Susan Linn

From a world-renowned expert on creative play and the impact of commercial marketing on children, a timely investigation into how big tech is hijacking childhood—and what we can do about it“Engrossing and insightful . . . rich with details that paint a full portrait of contemporary child-corporate relations.” —Zephyr Teachout, The New York Times Book ReviewEven before COVID-19, digital technologies had become deeply embedded in children’s lives, despite a growing body of research detailing the harms of excessive immersion in the unregulated, powerfully seductive world of the “kid-tech” industry. In the “must read” (Library Journal, starred review) Who’s Raising the Kids?, Susan Linn—one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of Big Tech and big business on children—weaves an “eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). From birth, kids have become lucrative fodder for tech, media, and toy companies, from producers of exploitative games and social media platforms to “educational” technology and branded school curricula of dubious efficacy. Written with humor and compassion, Who’s Raising the Kids? is a unique and highly readable social critique and guide to protecting kids from exploitation by the tech, toy, and entertainment industries. Two hopeful chapters—“Resistance Parenting” and “Making a Difference for Everybody’s Kids”—chart a path to allowing kids to be the children they need to be.

From a world-renowned expert on creative play and the impact of commercial marketing on children, a timely investigation into how big tech is hijacking childhood—and what we can do about it“Engrossing and insightful . . . rich with details that paint a full portrait of contemporary child-corporate relations.” —Zephyr Teachout, The New York Times Book ReviewEven before COVID-19, digital technologies had become deeply embedded in children’s lives, despite a growing body of research detailing the harms of excessive immersion in the unregulated, powerfully seductive world of the “kid-tech” industry. In the “must read” (Library Journal, starred review) Who’s Raising the Kids?, Susan Linn—one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of Big Tech and big business on children—weaves an “eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). From birth, kids have become lucrative fodder for tech, media, and toy companies, from producers of exploitative games and social media platforms to “educational” technology and branded school curricula of dubious efficacy. Written with humor and compassion, Who’s Raising the Kids? is a unique and highly readable social critique and guide to protecting kids from exploitation by the tech, toy, and entertainment industries. Two hopeful chapters—“Resistance Parenting” and “Making a Difference for Everybody’s Kids”—chart a path to allowing kids to be the children they need to be.

Kids Design Glass began as a temporary educational program at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, but has developed into a delightful collection of art. Watching the pieces as they are made is fascinating for the Museum's visitors - and creating them is a test of the glassblowers' prowess. Young visitors to the Museum of Glass are encouraged to submit drawings of whatever their imaginations can dream up for the program. Each month, the Museum's Hot Shop artists choose one drawing and change the two-dimensional design into a three-dimensional glass sculpture. The child, friends, and family are invited, along with the public, to watch the object being created. The child and audience share in the agony if the glass cracks or breaks and the Hot Shop must begin anew - and share the joy as the finished work is placed in the annealing oven to slowly cool down. Two objects are made, one for the child and the other for the Museum of Glass collection. Visiting artists have also been intrigued by the program. John Miller, Nancy Callan, Joseph Gregory Rossano, the Bee Kingdom, Dante Marioni, Preston Singletary, Martin Blank, and even the maestro of Venetian glassblowing, Lino Tagliapietra, have all volunteered to make a creature. This book includes 52 works of art, with full-color photos of both the object and the original drawing. A children's comic-style booklet,"Pip! The Baby Monster and How He Was Made at the Museum of Glass" and a DVD showing the creation of Recycle Robot are tucked inside.

Gripping stories of children at home, school and in the therapist's office using make-believe to grapple with real-life issues from entering nursery school to the death of a sibling. In an age where toys come from television shows and dress-up means Disney costumes, Linn lays out the inextricable links between play, creativity and health, showing why society should protect children from corporations that aim to limit their imaginations.

Offers a frank and informative look at the way corporations and advertisers target children as a profitable demographic, as well as a look at their methods for getting past parental safeguards to make products of all kinds appeal directly to even the youngest children. 15,000 first printing.