Dr. Kimberly Thompson
Associate Professor, Harvard University School of Public Health
Every so often a book comes along that I tell my friends they absolutely must read. In the case of the book you now hold in your hand, my advice is that everyone should: buy it, read it, revisit it frequently, and live it! Raising "GEEKs" - genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kids - represents an enormous challenge in today's world. At last, Marybeth Hicks has provided a much-needed guide to help us do it. This book will undoubtedly become a leading resource for all parents who are committed to raising the truly wonderful children who will become successful adults. And if you're a geek mom or dad like me, take heart - this book proves that we are not alone.
As Director of the Kids Risk Project at the Harvard School of Public Health, I spend a lot of time thinking about and studying children's risks and the ways that we can do our best for children. Yet as a parent, I believe one of the biggest risks facing our children is the unwillingness of many parents to step up and protect our children from a world that would exploit their innocence.
If you question the need for this book, take a close look at just one aspect of our modern world: the media. Once a shared activity and source of information (recall families sharing sections of the morning paper or huddled around a single radio or TV in the living room), media now segment and target us. Instead of bringing us together, today's media often divide families by age, gender, and interests. This means that many parents have no idea about the content in the media effectively teaching their children about life and what is "cool."
Should you worry? In 2008, the leaders of "cool" recognized Amy Winehouse with five Grammy Awards. Her autobiographical song "Rehab" offered an alarming twist on a major public health message: "just say no to drug rehab." Yikes. Maybe your child is more into award-winning video games. BioShock, rated "M" for mature players, with content descriptors for "Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language," received the Game Critics Award as the top game in 2007. While most parents use the Entertainment Software Rating Board game ratings to help them make decisions about content, most don't realize that the ESRB does not actually play the games before assigning its ratings. The ratings alone are not enough - parents need to consume media with their kids to truly appreciate the content.
This is just one part of the environment in which we geek moms and dads are trying to raise genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kids. It's not easy! Bringing up geeks requires a huge commitment. As parents, we have to be present in our children's lives and exercise authority. We must teach our children to make good choices both now and in the future.
Through the Kids Risk Project, colleagues and I quantify the risks posed to children from a variety of hazards, including messages in the media. One theme that emerges repeatedly in my work is the critical role that adults play in protecting kids and preventing bad outcomes, and the need for adults to pay attention to what is happening in children's lives. Let Marybeth Hicks help open your eyes and empower YOU to take action.
As you read through this book, you will appreciate the challenges of being a geek parent, but you'll also be reassured that you're not alone. This book offers simple instructions, and it will help you appreciate the value of bringing up a geek. I hope that you will use the great ideas in this book to strengthen your family and to support your journey as a geek parent.
The best part is that geeks are happy kids. They have strong values and passion for life. They have hope and promise. They're kids that adults like, and more importantly, they become the kind of adults we need more of in our world.
This is the time for us to take back our children's childhoods, and in doing so to claim our roles as strong, protective parents. We need dictionaries to include another definition of the word geek -- as "a genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kid" -- and leaders to call for more geeks and to commit to their growth and development. Read this book, declare your status as a geek supporter or geek parent, and create a better life for your family.
I join Marybeth Hicks in proclaiming loudly and proudly that: "I'm bringing up geeks!" and I hope that you will join us too!