About Minnesota Say Yes to No

This fall, teachers, parents, and public officials throughout Minnesota will participate in the first ever statewide book read. An unprecedented coalition of groups dedicated to children’s health and development have joined together to ignite community conversations around a book that focuses on a deceptively simple, but difficult to say, two-letter word – No.

Why Say Yes to No? Why now?

Over the last decade, screen time has been the most significant lifestyle change for our kids. Children are exposed to over one million Yes messages a week, with an average of 44.5 hours spent in front of a screen per week. For 12 years, the National Institute on Media and the Family has been a trusted voice for families in the media age, bringing MediaWise® solutions to families everywhere. Dr. David Walsh, founder and president of the Institute, connected with parents and educators across the country with his new book No: Why Kids – of All Ages – Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Dr. Walsh paints a powerful picture of how Yes media messages screaming “More, Easy, Fast and Fun” undermine the critical character traits kids need to succeed in school and life. With warmth, experience and humor, Dr. Walsh argues that learning how and when to say No is crucial to raising healthy, self-reliant kids.

In the six months since its release, translation rights have already been acquired in six foreign countries. The Institute receives multiple requests to address groups of educators and parents every day. Most importantly, parents, teachers, policymakers, and leaders in Minnesota are ready to lead the way on this issue – they are ready to Say Yes to No.

Discussion groups. Chats. Blogs. Forums. e-Learning. Videos. Book clubs. Training.

Minnesota Say Yes to No is not just a book read. Say Yes to No is a campaign to raise healthy, self-reliant children so they will be successful in school and life.

Minnesota Say Yes to No provides a lifetime of tools and resources to parents and schools. No is not just a one-word answer, it’s a parenting strategy. By saying No when they need to, adults help children develop skills such as self-discipline, respect, integrity, the ability to delay gratification, and a host of other crucial character traits they need to be successful.

As Dr. Dave says,