When Olivia Bruner saw video games overtaking her young sons' lives, she decided to learn the facts behind addiction. What she found was shocking: that most games are designed to be highly addictive-triggering physiological reactions in the brain similar to those associated with substance abuse-and that one out of five kids becomes addicted to computer and video games. And while many parents screen the content of games to protect their children from violent and sexual themes, few understand the forces causing their children to become hooked on the "digital drug." This book arms parents with the facts they need and concrete steps to protect our children from this very real epidemic. A must-read for all parents.

Media Today puts students at the center of profound changes in the twenty-first century media world -from digital convergence to media ownership- and gives them the skills to think critically about what these changes mean for the role of media in their lives.

Media Today puts students at the center of profound changes in the twenty-first century media world -from digital convergence to media ownership- and gives them the skills to think critically about what these changes mean for the role of media in their lives.

Our use of media touches on almost all aspects of our social lives, be they friendships, parent-child relationships, emotional lives, or social stereotypes. How we understand ourselves and others is now largely dependent on how we perceive ourselves and others in media, how we interact with one another through mediated channels, and how we share, construct, and understand social issues via our mediated lives. This volume highlights cutting edge scholarship from preeminent scholars in media psychology that examines how media intersect with our social lives in three broad areas: media and the self; media and relationships; and social life in emerging media. The scholars in this volume not only provide insightful and up-to-date examinations of theorizing and research that informs our current understanding of the role of media in our social lives, but they also detail provocative and valuable roadmaps that will form that basis of future scholarship in this crucially important and rapidly evolving media landscape.

Presents advice for teenagers for overcoming an addiction to online activities and finding a more balanced life that includes relationships with friends and family.

Teens' Guide to Identity from FamilyLife All teens wrestle with the question "Who am I?" and wonder, What makes me special? Though these questions linger for life, they are most intense in the teen years, where confusion, awkwardness, and a desperate grab for identity reign. So how does a young person answer these critical questions? Where do young men and women find their significance, worth, and value? True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships. The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.

"Reclaiming Home" is for the modern parent who is tired of living life on empty. Pushing back against the distractions, disconnection, and short cuts that hijack strong families, this book offers practical, life-giving solutions that any parent can implement. While we often hear about the negative effects of culture on our families, we are rarely offered the tools needed to build our family differently. "Reclaiming Home" is a parent’s guidebook, providing the HOW behind implementing desired family values and identity. Packed with real-life ideas and inspiration for home, marriage, and children, this book will be an essential companion as you build meaningful family relationships and a family identity that will last for generations.