Raising Generation Tech

July 30, 2012
In his newest, child psychologist and parenting expert Taylor (Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child) imparts old-fashioned value-based parenting advice on raising "Kids 3.0" in an age when technology increasingly complicates as much as it abets daily life. Research shows that young Americans are gradually becoming more materialistic and narcissistic, a trend correlated with large amounts of time spent engaged in "virtual relationships;" on average, children interact with technology for 7.5 hours every day (not including technology use at school), a number that Taylor believes prevents children from developing strong identities and deep relationships. Furthermore, many parents do not know what their children are doing online and have few or no rules concerning technology use. Besides showing readers the grave implications of his research and providing practical solutions, Taylor also aims to dispel myths that have accompanied technological developments (e.g., that multitasking is efficient or, cognitively-speaking, possible), as well as offer a warning: evidence suggests technology use can increase high-risk behavior and have adverse effects on mental health. Taylor maintains that parents need to be more actively involved in their children's lives and more willing to set hard limits on technology useâit's not exactly a revolutionary message, but his argument is convincing enough to make it a sobering and pressing one.