Trend-Savvy Parenting
by Mary Manz Simon
(Tyndale House, $12.99)
Trend-tracker and educator Mary Manz Simon knows each generation has a gap, but she’s worried that today’s accelerated pace of change is pushing parents and children toward a societal rift. Her guide cleverly labels new trends, tells parents why they should care and then tells them what to do.
1. Parenting in the 21st Century means raising “a brand-aware, media-savvy generation of multitaskers.”
2. Gamepad Dads, or fathers who play video games with their children, have a uniquely modern opportunity to bond with their kids because the screen is a neutral and compelling meeting ground.
3. Edutainment blends entertainment with education. Look for software with interactivity, age-appropriate content and toys both parent and child can use.
4. Technology has made it easier to be mean. One sign that your child might be a cyber-bully’s victim is a tendency to check e-mail only when no one is watching.
5. Before you turn your infant into a Mouser by giving him lapware (software for prereaders), consider what he would be doing if he weren’t plugged in.
