The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) has announced that PCI Founder and CEO Gloria DeGaetano has had a portion of her book Screen Smarts reprinted in a Japanese textbook. Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU) will include the selection in two publications: one current through 2027, and the other for the 2027-2029 edition. The reprint includes a simple Japanese translation and explanation of the section titled "As Children Grow: Screen Influence" to help high school students understand its meaning and difficult grammatical points.
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 2027-2029 edition is being published in affiliation with the Schools of Theology, Sociology, Economics, International Studies, and Education. The publisher, Kyogakusha based in Kyoto, specializes in collections of past university entrance exams, providing authentic exam papers at affordable prices for high school students who may lack access to private tutoring.
DeGaetano expressed her honor at being contacted by KGU, noting the university's prestigious reputation and its partnerships with 320 universities and 60 organizations worldwide. She remarked on the smooth reprint process, attributing it to KGU's attention to detail. DeGaetano emphasized the continued relevance of the book's message: "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.
The Parent Coaching Institute is recognized as an innovative world leader in family support, attracting highly skilled professionals to its year-long, online Parent Coach Certification® program. Offered in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University, the program enrolls family support professionals through an application process. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026 Fall Term, starting mid-September, with a deadline of September 1. For more information, visit www.ThePCI.org.
This announcement underscores the enduring importance of understanding screen influence on child development, a topic that remains critical as technology becomes increasingly pervasive. The inclusion of DeGaetano's work in a Japanese textbook highlights the global relevance of these concerns and the value of educational materials that address them. For parents, educators, and family professionals, this news reinforces the need to balance technology use with sensory and lived experiences to support optimal brain development in children.
