MySpace for Moms and Dads: A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards [Paperback]

Connie Neal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2007

Moms and dads---here it is at last! A quick, sweeping overview of MySpace: what it is, how it works, and why it is so important to your teen. You'll find out how to address important issues with your teen in a way that strengthens your relationship and resolves conflicts. Whether you're computer illiterate or a seasoned web surfer, MySpace for Moms and Dads will help you understand the social networking revolution and equip you to make smart, confident decisions about your son's or daughter's use of MySpace and sites like it. Learn how to minimize the risks of MySpace and bring out its benefits and positive opportunities. You can not only ensure that your teen uses MySpace safely, but also use MySpace yourself to gain a window into your teen's world. Find out how to tailor your teen's use of MySpace to his or her present maturity level---and deepen your appreciation of the unique individual your son or daughter is in the bargain. Includes complete glossary, discussion starters, fun quizzes, negotiation helps for you and your teen, and resources with complete contact information including non-web and web addresses.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Moms and dads—here it is at last! A quick, sweeping overview of MySpace: what it is, how it works, and why it is so important to your teen. You’ll find out how to address important issues with your teen in a way that strengthens your relationship and resolves conflicts.

Whether you’re computer illiterate or a seasoned web surfer, MySpace for Moms and Dads will help you understand the social networking revolution and equip you to make smart, confident decisions about your son’s or daughter’s use of MySpace and sites like it.

Learn how to minimize the risks of MySpace and bring out its benefits and positive opportunities. You can not only ensure that your teen uses MySpace safely, but also use MySpace yourself to gain a window into your teen’s world. Find out how to tailor your teen’s use of MySpace to his or her present maturity level—and deepen your appreciation of the unique individual your son or daughter is in the bargain.

Includes complete glossary, discussion starters, fun quizzes, negotiation helps for you and your teen, and resources with complete contact information including non-web and web addresses. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Connie Neal is sought by secular and Christian media as an expert on the intersection of parenting and pop culture. A parent of two teenagers, she also has a decade of experience as a church youth worker and BA in communication from Pepperdine University. Connie has authored dozens of books including: What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? featured in Newsweek and The Gospel According to Harry Potter featured in Time, Christianity Today, and Entertainment Weekly. She has also created videos and curriculum for parents and teens. She toured as a guest speaker with Women of Faith.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 213 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310277434
• ISBN-13: 978-0310277439
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,962,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Connie Neal is sought by secular and Christian media discussing pop culture and its intersection with Christianity, as well as family, marriage, and parenting issues. Connie has authored dozens of books including:The Gospel According to Harry Potter featured in Time, Christianity Today, and Entertainment Weekly. What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? featured in Newsweek, also Wizards, Wardrobes, & Wookiees and her signature book Dancing in the Arms of God, Connie has a BA in Communication from Pepperdine University and a MS in Education, specializing in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University. She has created videos and curriculum for parents and teens. She toured as a guest speaker with Women of Faith. Her latest focus is on transitioning content to electronic publishing and online learning in keeping with the science of instruction and research-based multimedia learning principles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for Parents, September 14, 2007

By 

Larry Shallenberger (Erie, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MySpace for Moms and Dads: A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards (Paperback)

Perhaps it's inconceivable only to me, but, somehow, I've found myself the parent of a teenager this past year. And right on cue, my son is asking for all of the adolescent accessories--email accounts, a cell phone, and a TV and Internet access in his bedroom. I've conceded on the email account but the rest will have to wait. A teen should come with a Surgeon General's Warning. "Caution: Raising a teen may result in sleepless nights and increased anxiety levels."

If you're the parent of a teen, you owe it to yourself to introduce yourself to Connie Neal. Connie is an author and speaker who specialty is understanding "the intersection of parenting and pop culture." Connie is the deep breath that every parent needs to take before hyperventilating over all the challenge of raising godly children in the American culture.

Connie's latest book, MYSPACE FOR MOMS AND DADS, is designed to help busy parents understand the Internet phenomena known as social networking. "Social Networking" is using home computers and the Internet to connect with peer and to make new friendships. Some of the more popular social networking websites include Myspace and Facebook. Parents might be aware and wary of social networking due to a rash recent news stories that detail how sexual predators have used Myspace to connect with teens and lure them into face-to-face meetings.

Connie uses her calming logic and sanity to calm parents and to give them the tools they need to navigate this new world of social networking. Connie defuses the emotional charge surrounding social networking with her methodical treatment of the book. Part One explains what the history of social networking. Part Two walks as parent through the mechanics of setting up a "Myspace" account. In Part Three, Connie explains the draw of Myspace on teenagers. Teens use social networking to meet God-given developmental needs. Connie helps you connect with your teens' needs by reminding you of their basic relational needs to connect and to express themselves. Finally, Connie offers a Christian framework to Christian parents decide if Myspace is right for their teens.

One of the most valuable features of the book is a section that trains parents how to customize the Myspace profile to reduce the risk of teens encountering unsafe people or on-line "friends" with unchristian values. Parents will also be equipped with the proper questions to ask their teens to help monitor their healthy use of Myspace.

Readers familiar with Connie Neal's writing know that she is biased toward engaging culture and for using cultural trends to train discerning teenagers. Connie's "Walking Talk in Babylon" is her manifesto calling parents to train children capable of interpreting and discerning the cultural messages that surround them. Don't expect to hear a simplistic "Myspace is good" or "Myspace is evil" from Connie. Instead, she'll give you the information you'll need to engage your teenager regarding this important issue.

After reading MYSPACE FOR MOMS AND DADS, I'm not ready to give my teen permission to join for now. However, this will be a valuable guide to refer to when my oldest is a bit older and wiser

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars timely, balanced, practical information, March 15, 2007

By 

Lenis Brown (Dinuba, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MySpace for Moms and Dads: A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards (Paperback)

The book is a good guide to technical aspects of myspace but really intends to remind parents to be knowledgeable of, and involved in, their children's lives. The contemporary reality is that myspace is often a significant part of a child's socialization and needs to be taken seriously. The book is straightforward, practical and broken down into sections. It can be used as either a cover-to-cover narrative or as a reference book. Good organization, abundant charts and graphics, and a large type font make it exceptionally user friendly. A good read.

LB

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book, wonderful practical help!, February 19, 2007

By 

Kimberly Roberts (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MySpace for Moms and Dads: A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards (Paperback)

I love this book! It is full of clear, practical help for us, the parent, to use to decide about our teen's use of My Space. It answered all my questions about navigating My Space in a straight forward, step by step manner that was easy to follow. The author's use of charts and graphs and all the information from experts in child safety, etc. were very helpful. The information from this book helped me open up communication with my kids, this is one of the BEST THINGS about the book! Ms. Neal obviously wants parents and teens to have good relationships and to communicate with one another in a loving positive way. The exercises that she has through out the book really help open those lines of communication in a non-threatening way. The child development information she has in the book is very insightful and helpful, too. My kids and I have had some good conversations about my concerns regarding My Space and how they can stay safe and use it wisely. This book helped me make good decisions regarding their use of My Space and other social networking sites. It especially helped me feel confident that they could use it safely and it opened my eyes to the possibilities for using My Space for wonderful things. I definitely recommend it for every parent with teens.