Bringing Up Geeks: How to Protect Your Kid's Childhood in a Grow-Up-Too-Fast World

Bringing Up Geeks is absolutely the best parenting book available to deal with today's out of whack culture! I've bought three copies - one for myself and two that I gave as gifts to parents who I knew wanted to be "geek" parents but needed to see that they were not alone to really help them be strong against the culture pressures.

Thanks to Marybeth Hick's "Bringing Up Geeks", 'the culture of cool' and 'GEEK' are my new buzz words! 'The culture of cool' refers to what I think is this (and some older) generation's greatest Achilles Heel, the need to be cool (and the unhealthy habits and mindsets that this need entails). And the best way to avoid this weakness of needing to be cool is to be a 'GEEK' (Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kid). "Bringing Up Geeks" is a needed and unique book, one that is easy and fun to read, and one that I hope turns into a movement (think on-campus GEEK clubs). If you do not want your kids (or future kids) to be glued to their computers and IPODS and cell phones, dominated by their peers, judging others on their clothing and technological possessions, and unable to carry on conversations and interact in healthy manners, then this book is for you. Or, if you already raise your kids as GEEKS but would appreciate referring others to a book that explains why you do what you do, then this book is for you. Or if you've ever thought that cool kids are putting on an act and look quite lame (to those who have taken the Matrix's red pill), then this is the book for you. As grade after grade enters adulthood with all their dysfunctional and unsocialized habits (technological, social, entertainment, etc.), our world, sadly, accommodates bit by bit. Anyone outside of that world (Geeks, cool peers on the fence about "cooldom", and reformed cool kids) can make a difference by bucking conformity and the culture of cool. And "Bringing Up Geeks" will set them on a healthy path. I hope that Marybeth Hicks writes another book soon that addresses the culture of cool more deeply and demonstrates to older folks the differences between their generations' idea of cool and the more recent generations' culture of cool. Two very different beasts and worth closer inspection. But until then we must be satisfied with "Bringing Up Geeks", and I certainly am. Buy the book, at the very least just to make a statement. Thank you Marybeth Hicks for giving GEEKS a voice!

This book gave me the encouragement I need to make decisions for my children based on my morals and what I think is best for their development. I meet parents all the time that share my principles but don't act on their own out of fear that their children will miss out on social experiences. I was told to compromise with the lesser evils so my kids could have fun. I found myself wavering even though I felt many of these activities were at least in part negative. I feared my kids would miss out too. This book explains how my children can have a wonderful social life with other kids who share their interests and families values. This book gives helpful guidance on how parents can be firm in basing decisions on their values and why they should even when those decisions impact their kids friendships; that this can be beneficial to those friendships in the long run. The author explains how her kids have had better friendships by basing them on greater experiences than those of popular culture and gives examples of activities. The author explains some of the popular cultures effects on our children and gives good advise on how to handle difficult situations when your kids just want to be part of the party regardless of the activity.

This book successfully balances humor with concrete tips about how to raise children who do not succumb to the pressures of our media-driven, sex-saturated society. The author is a family columnist by trade, so she naturally draws heavily from her own experiences raising children. Even if your family or parenting experiences differ from hers, this book is still excellent food for thought. Bringing Up Geeks identifies unhealthy social influences noted by media and child development experts; points out the often counter-cultural traits exhibited by "genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kids;"and offers clear examples of how to help your children cultivate these traits. It's not an easy task to raise children who remain engaged with society but have the courage to resist its pressures. This book will help parents critically examine cultural norms for childhood and child rearing and then equip them with concrete techniques to use with their own families.

I had often commented to my husband that what I really wanted for my son was for him to be a geek; I wanted for him to be different but confident. Consequently, this book naturally caught my eye. It has helped me focus on the big picture. (What character traits do I want to develop in my child? How do I raise a child in a materialistic society?) With humor and grace, Marybeth Hicks had me laughing out loud at the troubles of parenting today. I highly recommend it!