Originally Posted By Lisann22 Little more serious today... What do you think are the main differences between the youth of today and older generations? Do you think kids today have it "too easy?"
Originally Posted By beamerdog I think that this generation is similar to that raised in the 50's. Too much conspicuous consumption on the part of young parents. I suspect this will gradually change as people realize their situations as the coming economy tightens. The pendulum swings back and forth. <<<disadvantaged as first response, lol.
Originally Posted By u k fan I think one of the main differences between the generations is communication. With so many ways to share information instantly the parameters have changed dramatically on what communication even is IMHO. I actually think in some ways kids have it harder these days as they are expected to grow up much quicker!!!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I think kids today are more isolated. It's sadly ironic that as more and more ways to be interconnected to the world exist, it actually creates kids who are tethered to the real world mainly by technology and limited interaction with other people. The biggest loss of the last few decades is the ability for kids to just go outside and play. Because of fears of kidnapping and crime, kids are now raised like hot house flowers -- they play sports only on scheduled leagues vs. daily pick up games of ball in the neighborhood. I think it's the #1 reason we have the childhood obesity problem we have today. I hope it will turn around at some point. It makes me sad to see some of the simple fun kids are missing. I wish I had an easy answer for it, but i understand the fear parents have about anything happening to their kid. But it's like Dori said, "If nothing ever happens to them, then nothing will ever happen to them." Smart words from a fish.
Originally Posted By u k fan Agreed, I used to love going out and exploring with my friends when we were younger. We had little dens in the woods near our house and games that would continue on each afternoon after school!!!
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter I agree with everything above. Although in general kids today have it MUCH easier than in earlier generations as far as wealth and health (of course there's still poverty, but overall people have way more material possessions and comforts and far better medical care than in earlier generations), I think it's harder to be a kid today in most other respects. Drugs, increased crime, the seedy side of technology--these all contribute to more potential problems and a loss of freedom for today's kids. While children today have escaped the hard work and much higher natural mortality rates of long ago, our advances have created a whole new set of problems.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter One more thought. . . I think one of the main differences between kids today and children of long past generations is a lack of creativity and ability to entertain oneself. Video games and the like, the constantly scheduled sports and lessons and activities, TV, movies, cell phones, the Internet. . . .these have all led to kids who have very little ability to entertain themselves. Not to sound self-promoting but just to reinforce this point, other parents constantly marvel at my kids' contentment with being home much of the time without scheduled activities or frequent get togethers with friends. At fifteen and twelve, they love just hanging out at home and very, very rarely complain of being bored. The reason? Their video/TV/computer time has been limited to an hour or two a day for their entire lives. (There are exceptions to that, of course, but for the vast majority of the time, those limits apply). So they have been coming up with their own fun all of their lives. And they seem so much happier, more creative, and less stressed than most other kids their age.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan ^ ^ ^ Great point Pixie! Every so often, I visit a classroom to talk about drawing and cartooning. I'm really struck by how literal kids have become -- that everything must have a "right" answer. We're creating a generation of always-color-in-the-lines kids instead of kids who enjoy letting their creativity flow. I asked one classroom to draw what they thought a "reading bug" looked like. To get the ball rolling, I said "maybe it has glasses or six arms to hold more books or whatever you think." I got 30 drawings of bugs with glasses and exactly six arms holding books. (sigh) I also notice that most kids toys have an electronic component or "do" something specific. Push a button and the toy performs. Even Legos are now created to look like accurate depictions of Star Wars vehicles and movie tie ins, with bricks that really only serve one purpose as opposed to the standard set that requires more creativity and imagination. Think about the opening scene in Toy Story 3. It'd be great if kids still came up with those wild, imaginative scenarios. (Some kids do, of course, but not enough).
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Great conversation! Pretty much all my opinions have been expressed. I think the biggest difference is FREEDOM. Agree 100% with Kar2oonman kids are so isolated today. I will say that I'm proud of the job in general that my family has done with their kids regarding technology and having enough outside time. We do a lot of outings; beaches, parks, road trips as a family to give them exposure to different things. I know as adults we are not afraid to get in there and play with our kids. Tents, forts, games, just talking. I had a recent incident that blew my mind and it was Legos. I made a kid cry and I felt so bad and so mortified why... An employee brought their child into work due to an appointment. The child was in our breakroom with their Legos to entertain them. I had a bit of free time and decided I'd keep them company for a bit. We started to build a little structure but I was "not" going along with the pattern on the box. I told the child "let's use our imagination" and do something different. He started to cry and said "no, it has to be like the box or it's not right, I don't like your imagination." Whoa! Just whoa. I believe that's what you are talking about 2ooney. So very sad.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS I think the main difference between the kids today and the kids of yesteryear are the parents. Parents for the most part don't give a darn if their kids are running rampant around town. Kids cuss and the parents think it's cute. Kids into trouble are not corrected but instead billed as "a good boy, just had a set back". The malls and even Disneyland have become a drop off babysitter for our youth today and there is no supervision. How can a child have half a chance if there isn't a guiding hand to correct errors or help with judgement? I used to think that it was mostly single parents who have two jobs and maybe not the time to really be a great role model. But then when I look closer I notice they have time for pedicures and shopping but not time for their kids. So, my assessment: Most parents are lazy.
Originally Posted By Labuda I'm afraid to say I agree with 999. I don't know why, but it seems like most people in my age group (plus or minus ten years) just aren't good parents. I know a few good examples here on LP, but for ever Pixie Glitter or 2oony or 2/3, it seems like there are 5 of my eldest brother, who is just a lazy parent who allows video games to babysit my nephew and who doesn't encourage my nephew to read or go outside and play.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt you can't let the kids outside!! There are sex offenders everywhere!! This is no joke! Check w/your local PD, you'll be shocked! I agree most parent just don't care how aweful the children are. Sad.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Um, how about letting your children play outside while you're out there with them, AHH? I agree that it's not safe in most places to allow young children to play outdoors unsupervised. But there's no reason kids can't be out playing if a parent is within eye shot of them. When mine were younger, there would frequently be spontaneous outdoor play sessions that went all the way up and down our block, with parents standing or sitting out front of a couple of houses keeping an eye on all of them.
Originally Posted By Ursus J Bear For me, the problems with children stem from the Law of Unintended Consequences. We do esteem training with kids, give them trophies for just showing up, don't keep scores at games. Treat them like little adults, sexualize them at inappropriate ages. Then they are lost in a virtual world of computer games and texting. They are not socialized properly, and become self absorbed, materialistic entitled. The world and people are reduced to objects for consumption, and pleasure is the end all of culture and technology.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>I think one of the main differences between kids today and children of long past generations is a lack of creativity and ability to entertain oneself.<< Ugh, I SO agree with this. As a kid my favourite things in the world were reading and writing stories. I also spent a lot of time running around in the backyard and swimming, but when I was inside I could almost always be found either reading a book or writing my own. Anyway, last year I started teaching and I was HORRIFIED by the lack of imagination coming from my third graders when I started doing creative writing with them. For starters, each and every one of them used the names of their best friends from class as the characters in the story. Then they'd add Pokemon characters in. Then their story would then most likely end up being a retelling of something that had actually happened to them (although usually with more Pokemon characters). So frustrating! So, yes. My short answer is "lack of creativity".
Originally Posted By LuLu Excellent points here. I'll just add this - I feel really sorry for the kids of today (in general). The values they're getting from their parents, peers, and MARKETING are all whack. They have horrible diets and worse morals. There's a complete loss of the innocence of youth. That pains me the most
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I was talking to a young man the other day and he told me he was born in 1991.As long as he has been alive we have been in a state of war.Too easy ? I don't think so.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Ah but see I don't think any of the wars since Vietnam have touched or caused American's to sacrifice of themselves as they had done in the past. Not even close. I am NOT talking about families that have lost love ones in service or live a military spouse/child's life. That's a completely different experience. To me we are completely out of touch with those fighting and we carry on as if nothing is really happening. So while this might seem insensitive unless that child was directly affect due to a family member being in the military I don't see the debate of easy or not easy.
Originally Posted By Ursula I agree with Lisann. There is NOTHING really that shows we are at war. No war coupons. No lack of staples. No war bonds being sold all over the place. There isn't even a havey amount of recruiting going on. Other than hearing when my cousin is deployed or once-in-a-while stories of our local service people getting killed, we have nothing. No sacrifice from the general public.
