Television. Video Games. Smart Phones.
These are just three of the excuses people make for the supposed lack of respect today's youth have for society, authority and what their elders view as themselves. Let me tell you something mom, dad and "authority," it ain't their use of these things that created this illusion, it's yours.
Parents today watch so much more television than the generation before them, but less news. Their kids however are watching so little TV, that it must be marketed to adults, which means, the shows, commercials and messages are being catered to this misconception that kids are controlled, by the very thing they are.
Video games are more popular than ever and played by teens, millennials and even their parents, but here's the thing mom and dad. If you truly believe that video games create an anarchist child, why are you shelling out the money for them? Is it possible, they work as childcare that you're too lazy to administer?
Finally, today's parents need to stop blaming technology for their kid's lack of attention or care. The past two weekends, I saw photos from tons of St. Paddy's Day parades and in nearly all of them, an adult being photographed, had a phone in their hand. Let's not forget, the photographer themselves, took the family time to snap the photo, then filter it, then post it to as many as four social media sites.
Kids today? They're worried that their parents can't look up long enough to watch them grow, without posting about it on social media and they don't want to get shot in science class.
Who knows? Science class may not even be around for their kids if this latest generation of parents has their say.
If there's a single cause to the effect that is being screamed at by today's mom and dad, it may boil down to a simple word. No, not technology. Parenting. Hands on, not hands free.
These are just three of the excuses people make for the supposed lack of respect today's youth have for society, authority and what their elders view as themselves. Let me tell you something mom, dad and "authority," it ain't their use of these things that created this illusion, it's yours.
Parents today watch so much more television than the generation before them, but less news. Their kids however are watching so little TV, that it must be marketed to adults, which means, the shows, commercials and messages are being catered to this misconception that kids are controlled, by the very thing they are.
Video games are more popular than ever and played by teens, millennials and even their parents, but here's the thing mom and dad. If you truly believe that video games create an anarchist child, why are you shelling out the money for them? Is it possible, they work as childcare that you're too lazy to administer?
Finally, today's parents need to stop blaming technology for their kid's lack of attention or care. The past two weekends, I saw photos from tons of St. Paddy's Day parades and in nearly all of them, an adult being photographed, had a phone in their hand. Let's not forget, the photographer themselves, took the family time to snap the photo, then filter it, then post it to as many as four social media sites.
Kids today? They're worried that their parents can't look up long enough to watch them grow, without posting about it on social media and they don't want to get shot in science class.
Who knows? Science class may not even be around for their kids if this latest generation of parents has their say.
If there's a single cause to the effect that is being screamed at by today's mom and dad, it may boil down to a simple word. No, not technology. Parenting. Hands on, not hands free.
Personally, I am uncomfortable with blaming parents for everything. Other factors figure into a child/person's behavior.
ReplyDeleteI just saw your comment. Yes, I am completely aware of this, but how many of these factors aren't controlled, in some way by parents? Bullying is today's biggest problem and this is almost always something that stems from bad parenting. Sure, there is peer pressure, but generally, those who fall into that, have different issues at home. Neglect, not always the parents' fault, due to economic situations, has become an issue, but when I grew up in the 70's, the single moms, dads and those married couples who had to work two jobs to get by, spent every non-working hour with their kids, and not in front of electronics or something to "occupy" their time. I should also throw in, that one of the greatest faults of today's parents is the lack of encouragement to read. Kids today simply aren't reading as much as kids 10-20-30 years ago, and my generation didn't read anywhere near as much as my parents and grandparents.
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