FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Danielle Tiano
Phone: (949) 295-6881
Email: misswords@beyondyourwords.com

November 9, 2007

New Children’s Book Addresses the Rising Number of Kids Viewing Unacceptable Web sites: Helping Parents Have the Difficult Conversation with Their Child  

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – Could your 8-year-old be receiving unacceptable sites on their cell phone or computer?  Research says 80% of children ages 8-13 have viewed unacceptable web sites, many while doing their homework.

Research also shows that if parents talk with their children about these unacceptable web sites, they reduce the risk that their child will become addicted to it.  Why do most parents have such a hard time having the talk?  Parents are not talking for a few reasons: 1) Some think that by talking about it they will introduce these subjects to their child, 2) Many believe that “their child would never seek it out”, or 3) Others believe that their kids are safe because they have installed filtering software on their home computer.  The truth is that most kids have already been exposed to unacceptable web sites without looking for it, and filtering software will not protect your child from information coming thru cell phones or file sharing.  It is affecting every child and every family globally.

“Most parents were not raised with the Internet, cell phones and other electronic devices so integrated into daily life.  Our children do not know anything different as they are raised with information at their fingertips.  Our children are on the Internet as early as age five in schools and at home.  And about 22 million 5-to-19-year-olds have cell phones that are paid for by their parents,” says Karen Child, marriage and family therapist and contributor to the book Temptation of a Generation.  “Parents aren’t fully aware that their child’s electronic sophistication combined with the availability, affordability and anonymity of unacceptable web sites is a recipe for disaster.”

Surveys indicate that 93 percent of all teens in America between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet (www.pewinternet.org), and those teens have established online profiles on sites such as My Space, Friendster and Xanga (www.cox.com/takecharge.com).  There are more than 150,000 of these unacceptable sites sites with 200 new sites added each day.  A child's viewing of these sites can be as mood altering and addictive as narcotics.  Some have called it the greatest addiction of modern times.

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“We live in an age that speeds up the youth and in turn disables their need for human contact or true human communication.  The adult site industry profits 12 billion dollars a year, and is targeting our youth who are both technologically savvy and developmentally vulnerable.  Our ignorance will cause them harm,” says Karen Child.

Temptation of a Generation is an insightful book that addresses the difficult task of talking to kids about unacceptable adult web sites despite our discomfort, all while keeping the lines of communication open.  This book will help start the conversation ALL parents need, but do not necessarily want to have.  The book tightly embraces the need for open communication, as it is crucial for children to be able to talk to their parents about their discoveries online.  It is an amazing tool; truly groundbreaking. 

“When the audience is limitless, the dangers become terrifying,” says Danielle Tiano author of Temptation of a Generation.  Tiano states, “The book is designed as a tool for parents and educators to begin the conversation about unacceptable adult web sites and Internet safety.  It acts as a buffer for those parents who are not comfortable talking to their child about this problem.”

LifeSTAR’s Karen Child, an expert on addiction, and Beyond Your Words Danielle Tiano, author of numerous books, have united for this common purpose: To help parents and children balance the benefits and obstacles of the electronic age.  Together they wish to enrich lives and allow children to grow and realize their strength.  Child and Tiano believe that change begins by allowing the message to spread to the many families that need it. 

About the book;

The book illustrates a young boy’s encounter with unacceptable adult sites and how it changes his life.  He ends up finding help in an unlikely friend and realizes that the dangers are real, and that life is better lived in real time rather than online.

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Contact:

Danielle Tiano
Phone: (949) 295-6881
For book information: www.BeyondYourWords.com/temptation.htm
Email: Karen Child karenchildma@yahoo.com
Email: Danielle Tiano misswords@beyondyourwords.com