Customer Reviews

Saving Childhood: Protecting Our Children from the National Assault on Innocence

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Controversy is deliciously entertaining, violence is shocking and sensual content is titillating.....for most adults. But what is this doing to our children? The Media has so permeated our lives that it seems there is no way to protect "childhood innocence."

"Saving Childhood" offers parents hope and practical tips on how to encourage security, a sense of wonder and optimism in the life of a child. This book will empower parents and give them hope for the future.

The first part of the book has been written to make parents aware of the realities of the situation and explains the "Assault" on innocence. The second part is the "Defense." Michael and Diane explain that the Assault is coming from Media, Schools, Peers and Parents. They show how statistics have proved that the problems in our society are getting worse at a rapid pace and back this up with scientific evidence. They also explain many points with examples from the raising of their own three children.

The Medveds explain how we live in a land where sex education has failed to reduce teenage pregnancy, children feel guilty for existing, parents push their children to grow up too fast, children have a lack of moral values, and parents have taken a passive role.

So who is educating our children? It seems an inadequate school system and the TV!

Television is well known for programs which contain high levels of violence. I have long been a believer that TV violence causes aggression. Michael and Diane prove this point and I found it interesting to read about how the crime rates increased soon after the introduction of TV into various towns.

I grew up in South Africa for most of my childhood and remember very few people having TV's in the early years. TV was apparently banned until 1975. In fact, my father never purchased a TV and so I grew up basically TV-free! Perhaps that is why I can still enjoy a movie like "Runaway Bride." Most of my friends are so jaded, they can't appreciate movies which I find to be very enjoyable. In fact, most movies are new to me.

The Medveds also show how TV promotes impatience, self-pity, superficiality and gives us all a harsh view of the world. With all this negativity, how are we balancing our lives and promoting a positive view of the world?

There are now three books I consider "essential reading" for every American: "America's Real War," "The American Paradox," and "Saving Childhood." These three books are brilliantly conceived works which explain America's present predicament and give excellent solutions. After reading all three books, I am now convinced of our nations need for:

1. Responsibility to a Higher Power. (90 percent of Americans believe in God) 2. Renewed respect for life and authority. 3. The teaching of personal responsibility, patriotism and honesty. 4. Parents that stay together and live what they teach. 5. The teaching of moral values. 6. The reading of inspiring books instead of a diet of negative TV reinforcement. 7. A revamp of our Education System. 8. Holding our Media responsible for programming. 9. Teaching a sense of gratitude for life. 10. An all-out effort to protect the remaining innocence of our children.

In order to promote the efforts of parents, Michael and Diane devote chapter seven, eight and nine to explain how parents can promote "security," "a sense of wonder," and "optimism" in the lives of their children.

"Childhood is perhaps the only phase of life when innocence can flourish. But to allow this, parents and others responsible for children's minds need to construct a protective shelter against the painful and frightening facets of life. They need to stand guard at its door, to let the harsher truths of reality gradually unfold for the child, in a way and at a pace that allows the child to maintain a positive outlook. Honoring innocence is incompatible with assuming that the earlier children grasp all the worst aspects of the world, the better prepared they'll be to handle them." -- "Saving Childhood" page 195

To this I add one of my favorite poems for children:

May tree and plant and shrub be soundless through the night and stars and moon be dimmed to shut out all the light. So when you sleep in peace, no bird will move in flight, and angles guard your sleep. Goodnight, my love goodnight. ~James Neill Northe

~The Rebecca Review

What a novel concept! Michael and Diane Medved have decided that parenting is not only important, but actually worth the time and effort required to rear happy, well-mannered progeny. While this book is rife with suggestions about issues such as schooling, vacationing, and the evening meal, perhaps no social convention is confronted so adamantly as the television. Supplying solid statistics and reasonable examples, the authors make a convincing argument in the idea of eliminating one's TV altogether.

But this book is not an attack on America's social system. It's a call to regain control of one's family by exercising wisdom, temperance, discipline, common sense, and optimism in an age when examples of such qualities seem to be difficult to find.

For all parents and those concerned about the effects of popular culture on the minds and hearts of their children, this is an essential book. The Medveds point out the perils of the "preparation" paradigm currently in vogue. According to this way of thinking, children must be prepared for the worst, in order to protect them. In realilty by telling children that the world is an evil place full of danger the "preparation" advocates are frightening them needlessly, destroying their innocence, and making them prematurely cynical. Sex education in kindergarten, distribution of condoms in junior high, debunking of religion in public schools, bad examples set by politicians including the president, are just a few of the topics which are explored in this timely and important book. SAVING CHILDHOOD succintly demonstrates that children's happiness depends upon optimism, innocence, and a sense of wonder The Medveds give practical tips and pointers on how to provide these three qualities for your children. I highly recommend this book..

I was quite receptive to the premise of the book, as I have been decrying the growing move to make "little adults" out of children, and I am struggling to insure some sense of childhood for my own two children. The Medveds are well intentioned, but they try so hard that it undermines some good points included in their analysis. To use a baseball analogy: they came up with the bases loaded; rather than simply trying to put runs on the board with a solid single, they loaded up for the grand slam, resulting in a pop to third base.

The book is quite "over the top" in its included examples of our culture and the manner in which to counteract the at-times negative influence of the media, peers, school, and parents. As other reviewers have noted, some of the Medveds' examples of their reaction to certain situations are downright chilling. One example: their local librarian had (innocently) recommended a particular Judy Blume story to the Medveds' 7 year old daughter (a gifted reader); the Medveds were shocked to find that it included a discussion of menstruation. The parents' reaction was to take the book from the child, tell the child the topic was off-limits until they were older, and then to forbid the child from checking any book out of the library that was written since 1960. Geez! Why not pull the librarian aside and say that you would appreciate more age-appropriate recommendations, rather than a "young adult" level Judy Blume book? Why not have a simple talk with the daughter about menstruation? Would it really corrupt her "innocent" childhood that much?

Although the tone can seem "holier than thou", I believe the Medveds are well-intentioned. The problem is that the evidence cited tends to be the absolute "worst case" situations, and the proposed solutions are a bit extreme. (E.g., the Medveds don't own a TV; somewhat ironic given that the only reason anyone has heard of Mr. Medved is his TV work.) I think the book would be more useful if it were "toned down" and the essential message were allowed to come through - that in today's culture, with the sheer volume of messages rebounding that are not appropriate for children, it requires CONSTANT vigilance by parents, who must be willing to step up and exercise guidance and, yes, discipline to insure that their children are able to have a true "childhood".

Cracking the cover of Saving Childhood is like spreading a napkin across one's lap prior to a Thanksgiving feast. Michael and Diane Medved set the reader's table with a bountiful array of fascinating - sometimes disturbing statistics and quotations surrounding the many influences on childhood. Like a fly buzzing around the stuffed turkey however, is the Medved's consistent opinionated and judgmental interjection.

The book systematically addresses "the assault on innocence" by media, schools, peers, and parents with a barrage of statistics and quotes by specialists in related fields. Few are spared by the accusing Medved finger. Refreshingly, the targets of attack are not limited to one aspect of society, but rather proposes that the most ignorant entertainer is perhaps no more guilty of this assault than the permissive parent.

Educators, parents, caregivers, and just about anyone interested in social analysis and criticism will find Saving Childhood an entertaining, worthwhile read. However, these very same readers may also find themselves eventually rolling their eyes over the repeated, cutesy tales of the authors' own family. For those of us with children that walk in dirty sneakers rather than fly on angelic wings, the Medved's personal life may evoke mild nausea. Similarly, those that indulge in occasional tasteless humor may become defensive when they find the Medved finger pointing directly at them.

Nonetheless, the book's social and personal value far exceeds its minor quirks. The average adult reader will find the writing light and approachable, and will undoubtedly walk away with at the very least a new perspective on the subject; perhaps, the reader will even walk away a better person.

Written with the meticulous research and keen insight for which Michael and Diane Medved are rightfully noted, this is an excellent book. Citing the many negative influences of our modern culture, the Medveds stress the importance of saving childhood innocence, something which we of the older generation possessed, but sadly, children of the present generation often do not. Loving and caring parents themselves, Michael and Diane give parents hope and practical information to enable the rearing of happy, independent, and emotionally healthy children.

This is an important book with some desperately needed themes in this society that is antagonistic toward childhood: In an effort to preserve the innocence of children, otherwise good information is not appropriate for children. Example: It's good to talk with your pre-adolescent about the changes her body will soon undergo, but that information is not appropriate, nor necessary, for younger children. Dovetailing this is the theme that popular culture is at odds with protecting the innocence of children. Example: Children should be encouraged to dream about becoming pilots when they grow up; they should not be encouraged to make actual cross-country flights at an age when they should still be believing in the Tooth Fairy.

But I do have reservations: This book would be much more effective if it were more subtle. It is not necessary to throw in anecdotes about how their daughter was frightened to the point of hysterics by a news report of the Lorena Bobbitt case; or, at the other extreme, how their other daughter reported that a certain book was not appropriate for her to read. Showing that their own children are not isolated from the invasive childhood-destructive agenda of popular culture is important; it is admirable that their daughter is obedient, knows right from wrong, and feels secure enough to let them know when something she reads is upsetting. But, the dramatics with which the stories were told was unnecessary and could have been related through more discreet means.

I also took exception to the Medveds' presumption to offer suggestions on how Christians should celebrate two of the most important and holy feasts of the Christian liturgical year. Their point about preserving the wonder of childhood fantasy is well-taken, but to suggest that Christians should preserve belief in Santa and the Easter Bunny (especially when the Medveds themselves are not likely to do so with their own children) and incorporate fantasy into two solemn (albeit also joyous) religious feasts borders on arrogance. Would not the Medveds bristle at Christian suggestions as to how they ought to observe Jewish holy days?

All in all, SAVING CHILDHOOD is important and timely, but could have been improved with discretion and subtlety.

It's refreshing to hear someone finally espouse an idea that's been clear to me for a long time and that seems to have been completely lost in today's society:

Children need to be introduced APPROPRIATELY to "reality".

Does it make for easier parenting? Not by any stretch. It takes diligence and effort to make intelligent decisions about what to expose your child to.

The idiotic idea that it's somehow better for a 5 year old to "see how things really are" is borne of lazy parents, both intellectually and physically.

If you want easy, don't have kids.

Thank you to the Medveds for writing this book- I hope some of the people I see writing reviews here have the sense, for their children's sake, to heed some of the advice.

One of the most impacting parts of this book for me is the main thesis.

page 16
QUOTE:
"...the three components of childhood innocence: security, a sense of wonder, and optimism.

At the moment, our society seems to be obsessed with the importance of "self-esteem," but we argue that as significant as it may be for children to believe that "I'm a great kid," it's even more crucial for them to believe that "It's a great world."

If feelings of gratitude and hope and appropriate awe at our astonishing universe aren't instilled in childhood, chances are they will be denied for a lifetime."
END QUOTE.

When did we as a society become so determined to "prepare" kids for the terrible world?? Children growing up in fear and pessimism will not make effective leaders and citizens of the world they are inheriting.

While there is no way to 100% protect the children, this book points out areas to think about, to monitor, to avoid, so that parents can make the best choices possible for their children.