The We Generation: Raising Socially Responsible Kids » (Original)

An internationally recognized expert on resilience in youth, Michael Ungar, PhD, is a clinician and research professor at the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University. He lives in Halifax, with his wife and two children.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your child committed herself to doing a simple act of kindness every day? As today’s culture seems to grow more self-centered and obsessed with “me,” Dr. Michael Ungar refreshingly points the way to raising “we” thinkers. Perhaps most inspiring about Ungar’s findings: today’s kids are eager to help out and be noticed. What they need, though, is compassion, encouragement, and attentiveness to their most important connections—those made at home. By recounting the inspiring stories of his work with families, Ungar reveals how the emotional bond kids crave and the support adults provide can help our children realize their full potential. Filled with practical tips, this guide will inspire every child and adult to be their best, most giving self.

Publishers Weekly

Can the “Me Generation” of baby boomers raise a “We Generation” of consciously compassionate, less self-involved kids? Canadian psychologist Ungar believes so and has written this guide for parents to help them foster in their offspring a spirit of volunteerism, a willingness to “give back” and a directive to do well by doing good. Each of these eight, action-oriented chapters offers anecdotes, self-evaluation tools, lists of activities and boxed tips as it addresses part of a plan for overcoming the problem of self-centered kids, starting with recognizing and learning that kids want to help and make changes; that compassion leads to connection, which leads to responsibility; how grandparents, neighbors and other parents can join forces; why parent-child affection is so important; how to guide kids spiritually and emotionally; how to avoid kids' isolation and anonymity in society; and strategies for generating excitement about being part of a wider world. Critical to all this is parents' commitment to model what they want to see in their kids. While this book may raise more questions than it answers—can kids who do community service only for college application profiles grow a conscience? or what about rebellious kids who do the opposite of their parents?—it is timely. Just as cardigan-clad Mr. Rogers embodied this concept in his PBS neighborhood, Ungar reframes it for today's families. (Dec.)

Introduction The We Generation 1

Ch. 1 Parents Matter 23

Ch. 2 Connected Kids 51

Ch. 3 Adult Mirrors, Adult Mentors 75

Ch. 4 Please Touch 103

Ch. 5 The Best and Worst of Connections 133

Ch. 6 An Invitation to Responsibility 163

Ch. 7 Monster Homes Make Monstrous Children 183

Ch. 8 Village People 217

Conclusion: We-Thinkers 245

Acknowledgments 261

Appendix Answer Key to "How Connected Are Your Kids?" 263

Notes 265

Index 271