The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) announced today that founder and CEO Gloria DeGaetano's work has been selected for inclusion in Japanese textbooks used by Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU). The excerpt, from her book "Screen Smarts," will appear in two publications: one covering 2026 through 2027 and another for the 2027-2029 academic period. The section, titled "As Children Grow: Screen Influence," includes a Japanese translation and explanation designed to help high school students grasp the text's meaning and complex grammar.
Kwansei Gakuin University, located in the Kansai region with its main campus in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, also has campuses in Sanda, Osaka, and Tokyo. The university partners with 320 universities and 60 organizations worldwide. The 2027-2029 edition is published by Kyogakusha, based in Kyoto, in affiliation with KGU's Schools of Theology, Sociology, Economics, International Studies, and Education. Kyogakusha specializes in publishing collections of past university entrance exams, making them accessible and affordable for high school students, typically around age 17, who may lack resources for private tutoring.
DeGaetano expressed her honor at being contacted by KGU, noting their meticulous attention to detail that made the reprint process smooth. She emphasized the enduring relevance of the selected content: "Although 'Screen Smarts' is an older book, the research still stands today with our complex technology: The more children stare into a two-dimensional flat surface, the less their brain develops optimally. Tech cannot do what sensory and lived experiences do to help little humans flourish." This message has been central to her work for over 30 years and is integral to the parent coach training program she developed at PCI.
The Parent Coaching Institute is recognized as an innovative world leader in family support. Its year-long, online Parent Coach Certification® program, offered in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University, attracts highly skilled professionals. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Fall Term, beginning mid-September, with a deadline of September 1. For more information, visit www.ThePCI.org.
This inclusion in Japanese textbooks underscores the global concern over screen time's impact on children's development. As technology becomes increasingly pervasive, DeGaetano's research provides a crucial reminder that sensory and lived experiences are irreplaceable for optimal brain development. The reprint not only validates her long-standing advocacy but also introduces these insights to a new generation of Japanese students, potentially influencing future parenting practices and educational policies.
