I hear all the time that children have changed. Teachers tell me that they have more students with special needs as well as more behavior problems. I am not sure if it is that children have changed or that “childhood has changed.” There are so many differences from the time I was raising my own children. It seems that there is less time for everything now for family times because there is so much rushing and time pressure. Television and media are more violent and sexual than ever before. These are just a few of the many changes.
I would like your opinion on what has changed. Is it childhood or is it children? We have launched a new survey to get your opinion on this. Go to our web site at www.atiseminars.org to make your voice heard.
One thing has not changed, and that is teachers who care. In many cases, you are the only stable force in the lives of the children you teach. Every day that you are at work, is another opportunity to make a difference.
Have a great day.
Maryln
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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7 comments:
Parents have changed. When I grew up, it was a hands off parenting, meaning my parents weren't the lovey dovey touchy feely kind. Now, parents want to be their kids friends not the parent, and too many people have told them that they shouldn't discipline, so they don't. That is the biggest change I see.
I too would agree that parents have changed. We have gone from one end of the spectrum in child raising to the other. There is no discipline or learning consequences of their actions. Everything that happens is someone else's fault and parents will fight anyone who says there child has done wrong. Children are raisedt to be the center of everyone's universe. I always say my children are the center of mine, but they are not the ceter of everyone elses. All children needed to be treated with fairness and equality. Too many parents raise their children with the belief that they are better than, or more deserving than anyone else. Children are not learning through simple games and activities how to get along and be team players. There is the strive to be better than everyone else in all aspects of life. There is no childhood, there is a push toward academics so that your child can be the smartest, most athletic and the best at everything.
We don't allow children to be children through new parenting beliefs. So it is a combination of these things.
I believe that we have a myriad of coexisting factors which impact the behaviors of our youngest generation. More children are surviving major illnesses and premature births than in previous generations. More children are thrust into full time child care settings at earlier and earlier ages than ever before in our history, and are being parented by parents, grandparents or other caregivers who are somewhat to highly distracted by the other demands of parenting and just surviving the day to day demands of jobs, bills and other distractions which seem to scream for their attention. Full time day care tends to place children in settings where the majority of those around them are about their age, so the ratio adults to children is much lower than a traditional home setting. There is much to be said for a child receiving a large steady dose of quality one-on-one time with his/her adults with whom the primary bond exists. The child gets to see that responsible adult function across a range of social situations throughout their childhood and youth. We have more children being reared by single parents or grandparents and quite honestly, by "sitters". We are expecting children to arrive the first day of first grade as somewhat successful readers. To my awareness, that wasn't the case even 20 years ago. Innocents are exposed to adult content by our media, and some are bombarded by it just about anytime the television or radio is on. Inappropriate role models are plastered on the clothing, backpacks and lunch boxes that are offered by retailers. I could write much more, but I believe that I've roughly hit the highlights. It is no wonder that children of today seem different than those of previous generations.
I am so glad to see that at least a few others share my views! I absolutely agree that parenting has changed. Far too few parents set reasonable limits/expectations for the children and even fewer hold their children to CONSISTENT consequences. Although every human has free will, children become, to some degree, what we shape them to be through discipline and role modeling. As society and media change, parents have to change their ideas as well. Many parents are undereducated about what is and what is not appropriate for children. I'm not saying adults are responsible for protecting children from everything - I actually disagree with that. Children should be allowed to fall down, make bad decisions, etc. and learn from natural consequences as long as it's not seriously harmful. Shielding children from every little unpleasantness does them more harm than good when they enter the real world. I think many adults forget what it's like to be a kid (except us lucky teachers!). Every family has their own discipline strategy, but people should be more aware of how to appropriately raise their children in these changing times. I taught 4 & 5 year olds for 4 years before becoming the director of the childcare center, and I know all too well that some children are with their caregivers for more hours per week than they are with their own families. This is why those working in the childcare field have a tougher job than ever before - not only to educate and prepare the young minds in their care, but also to educate and support their families.
I too agree that childhood has changed. Life is so fastpaced these days.so many families need that duel income to just get by.I run a daycare out of my home and work 50 hrs a week I often think how much less stressed our life would be if I didn't NEED to work. Thats just the way society is now.Unfortunate for our young ones but what are we to do?
So far it looks like all responses are saying the same. I would say about all the same. What i will say diffrently is that as a child care provider for the past 20 years, what i have seen change is that more dads are taking responsiblity for their part of dropping off and picking up their children. They are seeing a different world than their fathers ever dreamed about. Mothers with husbands and ex's that share in this simple responsiblity do seem to have children who are somewhat more balanced. Both see that the child has had a full day and doesn't need to be put into sports at age 3 or 4 - which is just way too early. They see the child is excited to see them and ready to be in their care. School personal i think are the ones pushing for children to be more advanced than ever before. WE have some guy in Des Moines area who thinks we need 30 more days of school added to our school year! WHAT!? The kids barely have 8 weeks off in the summer now. In Iowa that is not enough! Kids need to be free, explore their neighborhoods, go swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, and just hang with family. Kids need to be able to have the time to explore group camping with peers (girl scouts, boy scouts, church groups) do mission trips or be in sports: baseball, softball, soccer, ect. The school personel need to back off and remember their own joys of childhood! Parents need to be stronger advocates to stop this process, and stand up for their children. Parents need to feel impowered, and who else to help them feel that way, than us child care providers and early childhood educators. We must show parents and primary caregivers that children need them to advocate for them, and not let society and school personel tell them how smart or strong or whatever they need think children should be.
Marilyn -- I believe that it is a combination of both children & childhood that have changed. Children have changed because parenting has changed. Childhood has changed because the world is so different. The combination is creating some very unique children.
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