Young Athletes Couch Potatoes and Helicopter Parents

the long version

"In Young Athletes, Couch Potatoes, and Helicopter Parents, Jessica Skolnikoff and Robert Engvall look at the important issue of play and its changing role in today's hyperstructured society. The authors conducted countless interviews combined with extensive research in order to develop a comprehensive theory on the current nature of play and how it has affected children's lives. Specific topics addressed include the impact of overinvolved parents upon the play of their children, the lack of unstructured play, how kids are chosen for sports teams and the effect of these selections on the kids, and the lasting impression on children of society's competitive mindset." -- Back Cover