children nowadays...

I have no younger children around me these days on a permanent basis and my 'baby' is now 30. When he was a child I was very wary of sticking himin front of the television without being aware of what he was watching. Surely a child of 5, and for many years later, is absolutely in the stage where they absorb all and everything, good and bad, that goes on around them. In my opinion they should have some sort of guidance at that age to point out the differences. How can a child so young realise whatis good and what is bad in what they see on television. The phrase you heard from that child could have held no significance at all in their mind and they were just mimicking something heard on television earlier. Or it could be quite the oppositea and they knew exactly the meaning. Without an adult to explain and point out when and where certain things can be said and done or not said and done today's children are getting the wrong idea regarding toomany things, first and foremost respect! I know it may sound a very obvious example but it something my grown-up baby brought up recently. When he was a child he heard adults saying often 'oh no, it's raining again' and he would repeat it when it rained. I pointed out to him that some people, especially the farmers, might be very happy indeed when it rains and that plants, flowers and trees certainly are. Imagine my joy when I heard him pointing that out to an adult some days later. He was only anout 6 or 7 at the time. Children need guidance always if they are to become adults with any sort of criteria as to what is right or wrong.

I have seen a lot of kids who acts so rudely, but the parents should explain to their kids that what they're doing are wrong, coz the kids would never realize that they're wrong if no one would correct them.

This was not strange. Remember that the Children learn and copy what they watch in start of their life. you told that the child was watching the television. It meant that he was learning some thing on TV screen. Children also use to copy their parents. Another thing is jean which comes in their body and mind from their parents. This is a psychology subject. Childhood is a mirror of the future of a child. This was an alerting sentence delivered by the child. This was a warning for the parents and they should rush to psychiatrist to mend this problem.

i am really shocked to hear about this but it is really strange and we dont even know how childrens learn this kind of words and also the things which they do it for the first time. first i use to think that if childrens see and listen anything they would repeat that doing it but there are a few things which are new to them and they do it on their own and we really cant make out how they learn things. but it is very important for the parents to stop childrens from doing and telling anything wrong or else the child will not understand the difference of good and bad and the child would rather continue the same. so it is important to make them understand the difference between good and bad and may be it will take time for a child to understand but we need to leep trying and make child understand.

That is a strong word. I would say he's heard it from someone and used in that text before. I think that children should be taught this word and that word is not appropriate..otherwise they don't know it's not nice. I would've explained to him right then that he was not to say that and especially not to me and because he said that..we weren't going to Mcdonalds.

There is too much influence these days to teach kids the wrong things to say. If that was my child, I would be very upset. I do not wish for my children to say that. It is bad enough with my children saying, I hate you mom.

This was strange and may be because parents allow the child to speak in such a way and may be shrug it off that child thinks its okay to speak in such way to the parents. My son also adfores Mc Donald's toys but if told he can not get it he tries to adjust and never complaints. Its the way you raise them that matters not all kids do so. I have a friend with a naughty kid but when we explained to her that certain things should not be allowed in kids, she has since then started disciplinign her child to and child is learning too.

New age children have changed quite a lot in their behavior and societal interactions.I would attribute these to violence and arrogance which have become part of most medias,especially the visual ones.

The children who live in modern society is different from our age.In my memory,I have a chance to watch TV nearly in middle school,and prefer to see some cartoon program,but nowadays,as the society developed,the violent program and game exist nealy everywhere that the children cann't distinguish whether it is right or not. I think the goverment and parents should pay more attention to childern's education.

Oh hell no. Not just hell no but hell f*king no. My child would NEVER be allowed to speak to any adult like that, even in jest. Children need to be taught rules and speaking like that is a great way to get into trouble. I arrested a 12 year old for trying to suffocate his mother with a pillow. The boy wanted to go out to play or go out to a game or something and mom said no. Boy stormed off and waited until his mom was asleep for a nap and the boy put a garbage bag over her head and taped it shut. He then forcibly sat on top of her while she struggled. The boy's father came in, saw what was going on and literally knocked the boy out as he got him off of his mother. The mother didn't want to press charges, but the dad did. My partner and I made the scene and the kid threatened to kill both of us if we didn't watch our step. That little kid needs to be put out of his misery. That's a serial killer waiting to happen then and there. I just don't understand why people allow their children to dictate their lives. I'm sorry, but my child is NOT going to tell me when and where she wants to go eat and if I don't do it, then she's going to kill me. I'll have her arrested myself. I'm the parent. I'm the adult. I'm in charge. She is not in charge and I know I won't let her rule my life or my husband's life (her father) because she wants to do something then and there like this kid did. It's insulting and it floors me that people actually let their children dictate their lives.

Woow! Is that real? Oh my God, I can't believe a kid could say that! Well in case the kid really said that and I think you are telling the truth then it is best to talk to the parents especially the mother of that kid. It is important to instill discipline to kids as early as 2 years old because it is we who will suffer when they grew up as bad kids. It is very important to teach kids how to be respectful and obedient to parents. Most importantly discipline should be the number one thing that every kid should learn from their parents. I have not heard nor seen a kid who behaved like that of your example and have not experienced to encounter kids who would say such words. I think most children nowadays are not being guided by their parents that is why most of them grew up on their own and have been influenced by co-children, friends, neighbors, classmates and most especially the media through television. So I guess parents guidance is the most important in order for children to grow right.

I believe that to much tv for kids is really bad. Kids are learning alot of bad language and watching alot of commercials that are targeted towards them which is a really bad thing. Alot of parents watch television [ADULT CONTENT] while there kid is in the room watching which really effects there behavior and language.

My first thought: "Excuse me?" This child obviously is confused but I am wondering what kind of parenting is taking place. No 5 year old child should speak to their parent that way ever. The boundaries have not been made clear here but even more troubling is where, how and why he acquired the "or I will kill" you expression.

I don't think children are any differnt today than what they were yesterday. Our society is what has changed. Everything is electronic! Ipods, wii's, computers, everything that connects people together. I think it's the fact that we have the ability to connect with more people, and often repeat the things they say and do, as we are constantly learning from each other. We definitely want our kids to choose positive role models over negative role models. Does the 5 year old really comprehend "I'm going to kill you?" Definitely TV and access to shows that are not geared towards children and families can be desensitizing. I don't think anyone can say that it doesn't without being able to back it up. Even television shows that were produced back when television was new to the family home, they had programs with violence in them. Yes, television does promote violence, and we as parents have to be careful in monitoring what our children are watching. That is why we have ratings: G, PG, R but even then we have to be careful in choosing the programs we let our children watch.

Wow, that is horible, but not surprising in todays society. I have a young child and would not accept that kind of language or threat from her. Part of the blame can go to society and television, but parents have to strp up to the plate and momitor what their children are exposed to. Granted I know that they can't be there 24/7, but talk to them.

That's surprising, alright, but I'm more interested now in this boy's mother's response. How'd she handle it? Yes, I too think children spend much time watching TV nowadays (and the wrong shows too). However, it's not too late to teach a 5 year old how to talk to adults, and especially to his parents. I for one won't take him to McDonald's nor get that toy for him, for sure.

Hi victorywp! That is quite a shock to hear from a 5 year old. I think this is a little too strong for a word to be used by a 5 year old. I do have a niece who lives in another country who have been threatening my aunt that if my aunt will not tell her to be her favorite, she will take my aunt to the mental hospital or the nursing home. I am not sure how I will react to those kids who talk like that. Here in my country, kids talking like that will get a good spanking! take care and have a great day! lovelots..faith

oh my gosh..i was so shocked..how come that 5 year old boy say that kind of thing..my 9 year old son though he doesnt behave well at least he will show love and respect to me..i think this is the bad enfluence of the media today..what do you think?

My children have threatened to kill each other. But if one of them said something like that to me, I can assure you they wouldn't be going to McDonald's that day and getting a toy!

I can not believe that someone would let their kids do this. Mine would have a really clean mouth after that. I would wash their mouths out with soap if they ever talked to me like that. In this day and age there is more and more kids that act like this. You need to make sure that you keep your kids inline even with the fact that kids have all the rights and we are limited with how we can discipline our kids now a days.