June's Favorites:
 The Elephant in the Living Room: Make Television Work for Your Kids
The nation's top child development experts examine the effects of television on children and their groundbreaking research will startle many
Television is the "elephant in the living room" of our culture. American children watch television an average of 3 hours per day, and many parents sheepishly concede that they rely on television as an electronic babysitter. But TV is not necessarily harmful to kids. The authors present groundbreaking scientific evidence that television can be a powerful and effective tool—for entertainment, for education, and for socialization.
The secret is for parents to learn how to use television as a tool, not a crutch. With a detailed explanation of the effects of television viewing on kids' emotional, mental, and physical development, plus tips to enable parents to act on this new knowledge, they'll soon be able to turn TV into a positive force in their child's life.
 Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
- by Richard Louv
- Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
- Pub. Date: March 2006
- ISBN-13: 9781565125223
In this influential work about the staggering divide between children and the outdoors, child advocacy expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation—he calls it nature-deficit—to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and they are right in our own backyard. |
