can. Visit her recipe site for free whole foods recipes: http://www.naturalmomsrecipes.com