Who's Raising Your Child?: Battling the Marketers for Your Child's Heart and Soul [Paperback]

Laura J. Buddenberg (Author), Kathleen M. McGee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2004

Marketers are relentlessly pursuing our children. Trying to imprint their brand image on kids as young as two, they are advertising to children not only through the mass media but over the Internet, in school, on the street, even at slumber parties! The evidence shows that they are succeeding - kids are spending or influencing their parents to spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year, most of it in a quest to be "cool."

Are you and your kids caught up in this culture of consumption? Have the marketers convinced your children that if they just buy the right things they will be happy, cool, and popular with their peers? This book explores today's hyper-commercialized society and the damage it is doing to our children as they grow from toddlers to teens.

Also endangering kids is a pop culture where violence, profanity, and sex permeate the entertainment media and advertising. Parents feel increasingly alone and overwhelmed in trying to shield children from this toxic environment. Parents looking for help will find it here. The authors offer timely advice to parents on how to mitigate the effects of a materialistic, poisonous culture, and to raise kids who care less about things and more about people.

Who's Raising Your Child? is a 2004 Honors NAPPA Gold Award Winner. iParenting Media Award Winner! National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Winner!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The authors do a superb job of reminding parents how advertising airms to capture our children's loyalty from a shockingly early age." -- 2004 Honors NAPPA Gold Award Winner

"This is a clear, concise, well-written book. It shares an important message, and gives parents permission to trust their own instincts. You do not need to be an expert to feel comfortable implementing these ideas into your family." --iParenting Media Award Winner!

Our teens...are marketed to so aggressively that it is almost impossible to keep them balanced while helping them not become victims of each 'what's hot' craze. This book from the award-winning Boys Town Press publishers gives great 'how to' tips for parents looking to help their children deflect and decipher the daily bombardment they are subjected to. --The National Parenting Center

About the Author

Laura Buddenberg is director of administration and outreach and Kathleen M. McGee is director of program services at the Girls and Boys Town Center for Adolescent and Family Spirituality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Boys Town Press (July 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889322598
• ISBN-13: 978-1889322599
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #996,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and eye-opening, December 14, 2005

By 

T. Brandhorst (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who's Raising Your Child?: Battling the Marketers for Your Child's Heart and Soul (Paperback)

Highly recommended for parents of children of all ages. This is a provocative and helpful book. Parents who aren't yet concerned about how their kids are being brainwashed by the media will be after they read the book; concerned parents will find great and useful tips for dealing with their children after they've been exposed to any number of marketing schemes. The book identifies specific marketing strategies aimed at different age groups from baby to teenager, then gives advice on counteracting these strategies. Parents will want to pass this valuable book on to their friends.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adults And Children Benefit From This Informative Guide, April 14, 2006

By 

JoAnna Carey "Author of RAT RACE RELAXER" (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Raising Your Child?: Battling the Marketers for Your Child's Heart and Soul (Paperback)

What an informative look at the way media messages shape our self-images, relationships and spending patterns. From the descriptive opening pages offering a bird's eye view of a teenager's prom preparations to a toddler's favorite birthday gifts, readers are lured into a story of the effect of mass consumerism on modern day families. Startling statistics, real life examples, and an easy to read format make this book a perfect conversation starter for parents, teachers, community leaders and marketers. The format includes stories, sidebars, bulleted lists and numerous topic headings within each chapter making it easy to read during stolen moments throughout the day. The authors address marketing tactics that influence toddlers, adolescents, tweens and teens (Note: The same strategies are often used to persuade adult consumers as well.) Topics include sex, violence, alcohol, pornography, video games, music and magazines. The resources section offers additional sources of help and information. Review by JoAnna Carey, Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life