Educational Media Reviews Online

Childs Play: Adolescence, addresses the hopes, fears, lifestyle and challenges that face young people today. Individual expression, peer pressure, responsibility and inexperience can make choices difficult for adolescents. The choices may be as simple as trying a new hairstyle or as dangerous as whether or not to try drugs and alcohol or engage in sexual activity. Often a time of miscommunication between parents and their children, experts provide insight into the nature of these problem years and offer practical advice for parents to nurture self esteem, ease the growing pains and provide a safety net for kids.

University of Minnesota Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health Mike Resnick, believes that the youth of today face truly different challenges than previous generations. These stem from exposure to choices at an earlier age because of mass media and transportation, as well as the different environmental exposure to sex and violence via the Internet and video games. Ellen Galinsky addresses the changing nature of family and work that effect children's home life. Two parent working families leave children home alone and in vulnerable and even dangerous situations for several hours of the day, times which are considered to be the most high risk for trouble. Growing up alone is an increased concern as three fourths of mothers now work out of the home.

David Alkine, Professor of Child Development at Tufts University believes that the pressure of society on parents to succeed in the workplace and encouraging marketplace values lends itself to placing the needs of parents above those of adolescents.

Ultimately, through personal interviews, the experts share their opinions that a shift back to fundamental values, such as family meals, religion, teacher-parent interaction, help with homework and involvement in extracurricular activities can provide adolescents with the security they need in a time when they are the most vulnerable to making wrong and dangerous choices for their life.

The personal interviews with experts and teens provide an effective and insightful look into the nature of adolescence. The video and audio qualities are very good. This film is appropriate for adolescents, parents, teachers and those who are involved with adolescents in organizations. It can be used as a valuable teaching tool for parents. Highly recommended.