Kids These Days

Moral panics about ""kids these days"" are everywhere, but Dobud and Harper cut through the hysteria with real science and clear thinking. They show how well-intentioned interventions often backfire—and what actually helps. A must-read for anyone who cares about kids. —Kurt Gray, Professor, Ohio State University and author, Outraged Kids These Days is a fresh, provocative look at the challenges facing our kids in today's world. Instead of simple answers and tired clichés, Dobud and Harper take a broad and nuanced approach, zeroing in on the ways in which our attempts to shelter and protect kids from risk may be backfiring. —Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author, Endure and The Explorer's Gene In an era where discussions about child and adolescent psychology often call for greater nuance and contextual understanding, this book stands out by delivering precisely that. It masterfully weaves rigorous science, compelling narratives, and unconventional insights, offering a fresh perspective that challenges traditional thinking. A timely and essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of young minds. —Dr. Todd B. Kashdan, Professor of Psychology and author, The Upside of Your Dark Side and The Art of Insubordination Problem/solution/celebration. Alas, it is deeper and more complex than that -- as is whatever seems to be raining sorrow and dysfunction on a whole lot of ""kids these days."" Here's hoping this book's light shines into every corner of the problem and helps us toward a real and practical solution. —Lenore Skenazy, author Free-Range Kids, and president, Let Grow A powerful and revolutionary book about what's really going on with kids today. Kids These Days doesn't just blame phones or schools or parents—it looks at the bigger picture and asks hard questions about the deeper reasons kids are in crisis, and what we can do to turn this around. Clear-eyed, thoughtful and full of compassion; a book with the potential to help heal a generation. —James Davies, Associate Professor in Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, and author, Sedated Grounded in expert interviews, researched arguments, compelling anecdotes, and compassion for young people, Kids These Days reminds us of the wisdom of emotion. Dobud and Harper pierce through the knee-jerk conceptual habits and trending theories that trick us into ignoring social, cultural, and environmental factors. Instead of blaming smartphones, they invite us into a multifaceted approach grounded in simple interventions. Maybe we need to spend a bit less time signing up for every program that claims to fix every little tendency we notice in our children, and spend a bit more time simply being with them. —Jay Vidyarthi, bestselling author, Reclaim Your Mind, and founder, Still Ape