Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence

I just finished reading "Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill": A Call To Action Against TV, Movie & Video Violence by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Gloria DeGaetano. Parents, Guardians, and those entrusted with the well-being of our children, if you don't read any other book in 2015, I implore you to read this one!After hearing Lt. Col. Dave Grossman speak at the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists Annual Conference in May 2014, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second edition of this book (available August 2014). Supported by the latest research as well as by six prestigious organizations - the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Grossman and DeGaetano clearly make the case for "causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children". However, the alarming and deleterious effects on the psychological, social, cognitive, and physical development of millions of children who are pervasively exposed to violent movies and TV, and/or who are engaging in violent video games are thoroughly defined and discussed. What I learned is horrifying. This book is not an easy read - but it is a MUST read.Although every chapter of "Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill" is incredibly important, I recommend jumping right into Chapter Three - Murder, Torture, Brutality: Dangerous "Games", and Chapter Four - The Story I Tell Myself About Myself. Even with my background in psychology and my professional experience in the areas of trauma and abuse, I was blown away by the depth of Grossman's and DeGaetano's compelling understanding of the human mind and how the processes of reconditioning and re-scripting by exposure to violent media affect children differently at these developmental stages- ages 3-5; ages 6-10; ages 11- 14; ages 15-18. Parents or guardians, when it comes to violent media and how it influences and impacts a child's psycho-social development and self-identity, the authors explain step by step how a child's brain is harmfully "wired and fired". Just a few of the terms that are part of the "wiring" are the following:* Mastery and control* Operant conditioning* Desensitization* Downward spiral* Wishful identification* Imitation to identificationUnderstanding these terms and many others provides awareness and insight into the damaging developmental consequences on our children, many of which go undetected until acts of aggression or of violence become part of a child's repertoire of behaviors and anti-social attitudes.Parents/guardians and for everyone who cares about our children, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Gloria DeGaetano write, "The media has been called the third parent because of its pervasive, repetitive, and constant presence in the lives of our children. Mass media actually comes between and impacts every personal and societal relationship our children form. It's ever present."Enough is enough! It is time to step it up! It is time to "Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill"! Grossman and DeGaetano are ready to help. Along with a wide range of resources, the authors provide readers with a plethora of age appropriate guidelines and practices to incorporate into their parenting.Get this book! Get it today! Let's all help our children to live healthier lives!Author Holli Kenley  Cyber Bullying No More: Parenting A High Tech Generation (Growing with Love)   Breaking Through Betrayal: and Recovering the Peace Within (New Horizons in Therapy)

For those that think playing violent video games has NO negative effects, prepare to be in for a rude awakening. The book provides insights into the psychological effect of violent video gaming. It references case studies and draws from the decades-long research of Grossman on "Killology."Basically, the military used violent video games to train soldiers to become killers, and now those same games are being used to train children to become killers. Sure, not every kid has access to weapons, but it does lead to disensitization and aggresive behavior in a large swarm of the video gaming population.As for those kids who have access to weapons (and who are susceptible to violent video games and/or have a history of mental illness), welcome to the advent of school shootings.

Every parent should read this!

This book will be staying in our parental "toolbox" .incredibly helpful and necessary for parents to know andUnderstand for the sake of their loved ones

This is a must read for all American adults. If you ever wondered WHY a school shooter commits such senseless violence - you won't wonder after reading this book. If you ever wished you could be a part of the solution , you can be after you read and recommend this book to others. Even if you wondered why younger generations view the world differently, may be more desensitized and apathetic about things that horrify you......you won't wonder after reading this book. This isn't a book about guns really. It's about about our American culture and the messages our youths (and others) receive. If you want American to be the best it can be --- reading this book is a good step in that direction!

This is a must-read book for parents and educators who desire to fully understand what motivates children and how to help them be their best selves. The scourge of violent video games is coming to bear in this country, and this excellent book identifies the issues and provides rational argument and clear solutions to this deadly problem. It is clearly and concisely written, strong in its arguments and wise in its rationale. Gloria DeGaetano is a recognized and celebrated teacher and mentor of parent coaches, parents and educators, and her expertise is showcased brilliantly along with Col Grossman's extensive experience and focus. I would highly recommend that all parents and teachers read and utilize this book.

Lt. Col. Grossman's and Ms. DeGaitano's research and communication of this critical topic is unparalleled. Our country and world are seeing the effects of violent media and first-person violent video games as the first generations of young people exposed to it have grown up. The authors have done an exceptional job of examining the growing data available and making it accessible to the public . . . most importantly, those of us who are in positions to reach the parents of these kids to help them understand the risks of allowing their children to be immersed in these media. I'm grateful for what these good people have done for us with their work.

Grossman and Degaetano hit the root causes of the increased violence we are seeing in young people throughout the world. It explains the core roots of much of this violence using an abundance of reliable research by respectable persons and organizations for over 50 years. Unfortunately due ti the power of politics and money from Hollywood and the video game moguls Washington DC has sold out and is scapegoating other industries and the Second Amendment. A must read for all informed voters and people who care about kids...

Great...if hugely disturbing read...on the influence of video games on young minds. Scary but brilliant.

SUPERB