Parent, educator and author of Talkin' About Poker: Straight Talk for Parents and their Players; Loren Ackerman has first hand experience in parenting a college age son who loved the game of poker, especially No Limit Texas Hold'em. Her new book promotes parent education, tips for communicating with college age children and observing behaviors to determine if poker is being played in a healthy way or leading to a dangerous lifestyle.
One of the latest WSOP event champions is a 21-year-old film student who hails from Los Angeles. Poker is everywhere and people are talking about it. The politicians in Washington are talking about the bill called H.R. 4777 and trying to determine if online poker is legal. The lawyers are talking about poker in Pennsylvania regarding the sentencing of a young college student who robbed a bank to repay online poker debts. The entertainment industry is talking about poker by identifying the most eligible bachelors in the poker world. Everyone is talking about poker and now, it is time for parents to also talk about poker.
Poker is being played in basements, on the beach, in the mountains and in dorm rooms around the country. Is this a dangerous trend? Some professionals say yes; others say no. Who do parents listen to for advice about this wild card craze? How do parents know if their kids are playing recreationally or headed for trouble? Parents need to begin to educate themselves about this trend that continues to increase in popularity.
Talkin’ About Poker: Straight Talk for Parents and their Players is the 1st book written for parents on the topic of poker. It is an educational resource that promotes parenting and communication with young adults about poker and making good choices. Parents need to educate themselves, communicate with their college age students regarding all the aspects of this game, observe behaviors and evaluate these behaviors to determine if the kids are safe or headed for danger. Where does a parent begin?
Educate, communicate and evaluate are key tools when parenting young adults about any issue, not just poker. Parents can begin with the following questions: How much do I know about my child playing poker? What do I want to know about my child my playing poker? The answers to these 2 questions can jumpstart the parenting process. Record the answers and observe behaviors to determine patterns. Once behavior patterns are established, parents can determine if their college kids are playing poker recreationally and responsibly or headed down a dangerous path.
