SCREENWISE isn’t what you’d expect from a typical media literacy book. Its advice on how to help children learn to ask relevant questions about the content of games, movies, music, or TV programs is brief and arguably too general to be all that useful. If I was judging it based on that criteria, the book would probably get a 3-4 star rating.
I give it 5 stars because SCREENWISE is a very, very good parenting text about how to help children negotiate life with cell phones and social networks. It would be a great gift for parents of children/teens who carry their own phones or tablets or ever log on to a social network or multiplayer gaming site (like Minecraft).
This highly accessible book is written as a conversation between the author and the reader, but is clearly research based with a sound understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate expectations. She skillfully distinguishes between old issues in new wrapping and new issues introduced by the constant connectivity, immediacy, and permanency unique to the digital world.
To help parents see things through their children’s eyes, Heitner includes the voices of kids (culled through her own research). She gives parents a “heads up” about the things they need to look out for and then provides practical advice about how to engage children in conversations that will build the skills they need to productively and ethically manage life with devices on their own. Her mantra is “monitoring cannot substitute for mentoring,” which is why I think this counts as a valuable addition to a media literacy library.
This is not a perfect book. As Heitner recognizes, it is entirely focused on middle and upper-middle class families. It will have limited value for those who aren’t part of that demographic. For example, it doesn’t address cultural conflicts unique to new immigrants and their American children or the challenges faced by families in homes that have sub-standard or no Internet or cloud connectivity. It assumes a parenting style that relies on negotiating with children and engaging them in conversation about sensitive issues – a practice that is not universally accepted, either because it doesn’t mesh with parents’ values or doesn’t match their skill set.
Despite the gaps, there are millions of families that are grappling with the exact issues that Heitner addresses. For them, this book is gold.
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Reviews with images
Smart, sensible, useful advice
As the mother of two tween daughters, I found Devorah's advice to be incredibly relevant, useful, and applicable. I am so grateful for this book, and would highly recommend it for any parent looking to guide their tweens and teens through the world of social media and screentime.
Top reviews from other countries
Ovire Ege Essien
Great book for parents of children who love screens
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2024elbriedk
Screenwise Book Help Parents Raise Digital Natives
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2017