Overview

Our children can't remember a time without computers, the Internet and cell phones. Here's how to help them stay on track.

A teenage boy goes shopping on the Internet, sees something he likes, immediately reaches his mother via cell phone, and in a few short keystrokes, types in her credit card number and gets a shiny new lacrosse stick. Thanks to technological advances including computers, the Internet, cell phones, and satellites, today’s children are faced with a world markedly more complex—and often distracting—than that of any other preceding gener­a­tion. Generation Text examines why and how this phenomenon shapes children’s values, attitudes, and behavior in a way that is fundamentally different from previous generations...and provides strategies for coping with the particular challenges of growing up in the new millennium.

Parents who want to ensure that their children successfully develop key social skills, a healthy identity, and a strong work ethic need to make the right choices every step of the way. Clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Osit draws on his professional—as well as personal—experiences working with children and teens who have been challenged by unprece­dent­ed access to information, possessions, and temptation. Using case studies and examples, the book provides reasonable, down-to-earth strategies readers can use to address the unique issues faced by children surrounded by infinite choices...and very few limits.

About the Author

Michael Osit (Morristown and Warren, NJ) is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked with children and adolescents for more than three decades. He frequently presents seminars and workshops for mental health professionals, parents, and educators on issues such as parenting, child development, and communication. He and his wife have three children.