Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think—and What We Can Do About It

We care deeply about the "smartness" of our children, but our culture lacks patience with the slow, time-consuming handwork by which intellects are woven. The quiet spaces of childhood have been disrupted by media assault and instant sensory gratification. Children have been yoked to hectic adult schedules and assailed by societal anxieties. Many have been deprived of time to play and the opportunity to pursue mental challenges that, though deemed trivial by distracted adults, are the real building blocks of intellect.

-Endangered Minds, Jane M. Healy, Ph.D.

This is the single most important book I've read to date on child development and education. Alarmingly forthright and insightful, Jane Healy discusses how the brain works and the impact that TV, video, and computers may have on the developing brain and our children’s attention, thinking, and reading skills. This book will challenge your preconceived notions of educational programming and educational computer games and includes a shocking discussion on Sesame Street and its failure to do what we've all been told it does: prepare little ones to read and for the academic challenges of school.

Whether you homeschool, private school, or participate in traditional public education, may I implore all of you with children—especially infants, toddlers, and elementary age children—to turn off the TV and read this book.

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So, what should we be doing after we unplug? Read quality literature to our kids of all ages (Healy recommends reading aloud with our kids even into the highschool years); take the time to include our children in what we’re doing and talk to our kids about it (Healy offers advice on the types of “talk” that build attention, reasoning, and thinking skills); and give our children lots of time to play. The skills our children will need to compete (survive?) in the future world of fast-paced technology and information may not be what you think.