Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World

Chapman (The 5 Love Languages) and Pellicane (31 Days to a Happy Husband) team up on a handbook for parents seeking control over the ubiquity of screen technology in their children’s lives. The authors are not antiscreen. They are against screen time interfering with social development. (“Studies show increasing numbers of young people who report being shy. Many experts believe this rising number is partially due to the social isolation that comes with being digitally connected.”) Their “A+ Method for Relational Kids” involves teaching five skills: affection, appreciation, apology, anger management, and attention. Their writing style is conversational, full of anecdotes from the authors’ and others’ lives to illustrate their points. Endnotes include information from a wide range of popular magazines, newspapers, reports, and academic journals. This is a practical book. Parents will find a useful review of the stages of social development, a quiz on screen time, and a lengthy set of discussion questions. (Sept.)