Under pressure : rescuing our children from the culture of hyper-parenting

"Why do grown-ups have to take over everything?" This innocent question from acclaimed journalist and international bestselling author Carl Honor?’s son sparked a two-year investigation into how our culture of speed, efficiency, and success at all costs is damaging both parents and children. When the impulse to give children the best of everything runs rampant, parents, schools, communities, and corporations unwittingly combine forces to create over-scheduled, over-stimulated, and overindulged kids. The mere mention of potty-training, ballet classes, preschool, ADD, or overeating is enough to spark a heated debate about the right way to raise our children. The problem is that despite the best intentions of all involved, the pressure to manage every detail of our children’s lives from in utero through college is overwhelming. Delivering much more than a wake-up call, international bestselling author Carl Honor? interviews experts in Europe, North America, and the Far East, talks to families around the world and sifts through the latest scientific research. Not only do we see the real dangers of micromanaging children, but Honor? also shows us an emerging new movement inspiring many to slow down and find the natural balance between too little and too much. Blending the finest reportage, intellectual inquiry, and extraordinary true stories, Under Pressure is the first book to challenge the status quo by mapping out an alternative to the culture of hyperparenting that is presently pushing children and their parents to the brink. "Why do grown-ups have to take over everything?" This innocent question from acclaimed journalist and international bestselling author Carl Honore's son sparked a two-year investigation into how our culture of speed, efficiency, and success at all costs is damaging both parents and children. When the impulse to give children the best of everything runs rampant, parents, schools, communities, and corporations unwittingly combine forces to create over-scheduled, over-stimulated, and overindulged kids. The mere mention of potty-training, ballet classes, preschool, ADD, or overeating is enough to spark a heated debate about the right way to raise our children. The problem is that despite the best intentions of all involved, the pressure to manage every detail of our children's lives from in utero through college is overwhelming.Delivering much more than a wake-up call, international bestselling author Carl Honore interviews experts in Europe, North America, and the Far East, talks to families around the world and sifts through the latest scientific research. Not only do we see the real dangers of micromanaging children, but Honore also shows us an emerging new movement inspiring many to slow down and find the natural balance between too little and too much. Blending the finest reportage, intellectual inquiry, and extraordinary true stories, Under Pressure is the first book to challenge the status quo by mapping out an alternative to the culture of hyperparenting that is presently pushing children and their parents to the brink. Delivering Much More Than A Wake-up Call, International Author Carl Honore Interviews Experts In Europe, North America, And The Far East, Talks To Families Around The World And Sifts Through The Latest Scientific Research. Not Only Do We See The Real Dangers Of Micromanaging Children, But Honore Also Shows Us An Emerging New Movement Inspiring Many To Slow Down And Find The Natural Balance Between Too Little And Too Much. Blending Reportage, Inquiry, And True Stories, Under Pressure Is The First Book To Challenge The Status Quo By Mapping Out An Alternative To The Culture Of Hyperparenting That Is Presently Pushing Children And Their Parents To The Brink.--jacket. Managing Childhood -- It's The Adults, Stupid -- Early Years : When Milestones Become Millstones -- Pre-school : Play Is A Child's Work -- Toys : Just Push Play -- Technology : Reality Bites -- School : Testing Times -- Homework : The Sword Of Damocles -- Extracurricular Activities : Ready, Set, Relax! -- Sports : Play Ball -- Discipline : Just Say No? -- Consumerism : Pester Power And The Walking, Talking Atm -- Safety : Playing With Fire -- Leave Those Kids Alone. Carl Honoré. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [265]-277) And Index. "In Under Pressure, Carl Honore looks into the changing world of parenting and childhood and asks whether we are going wrong in some fundamental way. With so much anxiety, are we not in danger of losing something precious from family life and the process of growing up?" "Of course, we cannot turn the clock back to a simpler age, so Honore takes us on a journey around the world in search of a new formula that will work in the 21st century. He sifts through the latest research and we hear from a range of experts as well as from those on the frontline - parents, teachers and children to find out precisely what problems they face and what may be the best solutions. In doing so, we discover how a new movement is encouraging us to slow down and trust our instincts, finding a natural balance between doing too much and too little."--BOOK JACKET. From the publisher: "Why do grown-ups have to take over everything?" This innocent question from acclaimed journalist and international bestselling author Carl Honoré's son sparked a two-year investigation into how our culture of speed, efficiency, and success at all costs is damaging both parents and children. When the impulse to give children the best of everything runs rampant, parents, schools, communities, and corporations unwittingly combine forces to create over-scheduled, over-stimulated, and overindulged kids It's the adults, stupid Early years : milestones or millstones Pre-school : play is a child's work Toys : push play Technology : reality bites School : testing times Homework : more of the same Extracurricular activities : busy bees Sports : no ball games Discipline : just say no Consumerism : mommy and mammon Safety : playing with fire. Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 20, 2008).