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Book Reviews

All Reviews are of Books Authored by CEASE Members

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Taking Back Childhood:  Helping your kids thrive in a fast-paced, media-saturated, violence-filled world.	So Sexy So Soon:  The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids.
Teaching Young Children in Violent Times: Building a Peaceable Classroom.	Hearing Everyone's Voice: Educating Young Children for Peace and Democratic Community.

Taking Back Childhood:  Helping your kids thrive in a fast-paced, media-saturated, violence-filled world.   
(April 2008) by Nancy Carlsson-Paige. Hudson Street Press.  www.nancycarlssonpaige.org
        Nancy’s book addresses my deepest concerns for my grandchildren and their mom and dad who face unprecedented challenges as parents.  Nancy, a CEASE member and Lesley professor of early childhood education and conflict resolution, offers a practical and inspiring guide for parents on how to provide a safe, caring and nonviolent childhood within the context of this complex and challenging, and sometimes harmful world of ours.  Nancy’s book not only acknowledges the many social forces and unhealthy trends in our modern world, she also provides insights into what is critical to healthy growth and development.  What makes this book valuable to me is that Nancy not only writes with the authority of her extensive research and understanding of child development theory, but she also writes from her lived experience as a mother and grandmother long devoted to compassionate parenting.  Nancy advises parents on how to resist marketing directed toward children that undermines their parental values; how to challenge the violence and racial and ethnic stereotyping depicted in the myriad forms of media; and how to be cognizant of and resistant to the current trend to over structure children’s time.  Most importantly, in Taking Back Childhood, Nancy  provides encouragement and practical guidelines on how to afford children the essentials for healthy growth and development –reclaim and promote creative play, foster a sense of security and competence in today’s often frightening world, and form loving and meaningful relationships with both adults and other children.  Chapter 11, “Small Acts, Big Changes” offers a wide range of ways that we can join together to advocate for change on a larger scale than our own families.  I encourage readers to join others on children’s behalf and, as the author states, “. . . bring into being a society and world that truly does nurture and nourish the young.”
           Both books can be purchased at www.amazon.com

So Sexy So Soon:  The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids    
 (August 2008) by Diane E. Levin and Jean Kilbourne. Ballantine Books. www.dianelevin.com
        CEASE member and Wheelock professor of education, Diane Levin and Jean Kilbourne, an authority on advertising, have written an invaluable and practical guide for parents who are overwhelmed by the impact of the media on children and teens.  The authors explain that today’s children spend more time involved with electronic media than doing anything else but sleeping.  Disturbingly, sexual content is infused throughout much of the advertising and media they see (including TV programs, videos and computer games and the Internet).  The authors write that the focus of advertising serves the interests of manufacturers and marketers, but is very harmful to children.  The authors explain that products marketed to girls encourage them to focus on their bodies (being skinny) and appearances (being “sexy” or “hot”), and that provocative clothing is commonly marketed to very young girls.  Boys are taught to be tough, strong and ready to fight, while girls are urged to focus on makeup and accessories.
        The authors emphasize that children today are learning very narrow definitions of gender and sexuality that focuses primarily on appearances.  We are reminded that young children should have positive, age-appropriate experiences that lay the foundation for healthy sexual relationships in the future rather than learn to treat themselves and others as objects.  Diane and Jean offer parents essential, practical and age-appropriate strategies to counter this media assault.  The authors state “We must work at all levels to create a society that supports parents’ efforts to raise healthy children, instead of one that makes their job harder at every turn.”  I especially appreciate how the authors provided knowledge, skills and most importantly, confidence for parents to enable them to discuss this sensitive topic openly and effectively and to take action to create a safe and healthy environment for their children.