Are Your Kids “Growing Up Social”? – Review & Giveaway 7

(I received this book from FlyByPromotions and was asked to read it and give my opinion.  All opinions are my own.  Full disclaimer below)

I received the “Growing Up Social” book from Laura Beth with FlyByPromotions and was asked to read it and give my review on it by way of blog post.

I had heard of Gary Chapman before, and had read his book called “The Marriage You Always Wanted” and knew he was a great author.  I had never heard of Arlene Pellicane before, but knew that if Gary had decided to write with her, she had to be a great person.

The book was amazing!  My husband and I have a 13 year old son and are dealing with a lot of the electronic drama nowadays.  I so wish I could have found this book years ago, to be ready to raise our son with all of this great information.  TV and the internet have taken over so much of our lives, that it really makes you think of how you are going to do things differently, etc.  The little snippet on page 10 really made me do a 360 and look at what we are doing as a family….it says “Children are like wet cement, and nowadays most are being imprinted by screens, not by parents.”  Wow, isn’t that so true?  It amazes me how some families will allow their 3 or 4 year old child to come into an “R” rated movie…not that I go an watch those, but you get the picture.

 

“What you do in loving your child will show the world that the language of love isn’t most powerfully spoken in pixels or posts, but by parents.” (Page 148)

 

I remember back when I was younger, when we got out of school, we did our homework & our chores, and then out we went to find friends, play outside and have the good old rule of “come home when the streetlights turn on”.  Who remembers that?  In today’s world, it is sometimes hard to get your kids to even go outside and play!  We even deal with our son liking to just be by himself and play games, etc.  Not sure if that’s an “only child” issue or what.  On page 40, it says “It’s ironic that an electronic device that connects us to people around the world can also work simultaneously to separate us from the people at hand.”  You think having a device you can use to get in touch would work the other way, but that comment is so true in today’s world.  Sometimes it can be a scary thing.  Back in the day, if your parents told you to do something, you did it.  Now when you tell them to put away the game, or turn off the TV, there’s an attitude and problem that can sometimes happen.  On page 129, it says “the thrills of our digital world, if abused, can be as addicting as any drug and rob you of the simple joys in life.”  It’s a scary thing of how true that statement is!  We need to try so hard as parents to make our kids get out and play, and understand how to work for a living, etc.

It seems like right now, our son’s hero is the guy who invented Minecraft.  He wants to travel to meet him and create video games, just like him.  But here’s a 30-something man that looks like he sits in a basement and does YouTube videos all day on bricks.  Gosh, what a life, eh?

The main point of this book it seems to me is taking back control of your family as parents and making family time the most important thing of your day.  Truthfully, what parts of life when you were younger do you remember?  Spending quality time with your family doing fun things, or learning DOS on the Commodore 64?  Something on page 170 really hits it on the head for me…it says “Without parental authority, Google becomes the answer to life’s questions.”  Sadly, that is too true!  Come on parents, let’s get on the boat with Mr. Gary Chapman and Mrs. Arlene Pellicane and make a difference in how we are raising the next generation!!

 About the Book:

Is technology bring­ing your family closer together…or is it driving you farther apart?

Children today are no longer playing hide-and-seek outside or curling up with a good book—instead they’ve been introduced to a world of constant digital entertainment through television, video games, and mobile devices. And while technology has the potential to add value to our lives and families, it can also erode a sense of togetherness and hinder a child’s emotional and social development.

In Growing Up Social, Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane will empower you with the necessary tools to make positive changes . . . starting today. Through stories, wit, and wisdom you’ll discover how to take back your home from an overdependence on screens. Plus, you’ll learn to teach the five A+ skills that every healthy child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention.

• Equip your child to be relationally rich in a digital world
• Replace mindless screen time with meaningful family time
• Establish simple boundaries that make a huge difference
• Discover what’s working for families that have become screen savvy
• Learn healthy ways to occupy your child while you get things done

Now is the time to equip your child to live with screen time, not for screen time. No phone, tablet, or gaming device can teach your child how to have healthy relationships; only you can.

Product Details:
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Northfield Publishing; New Edition edition (September 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802411231
ISBN-13: 978-0802411235
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches

Enter To Win A Copy of the Book Here:

Growing Up Social – Book Giveaway

If You Don’t Win – You Can Purchase It Here:

About The Authors:

Gary Chapman- author, speaker, and counselor—has a passion for people and for helping them form lasting relationships. He is the bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. For more information, visit 5lovelanguages.com.

Arlene Pellicane- is a speaker and author of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife and 31 Days to a Happy Husband. She has been featured on The Today Show, The 700 Club, and Family Life Today and formerly served as the associate producer for Turning Point Television with Dr. David Jeremiah. Arlene lives in Southern California with her husband, James, and their three children. Find out more at ArlenePellicane.com.

About The Publisher:

Northfield Publishing is an imprint of Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges.

The imprint is named after Northfield, Mass., where Moody Bible Institute founder Dwight L. Moody was raised, and where he established three educational institutions in the later years of his life.

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