Anything but My Phone, Mom! Raising Emotionally Resilient Daughters in the Digital Age

Based on dozens of interviews and the author’s decades of work as a clinical psychologist, Cohen-Sandler’s book addresses parenting in the brave new world where technology is king, selfies are heavily edited, cyberbullying runs rampant, and many teens have smartphones. As parents know, many young people are eager to confront social issues such as climate change, sexual harassment, gender issues, and racism in their desire for transformation; this often happens online. The first part of this volume analyzes the cultural forces transforming teens’ experiences, based on Cohen-Sandler’s research (although the demographic sampling in her data isn’t made clear). The second part is devoted to helping teens develop the skills, habits, and personality traits needed to thrive in this landscape. The book concludes with a third part that coaches readers in specific challenges such as managing screen time, dating, homework, coping with divorce, and preparing for college.