Drowning In Digital

It’s not often that I read a New York Times article and feel like I’m hearing background music from Roberta Flack, as in “Killing me softly with his song, telling my whole life with his words.”  I’m exaggerating, but let’s just say as a parent raising children in the Digital Age, I related deeply, and even wrote to the author and got a hopeful reply.

I’m going to keep this one short, because I’m soon to be heading out on vacation.  But the article that stirred me so was a book review by Dwight Garner centered around three books, each of which in varying ways, grapple with the issue of just how wired kids are these days, what it means, and what, if anything, parents should do about it. I don’t want to give too much away here, but what moved me was Garner’s very personal account of how he and his wife often feel like they’re flailing about—if not outright failing—as they observe their children live such deeply digital lives.

Please read it here and let me know if you have any advice for him (because really it would be advice for me).

I leave you on this happy note. I wrote Garner to compliment and commiserate with him, and he graciously responded.

“I’m still optimistic!” he wrote.

In truth, I am too.

Eric Messinger is the Editor of New York Family. He can be reached at
[email protected]

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Studio E Art Classes

<p>Art, drawing, illustration, painting, and pottery.  Studio E Art Classes for ages 2 ½ to adult offers a creative space to find joy and rest in the creative arts. 7-week sessions are available for all classes, or just drop into a class to give it a try.</p> <p>Studio E Art is a great place to schedule a birthday party, celebration, scout troop activity, fundraiser and more.  Summer camps for children and tweens are available for half or full day in art or pottery.</p> <p>Find a complete list of classes, descriptions, and times on our <a href="https://studioeartclass.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, or give us a call at 631-744-4001</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bc02a8ce-7fff-3ce7-fefb-13163f0a79b6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2e621915-7fff-f490-fe96-ea466c05ebda"></span></span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-eef1d235-7fff-f52c-632b-0a2c03581014"></span></p>

Polaris Productions Theater Camp

<p>Kids will learn, rehearse, and perform the wonderful Maurice Sendak and Carole King musical, Really Rosie. For 10 weekdays, campers will take part in physical and vocal warm-ups and learn choreography, staging, and vocal parts. They’ll develop skills in acting, singing, character development, and more. This camp will ignite your child’s imagination and passion for performing, build their self-esteem, and help them form lasting friendships. They’ll have fun! At camp’s end, the kids will perform Really Rosie for family members and friends. Kids of all levels of experience, ages 8 through 13, are welcome to join.</p>

Instituto Cervantes

<p><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.</span></p>