Bloggers wanted to review the groundbreaking parenting book Bringing up Geeks: How to protect your kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world (Berkley Books ,a division of Penguin Group USA, 2008) by author, columnist and speaker Marybeth Hicks.
Hicks redefines “GEEKs” as Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids. She says parents whose kids are geeks should feel great about this label. Of course, Hicks uses the term “geek” with a wink, but it’s a reference that concerned parents understand. In her innovative and accessible book, Hicks advises parents to teach kids to resist the influences of popular culture and the social pressure to conform to the expectations and behaviors of the “cool” crowd. Parents of geeks remember to keep the focus on raising kids for long-term success – not for popularity as children.
The first 20 bloggers to respond get a free copy of the book. Learn more about Bringing up Geeks: How to protect your kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world at www.bringingupgeeks.com and contact Marybeth at marybeth@marybethhicks.com
Oh, this is my family, to a G! My husband is an O.G... an Original Geek. My kids couldn't escape their genes. I mean, look at me, here is it 2 am and where am I? On the computer!
My kids are geeks, wear the label as a badge of honor. My 15 yr old daughter thinks Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, rocks. My kids were playing Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock before it showed up on Big Bang Theory. We are a family of geeks. I would LOVE to review this book.
My daughter is going through some tough times at high school at the moment. She is very individual, has strong opinions and isn't afraid to voice them plus she is intelligent. Because of her personality she is being teased and bullied at school - not to a great degree but enough that I am concerned. Yet I do not want her to lose that individuality and strong personality. She si definitely a GEEK. My frined's daughter is in a similar position at another school. We are both telling our girls that being individual is good; being a sheeple is silly.
My daughter is a freshman in high school and actually relishes the title, going the extra mile to stand on her own. I think that how we as parents chose to see them helps them to decide whether to embrace the good aspects of being called a geek - good students, love to explore new ideas, goals oriented for their futures - or whether they choose to focus on the negative aspects - peer pressure, introverted nature, etc. Of course, at this age it can be pure torture for some kids not to conform, but those that can do it with support of their families and a few close understanding friends, will find higher self-esteem and a brighter future.
I have two "Geeks". Both of which are allowing their peers to get the best of them. My son gave up chorus, which he loved singing in, because the other boys in school say that it's not "cool" for boys to sing in chorus and that only girls do. I try and tell my son that there are plenty of current rock and roll/pop singers out there today who got their start singing in chorus and in the choir. My son is not into sports or other things boys his age are. He rather watch the Weather Channel and write.
My daughter is very bright and always does well at school. However now that she's in middle school she's seemingly trying to make herself LESS smart to be more like her "friends" (I use the term loosely of course). We don't want her to do that! She needs to learn to be herself and not a follower. At home she's totally different but at school and around her friends she automatically turns into a follower.
This book sounds very interesting and might provide some suggestions for us.
I would love to review this book as my chess club attending, video game obsessing, I 'm going to be a physicist eleven year old gets called a"geek" alot (and not by me :-)
I'd be flattered as all get out! Kid however might not be quite so happy until we explained the upsides to being one. Let me ask you if you guys have pictures of your darling daughters and son holding mechanical pencils as infants or even beside the "stud geek" using screw driver to put case back on a PC? I've got those shots... *nods lots* Future's so bright that she's gotta wear shades!
My son is starting to struggle with this. He is a very bright boy and until recently his amazing general knowledge (from all the books he reads) and insight and slightly adult way of talking (long words and heavier topics than some kids his age) have been accepted and admired by his peers. Now, aged 10 going on 11 he's starting to get picked on and mocked for being not-very-sporty, rather absent minded and a day dreamer - even his teacher made a comment about him living with his head in the clouds yesterday and the whole class laughed at him - he told me in tears last night.
I think this book sounds like something i should read...
This has my name written all over it. In Latin. I tell people all the time now that I've embraced my geekiness, and I certainly wish someone had encouraged me to do that when I was younger. Instead I got caught up in the popularity contest of youth - and failed pretty miserably. I want my children to be excited about science and the world and how everything fits together. This sounds like a great, timely book. Thank you for the opportunity to review it!
Well my kids are young adults now and they never called them geeks 15 yrs ago. I've never
been big on labels. My son was a budding techie when he was younger and never really got
teased about it however he did feel different so I "introduced" him to Einstein and that is
who my son used as a role model. He still has the poster I gave him where Einstein has his
tongue sticking out and talks about marching to the beat of a different drummer. He's
marched to his own beat ever since, is a program networker for a successful technology
company and makes three times as much money as most of his "non-techie" friends. Hmm
maybe we just called them techie's instead of geeks up here in Canada.
in Review Requests 8 points
Bloggers wanted to review the groundbreaking parenting book Bringing up Geeks: How to protect your kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world (Berkley Books ,a division of Penguin Group USA, 2008) by author, columnist and speaker Marybeth Hicks.
Hicks redefines “GEEKs” as Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids. She says parents whose kids are geeks should feel great about this label. Of course, Hicks uses the term “geek” with a wink, but it’s a reference that concerned parents understand. In her innovative and accessible book, Hicks advises parents to teach kids to resist the influences of popular culture and the social pressure to conform to the expectations and behaviors of the “cool” crowd. Parents of geeks remember to keep the focus on raising kids for long-term success – not for popularity as children.
The first 20 bloggers to respond get a free copy of the book. Learn more about Bringing up Geeks: How to protect your kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world at www.bringingupgeeks.com and contact Marybeth at marybeth@marybethhicks.com
Comments about this alert:
My kids are geeks, wear the label as a badge of honor. My 15 yr old daughter thinks Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, rocks. My kids were playing Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock before it showed up on Big Bang Theory. We are a family of geeks. I would LOVE to review this book.
Lisa C. Decker, CDFA
www.DivorceMoneyMatters.com
My daughter is very bright and always does well at school. However now that she's in middle school she's seemingly trying to make herself LESS smart to be more like her "friends" (I use the term loosely of course). We don't want her to do that! She needs to learn to be herself and not a follower. At home she's totally different but at school and around her friends she automatically turns into a follower.
This book sounds very interesting and might provide some suggestions for us.
Kimberly
www.SheScribes.com
www.multitaskingmama.com
http://www.naturalmath.com
another child because their mother is a geek.
~Regina
http://dr-flower.com
I think this book sounds like something i should read...
been big on labels. My son was a budding techie when he was younger and never really got
teased about it however he did feel different so I "introduced" him to Einstein and that is
who my son used as a role model. He still has the poster I gave him where Einstein has his
tongue sticking out and talks about marching to the beat of a different drummer. He's
marched to his own beat ever since, is a program networker for a successful technology
company and makes three times as much money as most of his "non-techie" friends. Hmm
maybe we just called them techie's instead of geeks up here in Canada.