In The Collapse of Parenting physician psychologist and internationally acclaimed author Leonard Sax presents data documenting a dramatic decline in the achievement and psychological health of American children. Sax argues that rising levels of obesity depression and anxiety among young peopleas well as the explosion in prescribing psychiatric medications to kidscan all be traced to parents letting their kids call the shots.

Many parents are afraid of seeming too dictatorial and end up abdicating their authority rather than taking a stand with their own children. If kids refuse to eat anything green and demand pizza instead some parents give in inadvertently raising children who are more likely to become obese. If children are given smartphones and allowed to spend the bulk of their free time texting playing video games and surfing the Internet they become increasingly reliant on peers and the media for guidance on how to live rather than getting such guidance at home. And if they won't sit still in class or listen to adults?? they're often prescribed medication?? a quick fix that actually undermines their self-control. In short?? Sax argues?? parents are failing to prioritize the par