Whatever happened to childhood?
By youdontsay
@youdontsay (3497)
United States
May 14, 2007 6:57pm CST
They had a bit on the news about how early children are being groomed for "success." Three and four-year-olds taking music lessons, dance lessons, teamwork training, you name it.
Whatever happened to just being a kid? I think we learned a lot just playing with playmates on our front porch or even on our own in the sandbox. We used our imaginations to solve problems. We learned how to think, not just what to think.
It seems sad that little kids don't get the opportunity to be just a little kid. What about you? Did you get "groomed for success" with lessons before you went to school? Do you put your children in classes at three and four? Are the children in your neighborhood playing outside or sitting at a computer before they are old enough to go to school?
What do you think?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@ryleesmama (560)
• United States
15 May 07
Many parents seem like they are living through the lives of their children. It is sad to see them pushed so hard. I am going to let my child play like a kid. She can take lessons and play sports only if she wants to but she can also use her imagination to make up games.
2 people like this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
15 May 07
Good for you. It is more important that kids know HOW to think rather than WHAT to think.
Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
15 May 07
That must have been anxiety producing. What if you learned differently than she, were better at some things but worse at others. I really tried to not compare my kids with each other, at least where they could hear. How did that affect you?
1 person likes this
@cloud_kicker_32 (4635)
• United States
15 May 07
Yes i so agree with you.,i see so many kids indoors playing there playstation or Xbox..or computer,and they arent enjoying what fun they can be having!I remember Hide and Seek,red rover,dodge ball,playing in the dirt and dicovering bugs and worms,and im teaching my son the same fun we had.he can play his playstation in the morning..and by afternoon we are outside,,.but sux because most other kids his age are indoors,,but we have fun together,,and yes i put my son is school when he was 3 but he wanted to and it was only 3 hrs a day..and he loved meeting new kids and playing,,and riding the little school bus lol..but he is having a great childhood..im making sure of that:)btw..my son is in the pic on this topic..hes the boy on the right side:)
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
15 May 07
I have no problem with pre-school when it is low pressure and playful, especially for children who have no children to play with. And daycare is a reality of life for many families when both parents must work. But the time they aren't in daycare, some kids are then taken to other classes or are hooked up to a computer or video. They are convinced that is the best kind of fun, they don't know what it is like to have fun with nothing but their imaginations.
1 person likes this
@SilentRose19 (1733)
• United States
15 May 07
I dont' know, I think that its just slipping away. Our children are growing and progressing faster and faster these days, its just sad. Kids don't stay kids for very long anymore.
2 people like this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
15 May 07
I know. I have a six-year-old granddaughter who talks like an adult. Even at age four she told me her favorite color was magenta. I didn't know that word until I was a great deal older. She also used words like "multi-colored" like she used it everyday.
1 person likes this
@PsychoDude (2013)
• Netherlands
15 May 07
Many parents these days are forcing upon their children where they simply failed in their own lives, as if kids aren't allowed or aren't supposed to have a will of their own.
2 people like this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
15 May 07
Little wonder we have a generation of people who want others to make their decisions for them, I suppose so they don't have to really think about what they want for their future.
1 person likes this
