Why Do Kids Always Moan That They Have Nothing To Do?

Question

This is a UK question, why is it whenever I see news articles in the media it always includes a teenager moaning about having nothing to do? A generation that is better off than most previous other generations which has the most forms of entertainment with DVD's, mobile phones, CD's, computers entertaiment consoles, televisions potentially capable of getting hundreds of channels, cinemas et al...I was a child in the seventies and eighties and we didn't have alot but I always found something to do. The fact we have given them everything means they expect even more, they lack motivation or creativity, the PC brigade and compensation culture have taken the risk away from so much. If teens have nothing to do and nowhere to 'hang out' they should get out and do something about it by raising the profile and taking place in raising funds instead of whingeing

Answer 1

As a teen, I would say it is because everything is handed on a plate to teenagers nowadays. TV's, PC's, DVD's, Consoles, Shopping Centers, etc. I think a large problem is also the fact that schools are becoming more and more "tick the box" like in education.

There is simply not a requirement for children to use their imagination anymore - all thoughts and ideas are provided for them.

I have always been very calm and collected, but among my peers (and especiall those younger than me) I see an increasing number becoming bored as soon as they have no entertainment fed to them.

I recall a power cut when I was visiting my family at home a few weeks ago. Power was out for two days, and by the end my little brother (14) was tearing his hair out because there was no TV.

There is no need to read books (of which I'm a huge fan!) because all books are made into TV shows or Films. There is no need to play board games because all games are made into Computer games. Our/their attention spans are shorter, we find it harder to concentrate, to to imagine.

I think in your (ie, older generation) eagerness to provide everything to your children, you've given them a little too much and they are no longer required to think for themselves. I don't know how to explain it. This is simply from what I see around me.

I had to grow up very early, I moved out when I was 17, I have a successful career in design etc. So I see everyone around me my own age from a different point of view perhaps. Just my thoughts.

Answer 2

Oh very well said, I had my 7 year old great nephew for one day this week and his constant whinging and moaning drove me to distraction, his attention span is abysmal, the only thing that seems to interest him is the TV or those games consoles, but I don't agree with kids sitting in front of either of those all day long so insisted we went to the park instead, I suggested we take a ball for a kick about, no too boring, how about his bike, no boring, but I wouldn't give in and off we went with my dog in tow, it took a while to lift his enthusiasm but eventually we had a great time naming flowers and plants, chasing the dog and seeing the fascination on his face when he saw two squirrels hoping from branch to branch through the trees was a picture, apparently hes never seen one before, at the end of the day he suggest to his daddy that they do that, his fathers reply, sorry too busy, is it any wonder the kids never have anything to do if the parents won't join in, so glad I grew up in the 60's and 70's and knew what fun was is all I can say.

Answer 3

I was a kid in the seventies and stuff like Den's out,Tin can Alley,Tig and when you really pushed the boat out
Atari(remember themLOL) were some of the things that we did.
I have a teenage son who also has all the electronic googies one can accumulate, and i'm glad to say plays alot of rugby and does sports,so most of the time he's glad to be in.Unfortunately in between these activities there is nowhere to go,Youth clubs are a thing of the past,so quite often he's kind enough to entertain my 7yr old.
The thing about today,we don't want our kids hanging around,its far too dangerous,but worse of all entertainment for our kids always involves too much money.

Answer 4

Because kids today gets bored easily and they are not thankful for what they have.
They are living in a world where everything needs to be fast.
I know this because I am a teen,and this is what I see from my peers.
Luckily I'm not hyperactive like my peers though,or else I would find anwering this question very boring too.

Answer 5

Very very simple. Because they have not learnt to play on their own or imaginary games like we used to (I am 50 years old). They cannot play in the streets or up the park alone these days, and have learnt to depend on TV, computer, DVD's etc.

I tis such a shame. The kids of today do not know what they are missing!

Answer 6

Here here! Its not only the teenagers, my son who is 9 winges on also, and thats even after my suggestions. I think they dont play out as they once did and this may be the prob.
And yes they have too bloody much nowadays and i agree this adds to the problem!

Answer 7

As gids need stimulation and teenagers need the most and need to be doing things like extreem sports with risk to keep them out of gangs and joyriding...


Its like adrenaline addicts.


Thing is when they do Ie skateboard in a mall or have a rave in a forest the authourities attack them

Answer 8

What they mean to say is "I have got no imagination". You are right there is lots to do but far too many are apathetic. There is so much to see and so much to do and you can never get bored. Young people sometimes need some inspiration

Answer 9

you must be about my age, but i think youve got the rose tinted glasses on there! there was bugger all to do when i was a kid and its the same now. they may have all the gadgets now but kids want to play and where i live they get nagged so much that they have given up trying. there are no facilities for them and everywhere they go people assume they are up to no good. i`m sick of people assuming that all kids are bad kids just because they are with a lot of mates, or god forbid, wearing a hoodie.

Answer 10

Nothing to do is the result of too much free time. What a wasted resource.

Teens have always whined about having nothing to do, since they were able to stop using every moment of the day trying to survive.