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Endangered Minds: Why Children Don’t Think and What We Can Do About It
Is today's fast-paced media culture creating a toxic environment for our children's brains?
In this landmark, bestselling assessment tracing the roots of America's escalating crisis in education, Jane M. Healy, Ph.D., examines how television, video games, and other components of popular culture compromise our children's ability to concentrate and to absorb and analyze information. Drawing on neuropsychological research and an analysis of current educational practices, Healy presents in clear, understandable language:
-- How growing brains are physically shaped by experience
-- Why television programs -- even supposedly educational shows like Sesame Street -- develop "habits of mind" that place children at a disadvantage in school
-- Why increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder
-- How parents and teachers can make a critical difference by making children good learners from the day they are born
In this landmark, bestselling assessment tracing the roots of America's escalating crisis in education, Jane M. Healy, Ph.D., examines how television, video games, and other components of popular culture compromise our children's ability to concentrate and to absorb and analyze information. Drawing on neuropsychological research and an analysis of current educational practices, Healy presents in clear, understandable language:
-- How growing brains are physically shaped by experience
-- Why television programs -- even supposedly educational shows like Sesame Street -- develop "habits of mind" that place children at a disadvantage in school
-- Why increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder
-- How parents and teachers can make a critical difference by making children good learners from the day they are born
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 3, 2008
This book tells us alot of things we already know:
-TV is making our kids dumber (yes, including sesame street and pbs)
-ADHD is sweeping the nation because of the way we overindulge in TV, Video Games, consumer stuff, computers, and massive amounts of unhealthy food
-Reading is good, it WILL make kids smarter and not just with more facts, but with reasoning and life skills which go well beyond intellectualism.
-Real conversations are lacking from parents to children. These conversations are what will cure our children's inability to reason, plan, and learn
While this book said everything I've always thought, it was a good reminder. It helped me reflect on exactly what I'm passing onto my kid ("um...like....ya know...") and the best ways to pass on something more substantial. This book calls parents out and demands "the hard thing" which is the right thing. Good stuff.
-TV is making our kids dumber (yes, including sesame street and pbs)
-ADHD is sweeping the nation because of the way we overindulge in TV, Video Games, consumer stuff, computers, and massive amounts of unhealthy food
-Reading is good, it WILL make kids smarter and not just with more facts, but with reasoning and life skills which go well beyond intellectualism.
-Real conversations are lacking from parents to children. These conversations are what will cure our children's inability to reason, plan, and learn
While this book said everything I've always thought, it was a good reminder. It helped me reflect on exactly what I'm passing onto my kid ("um...like....ya know...") and the best ways to pass on something more substantial. This book calls parents out and demands "the hard thing" which is the right thing. Good stuff.
December 22, 2009
"Endangered Minds" is an incredibly fascinating book with liberal streaks of alarmism. As I pride myself on my parenting paranoia, this book was right up my alley.
The first half of the book discusses the brain and how it grows and learns in children. I loved all of this information! It is amazing to me how intricate our brains our and how malleable and impressionable a child's brain is.
The rest of the book takes a detailed look at how media (television and video games in particular) are changing our children's brains. I think the author is definitely onto something, however I am not convinced it is on the apocalyptic scale as she does. Fortunately, Jane Healey herself confirms that there is not enough research done in this area (which is rather disturbing if one ponders how much t.v. viewing actually goes on in America) to determine how fully television influences our children. I do have to say I will never view Sesame Street the same way again.
This book should be read by parents everywhere. With a healthy dose of skepticism, parental panic can be avoided. But even with some skepticism this book has the powerful possibility of changing our homelife habits.
The first half of the book discusses the brain and how it grows and learns in children. I loved all of this information! It is amazing to me how intricate our brains our and how malleable and impressionable a child's brain is.
The rest of the book takes a detailed look at how media (television and video games in particular) are changing our children's brains. I think the author is definitely onto something, however I am not convinced it is on the apocalyptic scale as she does. Fortunately, Jane Healey herself confirms that there is not enough research done in this area (which is rather disturbing if one ponders how much t.v. viewing actually goes on in America) to determine how fully television influences our children. I do have to say I will never view Sesame Street the same way again.
This book should be read by parents everywhere. With a healthy dose of skepticism, parental panic can be avoided. But even with some skepticism this book has the powerful possibility of changing our homelife habits.
August 14, 2009
I loved so many parts of this book and others I just, well didn't. Tbe first few chapters are fascinating as she explores child brain development. I gobbled it up! But it just seemed to drag on and become redundant. We get it, hours in front of TV= bad, reading to you kids= good. I found myself skimming some of the middle chapters because of this.
I think the author's goal was to show that kids are watching too much tv and playing too many video games, but the thing I kept getting from it (even though she refused to say it) is that the big problem dual income families. Kids aren't getting the one on one time the really need. If you can't afford really quality day care or grandma's not watching the kids, don't read this book. You'll feel horrible afterwards.
I think the author's goal was to show that kids are watching too much tv and playing too many video games, but the thing I kept getting from it (even though she refused to say it) is that the big problem dual income families. Kids aren't getting the one on one time the really need. If you can't afford really quality day care or grandma's not watching the kids, don't read this book. You'll feel horrible afterwards.
June 1, 2013
While this book was written over 20 years ago, it was ahead of its time. Much of what's in the book still apply today. The big difference is that there are now scientific evidence that prove the author's premise on the various topics tackled. The book is largely based on research and opinions of experts. It includes an engaging discussion on the developing brain, ways to harness its development, impact of TV/video games to a child and criticisms (and suggestions) on educational practices, among other things. The author writes very clearly and is passionate about the topics discussed. It's quite a read and is flowing with so much information. (It can be a bit draining too.) I hope there will be a revised edition of this book that will include the impact of the use of more recent technology on the developing child's brain such as ipads, WII, XBOX etc. Video games at the time the book was written were not "interactive" as the more recent technology which provides a different landscape.
April 2, 2018
Thought provoking quotes:
"Youngsters who are hurried from one activity to another may get lots of sensory input but be shortchanged on the time-consuming process of forming association networks to understand and organize experiences meaningfully."
"Physical play is one of the main ways in which children interact with experience, points out Dr. Bernstein. 'The most characteristic thing about the human is that we go looking for problems to solve--or in other words, playing. In fact, we usually worry about significant emotional issues in youngsters who are unable to look for problems to solve."
"A healthy brain stimulates itself by active interactions with what if finds challenging and interesting in its environment."
"We care deeply about the 'smartness' of our children, but our culture lacks patience with the slow, time-consuming handwork by which intellects are woven. The quiet spaces of childhood have been disrupted by media assault and instant sensory gratification. Children have been yoked to hectic adult schedules and assailed by societal anxieties. Many have been deprived of time to play and the opportunity to pursue mental challenges that, though deemed trivial by distracted adults, are the real building blocks of intellect."
"Technology has not yet reached the point where it can guide our children's mental development--if ti ever will, or should. Nor can children, without good models, shape their own brains around the intellectual habits that can make comfortable companions either of machines or their own minds in a rapidly changing world. Adults in a society have a responsibility to children--all children--to impart the habits of mental discipline and the special skills refined through centuries of culture evolution. It is foolish to send forth unshaped mentalities to grapple with the new without equipping them with what has proven itself to be worthwhile of the old."
As a mother desiring to raise my two boys in the best and healthiest way possible that I can reasonably provide for them, this book lifts the curtain on what is not ideal for their growing brains. In some ways it feels like our generation and world has lost its common sense. Maybe its being surrounded by the constant bombardment of toxins, the inescapable presence of technology, etc. but sometimes I feel pressure to provide unnatural learning environments for my children so that they can excel early in reaching certain milestones, but this book highlights that this way of thinking can come at a cost to the neural development of their brains. On the flip side, checking out of parenting and putting them in front of the TV or carting them from activity to activity is also detrimental. This book encourages me to keep fighting the good fight of both extremes. I need not feel embarrassed or inadequate because I am not shoving worksheets down my preschooler's throat or even that he could not write his name yet if he tried. On the flip-side, I do need to keep protecting my children my keeping the TV turned off and their schedule clear to provide an positive as an environment as possible for active play, problem solving, learning to listen, engage in conversations, etc.
"Youngsters who are hurried from one activity to another may get lots of sensory input but be shortchanged on the time-consuming process of forming association networks to understand and organize experiences meaningfully."
"Physical play is one of the main ways in which children interact with experience, points out Dr. Bernstein. 'The most characteristic thing about the human is that we go looking for problems to solve--or in other words, playing. In fact, we usually worry about significant emotional issues in youngsters who are unable to look for problems to solve."
"A healthy brain stimulates itself by active interactions with what if finds challenging and interesting in its environment."
"We care deeply about the 'smartness' of our children, but our culture lacks patience with the slow, time-consuming handwork by which intellects are woven. The quiet spaces of childhood have been disrupted by media assault and instant sensory gratification. Children have been yoked to hectic adult schedules and assailed by societal anxieties. Many have been deprived of time to play and the opportunity to pursue mental challenges that, though deemed trivial by distracted adults, are the real building blocks of intellect."
"Technology has not yet reached the point where it can guide our children's mental development--if ti ever will, or should. Nor can children, without good models, shape their own brains around the intellectual habits that can make comfortable companions either of machines or their own minds in a rapidly changing world. Adults in a society have a responsibility to children--all children--to impart the habits of mental discipline and the special skills refined through centuries of culture evolution. It is foolish to send forth unshaped mentalities to grapple with the new without equipping them with what has proven itself to be worthwhile of the old."
As a mother desiring to raise my two boys in the best and healthiest way possible that I can reasonably provide for them, this book lifts the curtain on what is not ideal for their growing brains. In some ways it feels like our generation and world has lost its common sense. Maybe its being surrounded by the constant bombardment of toxins, the inescapable presence of technology, etc. but sometimes I feel pressure to provide unnatural learning environments for my children so that they can excel early in reaching certain milestones, but this book highlights that this way of thinking can come at a cost to the neural development of their brains. On the flip side, checking out of parenting and putting them in front of the TV or carting them from activity to activity is also detrimental. This book encourages me to keep fighting the good fight of both extremes. I need not feel embarrassed or inadequate because I am not shoving worksheets down my preschooler's throat or even that he could not write his name yet if he tried. On the flip-side, I do need to keep protecting my children my keeping the TV turned off and their schedule clear to provide an positive as an environment as possible for active play, problem solving, learning to listen, engage in conversations, etc.
July 13, 2010
I discovered Dr. Jane Healy's 1987 book, Endangered Minds, researching a novel I was writing on early man. I wanted to better understand what parts of our brain show significant evolution since our species appeared (like the increasing size of the frontal lobe, the evolution of the Wernecke and Broca areas). I admit, part of it was also that I was a new mother and there are so many competing opinions about when kids should read, write, what they should learn when, I didn't want to make a mistake and mess up my kids.
Somehow, I stumbled across Healy's book and what a find it is. You can tell from the title that she's not happy with the path education has taken, but approaches it as a scholar, using facts, figures, proofs to sustain her opinions rather than the emotional tag words that too many throw at us. She sets out to examine the reasons why kids show increasing difficulties with the skills of concentration and focus than kids, well, when I was young. She includes chapters like:
* Kids' brains must be different
* Environment shapes intelligence
* Language changes brains
* Why can't they pay attention: Sesame Street and the death of reading
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
* As American IQs have continued a moderate rise, scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test have taken a major nosedive
* Before brain regions are myelineated, they do not operate efficiently. For this reason, trying to 'make' children master academic skills for which they do not have the requisite maturation may result in mixed-up patterns of learning
* In development it is now well known that there are certain times when an organism is ready to deal with certain stimuli
* data support this real-life phenomenon of use it or lose it
* a child's early experiences with language have powerful long-term effects on school achievement
* the amount of physical activity since the turn of the century has declined seventy-five percent
* American youngsters on average now spend more hours in front of the TV than at any other activity except sleeping
This is a well-written down-to-earth book that a layperson can understand. She uses appropriate words, but explains everything so the non-technical mind can get it. I highly recommend it for new parents, parents of ADHD children and teachers who want to understand the variety of their daily charges.
Somehow, I stumbled across Healy's book and what a find it is. You can tell from the title that she's not happy with the path education has taken, but approaches it as a scholar, using facts, figures, proofs to sustain her opinions rather than the emotional tag words that too many throw at us. She sets out to examine the reasons why kids show increasing difficulties with the skills of concentration and focus than kids, well, when I was young. She includes chapters like:
* Kids' brains must be different
* Environment shapes intelligence
* Language changes brains
* Why can't they pay attention: Sesame Street and the death of reading
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
* As American IQs have continued a moderate rise, scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test have taken a major nosedive
* Before brain regions are myelineated, they do not operate efficiently. For this reason, trying to 'make' children master academic skills for which they do not have the requisite maturation may result in mixed-up patterns of learning
* In development it is now well known that there are certain times when an organism is ready to deal with certain stimuli
* data support this real-life phenomenon of use it or lose it
* a child's early experiences with language have powerful long-term effects on school achievement
* the amount of physical activity since the turn of the century has declined seventy-five percent
* American youngsters on average now spend more hours in front of the TV than at any other activity except sleeping
This is a well-written down-to-earth book that a layperson can understand. She uses appropriate words, but explains everything so the non-technical mind can get it. I highly recommend it for new parents, parents of ADHD children and teachers who want to understand the variety of their daily charges.
May 21, 2009
I found this book to be quite enlightening, and yet disturbing all at the same time. I was fascinated with the research on the physiology of brain development, and the great impact environment plays in how our brain develops. The plasticity of brain development is remarkable, and gives such hope to all individuals. However, I fear that because of the trends of society, we are embarking on new territory in the field of educating the youth of tomorrow.
The ideas Healy presents in her book, although logical, are frightening to contemplate. It is frustrating as a stay at home mom, and one who is willing and able to work with my children, that the school system may and most likely will be altered to better "suit" the minds of today. Although, it may benefit other children because of their own lack of adult involvement at an early age, I am not convinced harm will be inflicted on those other children who are already given a great educational foundation before embarking on their educational experience. So, where does that leave these children?!?
The ideas Healy presents in her book, although logical, are frightening to contemplate. It is frustrating as a stay at home mom, and one who is willing and able to work with my children, that the school system may and most likely will be altered to better "suit" the minds of today. Although, it may benefit other children because of their own lack of adult involvement at an early age, I am not convinced harm will be inflicted on those other children who are already given a great educational foundation before embarking on their educational experience. So, where does that leave these children?!?
January 6, 2013
Long but worth every chapter. Incredibly valuable research. Healy examines the effects of a changing culture upon children’s brains in the context of education: “We are rearing a generation of ‘different brains’ and…many students’ faltering academic skills…reflect subtle but significant changes in their physical foundations for learning” (45). Healy also addresses the double-edged sword of neural plasticity, and in light of our changing culture and the brain's adaptability, charges us with the task of preserving curiosity in all our children: “With [curiosity], supported by language, thought, and imagination, minds of the future will shape themselves around new challenges- whatever they may be” (346).
January 6, 2009
Very informative book. It's too dense with information, but on the back it highlights a few topics she discusses:
"How growing brains are physically shaped by experience."
"Why television programs - even supposedly educational shows like Sesame Street - develop 'habits of mind' that place children at a disadvantage in school."
"Why increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder."
"How parents and teachers can make a critical difference by making children good learners from the day they are born."
"How growing brains are physically shaped by experience."
"Why television programs - even supposedly educational shows like Sesame Street - develop 'habits of mind' that place children at a disadvantage in school."
"Why increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder."
"How parents and teachers can make a critical difference by making children good learners from the day they are born."
April 26, 2011
This book was recommended last year at the literacy conference, and although it is not new, the information about brain development in children is still very relevant. I appreciated her frank discussion of the need to be sure that children of all ages are prepared for the verbal and numerical tasks set for them in school (or by overly ambitious parents) when they haven't had the proper preparation. She has strong opinions on when and how certain subjects should be taught, and as a teacher I felt like cheering through most of the book.
December 5, 2016
i learned of this title via janet lansbury's 'unruffled' podcast interview with the http://www.screenfreeparenting.com/ folks. incredibly interesting but badly in need of a re-publishing with updates. even though, it still needs to be widely read. it comes to mind that we're likely in the political situation we find ourselves in because of what this book describes as a decline in critical thinking skills being taught since the 60s/70s. again, fascinating - not just for parents.
July 25, 2014
With factors ranging as broadly as poverty, consumption of Nutrasweet, and watching television, it is difficult to know how to enact policy towards improving education based on Healy's recommendations. But it makes for an interesting read. At times Healy is very biased: anti-Sesame Street and subtly racist (referring to "non-native" speakers as "inferior. {Those who don't speak Algonquin?} But other times, I appreciate the sophistication of her thought such as discussing nature/nurture and left hemisphere, right hemisphere as a blend, not a bifurcation.
There were three chapters that particularly caught my attention. The first was "Sagging syntax, sloppy semantics, and fuzzy thinking." It included components of the first research paper I ever wrote in college such as language-delayed acquisition and brain structures in an attempt to capture what influence language has on thought. Healy argues that syntax is the most fundamental aspect of speech to altering thought, but it is also the most vulnerable to deprivation.
"TV, video games, and the growing brain" is woefully outdated. The book was written in 1990 and Healy claims that not enough research has been done on media's effects of the brain that we can conclude much of anything. She makes lots of guesses though. Some of her critiques included that TV is over-stimulating with its many zooms and cuts making it hard for children to pay attention to more normal stimuli, that it trains children to be passive, that it makes the brain produce alpha waves instead of the more alert beta, and that there is no evidence to support transfer of skills when playing computer games. Reading this chapter definitely made me want to read more current research on this topic.
Healy is strongly opposed to Sesame Street. Her main critique is that the skits are too short and rapid-paced to even make sense to pre-schoolers, let alone teach them anything. Also, the decontextualized numbers, letters, and words do a disservice towards teaching syntax, which as mentioned before, highly structures thought. I think adults might be able to mitigate some of these negative effects by watching Sesame Street with our children, and pausing between skits to talk to our children about what we've seen.
There were three chapters that particularly caught my attention. The first was "Sagging syntax, sloppy semantics, and fuzzy thinking." It included components of the first research paper I ever wrote in college such as language-delayed acquisition and brain structures in an attempt to capture what influence language has on thought. Healy argues that syntax is the most fundamental aspect of speech to altering thought, but it is also the most vulnerable to deprivation.
"TV, video games, and the growing brain" is woefully outdated. The book was written in 1990 and Healy claims that not enough research has been done on media's effects of the brain that we can conclude much of anything. She makes lots of guesses though. Some of her critiques included that TV is over-stimulating with its many zooms and cuts making it hard for children to pay attention to more normal stimuli, that it trains children to be passive, that it makes the brain produce alpha waves instead of the more alert beta, and that there is no evidence to support transfer of skills when playing computer games. Reading this chapter definitely made me want to read more current research on this topic.
Healy is strongly opposed to Sesame Street. Her main critique is that the skits are too short and rapid-paced to even make sense to pre-schoolers, let alone teach them anything. Also, the decontextualized numbers, letters, and words do a disservice towards teaching syntax, which as mentioned before, highly structures thought. I think adults might be able to mitigate some of these negative effects by watching Sesame Street with our children, and pausing between skits to talk to our children about what we've seen.
October 4, 2017
Main takeaway: Being a stay-at-home mom is something to feel good about, not guilty about!
Since the statistics and the science in this book are more than two decades old, I took them with a grain of salt. However her premises, as follows, seem to make good sense:
*Higher-level thinking and problem solving are valuable for individuals and for society.
* Literacy and verbal fluency are necessary for higher-level thinking.
*The foundation for literacy and verbal fluency is not phonics and vocabulary, but (1) lots of practice, early and often, talking about meaningful things with articulate adults and (2) having time to play, be alone, imagine, and reflect.
A society that drives adults to cast away the needs of children (interestingly, the author sees digital media as a symptom of this mindset, not the problem by itself) endangers the minds of the next generations. Christians ought especially to take this seriously because the continuity of our faith rests on the written Word - a rich, complex, and irreducibly long-form Word. A community of believers who cannot think through a text - let alone delight in it! - will not long survive the challenges of the modern era.
Since the statistics and the science in this book are more than two decades old, I took them with a grain of salt. However her premises, as follows, seem to make good sense:
*Higher-level thinking and problem solving are valuable for individuals and for society.
* Literacy and verbal fluency are necessary for higher-level thinking.
*The foundation for literacy and verbal fluency is not phonics and vocabulary, but (1) lots of practice, early and often, talking about meaningful things with articulate adults and (2) having time to play, be alone, imagine, and reflect.
A society that drives adults to cast away the needs of children (interestingly, the author sees digital media as a symptom of this mindset, not the problem by itself) endangers the minds of the next generations. Christians ought especially to take this seriously because the continuity of our faith rests on the written Word - a rich, complex, and irreducibly long-form Word. A community of believers who cannot think through a text - let alone delight in it! - will not long survive the challenges of the modern era.
September 15, 2014
This took me forever to read! I wanted to be engrossed. The subject is fascinating but there was so much speculation and theorizing with admittedly scant research. I was looking for ideas for how to help my kids think more deeply and effectively but only the last few chapters discussed possible solutions and much of it was still speculative theorizing. This was also written more for educators and less for parents. I felt like this was a call to action with definite opinions as to why but not a lot of clear direction as to how. I am looking for the how. After laboring through the first 100 pages, I skimmed and skipped through the last 240. She had some good points and the brain research was interesting but this was written 24 years ago and I would be interested in reading more current research and analysis of this subject, especially considering computers and television are even more prevalent today. Anyway, I think it is worth discussing the subject but I had a hard time slogging my way through this book.
January 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, and it really got me thinking. However, when I got to the last chapter, the author starts with the assumption that we can't get parents to change the way they parent, therefore it all up the schools. As a parent, I'm slightly offended by that. Nonetheless, I kept going.
I've got to think more about what really bothers me about her suggestions for the future of schooling, but there is something there that really bothers me down deep. I got sidetracked by this and have stagnated at page 322 of 346 pages. I really should just finish it and write a real review.
Soon, my friend, soon.
I've got to think more about what really bothers me about her suggestions for the future of schooling, but there is something there that really bothers me down deep. I got sidetracked by this and have stagnated at page 322 of 346 pages. I really should just finish it and write a real review.
Soon, my friend, soon.
April 16, 2009
This book is absolutely a MUST READ for any parent, teacher, caregiver, and grandparent. I know that we live is a "nation of fear" (another good read) but this book is not preachy or shock-jock in it's delivery -- just straightforward scientific hypothesis, research and sociology.
Endangered Minds was recommended to me by a noted music psychologist, teachers, and researcher Dr.John Feierabend and I thank him. We've made changes already in our parenting and home environment. I am also looking at my students in a different way at school.
Endangered Minds was recommended to me by a noted music psychologist, teachers, and researcher Dr.John Feierabend and I thank him. We've made changes already in our parenting and home environment. I am also looking at my students in a different way at school.
July 14, 2007
Healy's premise is that children spend so much time watching tv, instead of actively playing/learning, that it actually changes the physiology of their brains; therefore they find it incredibly difficult to engage in higher level thinking. whoa! It seemed a little out there, but I kept reading and found that I learned a lot and found myself agreeing with her on many points. Controversial and provacative, but based on sound scientific research--it is definitely worth the read.
June 13, 2008
This book came into my life just in time! Written by an educator, it gives scientific backing as to how brain development is effected by television and video games (especially the young brain.) It also stresses the importance of really experiencing life! It is probably one of the more important books I have ever read. But be prepared the book is thick, and filled with information.
July 11, 2008
I need to re-read this. I remember being struck by a key message from this book, namely, that we should be just as concerned about how TV is presented to kids and their developing brains (quick cuts, short attention spans, a decidedly passive "activity," etc.) as we are about the content of what is presented (violence, sex, other mature themes, etc.)
February 10, 2011
This book is giving me LOTS to think about. Makes me even more glad to not have my kids in public school. And it's not just about TV and video games (although those do play a role). The best thing you can do for your kids is TALK to them. About everything. Ask them questions, discuss life, answer their questions. I really liked the Sesame Street chapter.
September 19, 2012
The author causes you to think about how television, video games, and other popular culture is possibly limiting children's minds and putting them at a disadvantage. It is definitely thought-provoking, but it is not based on validated research. However, I think it is still something good to think about.
April 2, 2013
Fascinating. Isn't really telling you a whole lot you don't already suspect, but I enjoyed the tidbits of neuroscience backup it up. It could use some updating given it was written in 1991 (so I can't even imagine that the amount of "screen time" kids were getting then could compare to today's iphone zombies) but in many ways, it feels current anyway.
March 16, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I love books about brain development and especially ones that make practical connections. So much of what Healy describes in her book is what I have seen in my classroom. It was fascinating to me how we are changing brain development with our technology overload and not necessarily in a good way.
December 11, 2013
This was an excellent, informative book. What really struck me was the relevancy of the information considering that the book was published in 1990. The only part I didn't agree with was the author's passionate endorsement of whole language. This book so intrigued me that I intend to read more of Jane Healy's books.
September 1, 2018
I read the first edition of this book, which is almost 30 years old as of this writing. I think this book is a great introduction for those who have not come across this information before, but will seem redundant and dated to those who have spent more time researching changes in children's education and learning.
January 4, 2009
What an eye-opener for parents, teachers, and anyone else who is concerned with how today's youth is processing information, their education, and what we can do to help! A must read for at least parents and teachers!!!
January 1, 2010
Gave me some things to think about especially with the kind of entertainment my family participates in and the way we talk to our children. The science was not always there to support the ideas, but the ideas were good and it wouldn't hurt anything to follow the advice.
December 28, 2010
A little dated, and the style is a bit too informal. But - a great read that helps explain many of the cognitive issues that we face in our classrooms and that should serve as a caution to parents about mindless TV and video watching.
June 18, 2012
The information is a little dated, which made her cautions about technology and computer use seem somewhat unrealistic. That said, between the horror stories and vague prescriptions, there was quite a bit worth considering.
February 25, 2008
This book is a MUST READ for EVERY PARENT. The younger your child the better!
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