Parent Talk: The Art Of Parenting Video Series, Vol. 2--School Age Children

Evelyn Petersen, a nationally-known columnist and parenting expert--as we are told in a lengthy introduction--is the host of this compilation of mini-videos which originally aired on Northern Michigan's Newswatch series. A "leader's guide," which contains the segment scripts, developmental information about school-age children, and a suggested reading list is included with the tape. Looking over the table of contents, the subjects covered suggests much-needed help for parents: sibling rivalry, troubles at school, self-esteem, no friends, homework, tips on allowance, etc. But the 37 segments on the tape each offer about a minute of Petersen talking to the camera in pretty general terms. You can't handle the subject of "divorce" as it relates to children in 60 seconds. While segments occasionally offer practical tips ranging from the sensible to the strange (Petersen advises that angry parents blow off steam by "beating a rolled newspaper on the floor" before confronting their children), the basic message here is of the lots-of-hugs, lots-of-praise, you-can-do-it! school of thought. In other words, from a parent's point of view much of what's on this tape will seem like sound bites from Saturn. Managing to be both bouncy and tiresome, Petersen's McLectures cannot give more than a surface introduction to any of the 37 topics, and are not likely to tell parents anything they don't already know. There are two other programs in the series: Vol. 1: The Young Child and Vol. 3: Teenagers. (Actually, the titles on the labels and the boxes vary.) Not recommended. (See DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF for availability.)