Overprotected in class, underprotected in life

Happy Monday! How's your weekend?

I started reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt last week - and this struck me:

"Our children are overprotected in real life but underprotected in the digital world."

My thoughts? JESUS CHRIST, that's bloody accurate!!!

They are and it is up to us if we want to do something about it.

What we can see these days is that people might not be physically bullying others, but cyberbullying is there and it can be a lot worse, because records stay - almost forever.

And our children are not prepared for it.

So what should we do? Well, the book doesn't just scare you — it gives you answers. Real, practical, parent-tested answers.

Haidt lays out four clear norms we can fight for together:

1. No smartphones before high school
2. No social media until 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. More independence, free play, and real-world responsibility in the real world

But here's the thing that hit me hardest:

The same problem is hurting your English.

You've been overprotected in the classroom (textbooks, grammar rules, "perfect" English) — but underprotected in the real world (zero practice with messy, natural conversation).

No wonder you freeze.

So before I invite you to anything else — just start here.

Read this book if you can — available in Chinese and English.

For your kids. For yourself. For the same reason.

Let's make reading sexy again,

Ms. Truda