Are kids TOO sheltered from reality?

This is a good discussion, and one I'm not sure how to answer. I do think that at the age of 13 an older child/young adult should be more aware of what is going on in the world. At that age in my class we had done several current event reports. We would each be responsible for cutting out a news article from the paper and then giving an oral report on it. By thirteen we had been doing that for three years. Maybe when the children are younger they should be sheltered. When I was a child I worried about everyone and everybody. When something bad would happen in the world I would cry for people I didn't even know. In my case, a little sheltering would have been good. In other children's cases, if they show no signs of concern for the outside world, perhaps they need to have some cold water splashed in their faces. Just enough to start preparing them for what will be going on for the rest of their lives. And maybe thirteen is the perfect age to start.

It sounds like the teenagers just don't have time or don't want to watch the news. I was a ninth grader in High School when 9/11 happened and I still watched the news and all that. I don't watch the news anymore, but that's just a choice (so much bad stuff in the news). I think that kids do need to know what's going on now. Back when I was in elementary school we had a science news journal that had world events we would read, we also had that t.v. show for kids about the news and world events, I forget what it's called but it was on nickelodeon.

That is so sad, but I know that I was very unaware of many things. I think I knew about natural disasters, though, and the cold war, because I was scared to sleep at night for fear a tornado would get me, or the Russians would bomb the Air Force Base not two miles from me.I think there needs to be balance, but it sounds like that classroom is way off.

I think that the majority o xhildren in society today are too sheltered. it can be a rude awakening for them when they see what it is to be a responsible individual in the world. Sometime too much shelter can be more harm than good.

I agree that they should be more aware. When the twin towers hit I was only a kid and I could not understand at all but I still was somewhat aware of it and told about it. I have to say though, in my household the Friday song is a huge trending topic as well lol, and even amongst my internet friends from different parts of the world. In England they know about it. It's being called the worst song/video and sadly enough there is worse crap on the radio these days. It's laughable it's so bad though, I enjoy it. Anyway, back to topic, I do believe in school they should be made aware of these types of incidents.

As an educator and an educational manager for close to a decade now, I strongly suggest that we do away with what is ideal within the four walls of the classroom or even outside. We must instead embrace what is real and pragmatic. As teachers, we must always have the hang of infusing current events in our lessons so as for students to have a link of what is discussed inside the classroom up to the moment they reach home for follow up and interaction among members of his family. As a parent, I would appreciate the effort of the teachers who exemplify this kind of behavior for my child is a well-rounded one! Not only is he academically proficient but also socially aware and excellent! Im sure parents out there (both biological and secondary) would agree with me. =)

quite the opossite in my opinion. i think they know too much about what is going on. i guess it is what they choose to focus on. my kids watch the news and there are sometimes when i would like them to be more sheltered and let them be kids a little longer.

That's crazy. I can see a 5 year old not know, maybe even an 8 year old, but 13? Those children's parents are talking to them about things, I think.

They have known and just played dumb so they didn't have to participate. Alot of Kids that age don't care about what is going on in the world. They should have more teachers who assign current events. WHat happened to conversations at the dinner table too? Kids are being stimulated obviously about anything but songs and such.

Teens watch what they wanna watch so I guess that's why they just missed a very devastating event that had just happened in a country. Or maybe they just don't wanna give a damn. Teens wanna have fun and stuff like that is really a downer. Maybe they have watched a clip or two but didn't bother watching it all through. Teenagers have a lot to worry because, from what I remember, it's a transitional stage in life so that might be another reason. They'll realize how important it is soon enough, they just need a little nudge.

Hi hvedra: That's not ok but at the same time I don't feel shocked. Actually teenagers usually don't care to know what's happening in the world. I think that's negative because these are really important subjects and they have enough age to start learning about these things. Sometimes I think the media manipulate the children and that's the problem. They don't want to think about intellectual things. That's not ok because they are the future of the world. ALVARO

It's a good thing in our place, children are made to understand well, why these calamities happens and how do we deal with them. Drills are made, so they will more or less know on what should be the proper thing to do in case any of those calamities happens. Maybe some children are much too engrossed with their online games or their PSPs (as what i have observed ) that's why news and explanations such as that do not attract their utmost attention.

I'm speaking for myself only here, but I can see both sides of the coin here. I can see where it would be worrying to you that only three kids in your daughter's friend's class were interested, I think kids should be allowed to be kids for as long as possible and society is forcing them to grow up far too fast. I also think that the present generation of kids thinks that adults in general don't csre about others, and sadly, in too many cases that is true. Kids learn from those around them.

They are definitely sheltered. A good example is how schools all around the US teach kids that Columbus discovered America. Also, the Thanksgiving story is made out to be a happy go lucky event rather than what it really was. For some reason they feel it is too much trouble to tell them the truth, until they are older and already have those traditional values instilled in their minds.

YES! I think that children these days are highly sheltered from reality, and I don't think that they should be because it makes them fearful as adults, and lately, now is not a time to be fearful, now is a time to prepare and get ready in case anymore problems occur. My mother and I are already ready for the big one when it hits us (we live in California in case anyone didn't know). Children worry about trivial garbage like Justin Bieber and Rebecca Black, when they should know about what is going on in the world. Even at my university, many professors are worried that children and teens know more about media, but know little about literature, history, and foreign affairs, things that are important in an ever changing world.

I don't have a problem with young people not being aware of the calamities and horrors of the world. I do have a problem with kids being left in front of cable TV and the internet watching and playing with all kinds of unrealistic rubbish. What happened to families doing together including discussing what is happening in the world in age appropriate fashion?

I do believe today's children are very sheltered from reality. Back in 2004, when I was in college, one of my professors said she saw me working for college Republicans. I thought, "Oh no, here comes a political debate!" Instead, she said, "That's good. You know what's going on and where you stand on issues. I just taught a class full of students who didn't even know who was running for president!" Unfortunately, it's not just the younger generation. Have you ever seen those "Jaywalking" segments where nobody can get passed the first line of the national anthem or where they don't know what the "DC" in Washington DC stands for? There was even a girl at my high school who did not know who won the Revolutionary War. It pains me that these people don't know anything about their country and yet fancy themselves qualified to make decisions about its future. When I was in school, my social studies/history teachers always took the first five to ten minutes of class to discuss current events. Sometimes, we even had to apply the concepts we learned in class to current events (esp. when we class sessions consisted of economic, legal, and political systems). Even science class dealt with current events occasionally. I do think it is important that kids, once they hit adolescence, know what is going on in the world. They are approaching voting age, for one thing, and if you're going to lend your voice to the future of your country you'd best be a well-informed citizen. Other important decisions they make in later life might also require them to know what is going on. I am not for burdening them with such problems. But they should at least have a general idea.

Hi. hvedra. Yes, in a way, they are too sheltered. And in another way, they are just tuning out of these bad events. They could also be scared as well. Many teenagers are more into the worldly things and not what is happening in the world. It is only when they get a taste of life for themselves that they will soon realize that they are truly missing out on what is actually going on in this world. Teenagers will be teenagers and as they mature then they will understand and be more sympathetic to what is really taking place in this world.

Our children I believe are already exposed to what's going on with their surroundings because they are well equipped with the modern technology today like TV,computer,cellphones and so no matter how careful we are to the feelings of our children still the truth will be delivered to them directly. Parents and teachers should help them understand the circumstances of facing those kind of unexpected realities.

You're right you have a definitive point too, these young people should never be sheltered by what is happening to the world they should be informed and get inspired to make reviews and comment about the current events especially one that happend recently in Japan. As a teacher by profession I always inculcate to students the price of being informed and knowlegeable about things that affect our modern time the personification of events that will help them to navigate the commonalities of life, the pain that a lot of people have been going on to,but this does not mean we are exposinhg them to harsh realities of life but this will promote better thinking and concern, a good training to direct critical thinking to the young thus it will enrich their philosophy in life. They will be mindful to their environment and be objective in their views about the intricacies of life, the younger they are made aware the better they are protected and prepapred.