Suggested Book Resources - Youth Culture

Here is a list of book resources that will be helpful for dealing with parenting and teen issues. Most will be just for parents to read, but some will be good for your youth to read, and some for you and your youth to read together. Most are available in the church library, at the Christian Bookstore, or I own a copy you can borrow. Although I myself and LPC as a community may not agree with absolutely everything written within these books, I believe they are valuable to read and think about as we try to raise the best children and youth we can. I hope you find them useful and beneficial as well. All Grown Up and No Place to Go by David Elkind, Ph.D. (Addison-Wesley, 1984). -- Somewhat of a sequel to his bestselling "The Hurried Child," Elkind's book provides an excellent analysis of today's culture and how it is impacting our kids. Canada's Teens: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow by Reginald W. Bibby (Stoddart Publishing, 2001). -- Somewhat like Canada's version of George Barna, Bibby is a sociologist who has studied and written many books on the church and its impact within Canada. He gives us details on what is going on with teens today, relaying their own words to describe their experiences with violence, sex, media, drugs, etc. Using his data gathered from over 25 years of research, Bibby suggests how and where today's teenagers will end up. The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon by David Elkind, Ph.D. (De Capo Press, 1981/2001). -- Are their dangers to exposing our children to overwhelming pressures too soon? Why are so many of today's youth suffering with low self-esteem, eating disorders, teenage pregnancy, and even thoughts of suicide? Internationally recognized as a voice of reason and compassion, Dr. Elkind shows that in blurring the boundaries of what is age appropriate, by expecting - or imposing - too much too soon, we force our kids to grow up too fast, to mimic adult sophistication while secretly yearning for innocence.