Kids these days have it so differently?

Question

When I was growing up, we had good TV shows, but now it seems like all the kid shows have kids dressing promiscuously.

Anyone notice any other changes among this new generation (good or bad)?

Answer 1

While I agree some things are worse, like obesity and being lazy (ugh), I don't see THAT much of a difference.
When I was growing up kids were much worse. Getting into all kinds of trouble outside and fighting with their friends and staying outside from 8 am till 8 pm and spending less time with family.
I see more kids spending more family time now (or maybe that's just with my family?lol). My kids and some of the kids I know DO have responsibilities.
Of course there's more *stuff* for kids nowadays, but I don't mind it. Laptops for learning, cell-phones for calling to check in and video games for long drives. So, sure I guess things are more convenient.
Clothing- Oh my gosh- no. My mother showed me a picture of her in the 60's and some in the early 70's and she was dressed in a skirt up to her bum. She said that was the style. I saw several pictures like this from that era.
Clothing is basically the same.

Answer 2

Yea... the cartoons are alot worse. When we were little we had good wholesome cartoons. We also watched shows like Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. Kids nowadays can't play in their neighborhood freely without worrying about someone hurting them. Kids lack the discipline they need from both parents and grandparents. Back when I was little, anyone in the neighborhood was allowed to spank us so we knew better than to do something we weren't suppose to even if we were out of sight from our parents. Now kids don't even thinkthey have to listen to their parents because it's "not ok" to get a spanking. They use to paddle kids in school and kids payed more attention and had more respect for adults 'back then' than they do now! Kids would be happier if they got their butts busted every now and then! I know I'll probably get a lot of thumbs down but I don't really care. That IS what the world is lacking nowadays! When kids do something wrong in the neighborhood these days and someone tells their parents, more chances are for the parents to defend the child even if they're wrong. They get defensive towards the other adult rather than the child that did something wrong in the first place. This just takes the blame totally off of the child and he/she gets off scott free! If we really love our children, we'll make them mind! We wouldn't want them doing bad things to other people. The poor kids nowadays don't have a chance the way it is now! it's sad, really...

Answer 3

They stay inside too much, which is mostly not their fault, so they don't know about stars, plants, bugs, etc. They have good technical skills, but expect all kinds of material goods.

They're pushed in schools to do what older children used to do--letters in preK, reading in kindergarten, but at home they have few responsibilities and that's demoralizing. Not everyone can be the best reader (There are 15-25 other contenders just in one room.) or best speller. Much of their activity is in adult-run sports programs where their parents are spectators and they're competing again. At home, they might do real things, like setting the table or brushing the dog or working with Dad in the yard as a joint activity, not a chore, and feel a sense of accomplishment that doesn't depend on someone else losing or another person making a judgment. This would be a self-esteem boost way beyond wearing the "in" clothes. They don't play with other kids except on video games, which have rules imposed from the outside. They don't make up their own rules and negotiate, which makes it hard for them to cooperate in school and at work. They don't understand cheating as bad either because finding the "secret codes" for a video game is a sign of skill and doesn't cheat other people, just the game. (This is way different than stealing $2000 in Monopoly money.) Everything is so rushed that they seldom get to be children, rather than small consumers, playing their part in the American buying cycle.

My kids are 21 and 25. When I look at kids today, I'm usually irritated with their lack of manners and materialism or feel sorry for them because their lives are so narrow and they lack the opportunities that made my childhood-and my sons'--livable.

Answer 4

I think it's shocking these days. When I was growing up, yes we had good tv shows, but we had good imaginations because there wasn't sony's or nintendos, we played board games or rode our bikes, played hide and seek. If I tell my 2 boys to do those things they whinge about it being too boring.

The teenagers these days are far too spoilt, I see them all with their mobile phones and their expensive clothes, and they seem so much older than they are. 13 year olds don't need all that, but if they don't get it they won't be "cool". There is so much pressure on them from the media to look good all the time and be wearing the trendy clothes. Look at all the film clips too, just little tarts if you ask me. Like the Pussycat Dolls, they're not role models. I was nearly sick when I saw that show search for the new doll, they'd get eliminated because they weren't sexy enough.

I have a 10 month old girl and if anyone ever buys her a Bratz doll, i'll throw it at them. What happened to Barbie dolls? Even she's turning a bit tarty just to keep up with it.
Pretty scary if you ask me.

Answer 5

Yes, and the Disney shows like Hanna Montana that 5 year olds love are shows where she kisses a boy. She's in high school. I don't care for the TV shows and the movies. Remember Skrek 2, they were kissing and laying on top of eachother on the beach-from the preview I saw. What can we all do about it? There used to a group against Hollywood making promiscuous, etc. type of movies and tv shows.
But, the old cartoons like Pluto-Pluto kisses a girl dog several times during cartoon.

Answer 6

Totally. There's much more pressure to grow up sooner. Kids don't get a lot of time to just be kids. They're overstimulated with videogames, internet, and cellphones (IMO - if you're not old enough to have job or drive, you're too young to have a cell phone!) and overscheduled, and a good many of them have far too few rules. I'm sick of unruly children with no discipline and of teenagers who get catered to. What's going to happen when these kids hit the REAL world and actually (GASP) have responsibilities?

Answer 7

As a mother of 3 I think times are changing for the worse. In schools they are expected to do way to much for their age. I also think children are being put in activities such as sports, dancing etc. way to early. I can understand having one activity to do, but I see children put into as many as 3 after school pograms. Children need time at home to just be a child and spend with parent. Also kids today are either behind a computer screen, video game, or TV. What happened to out side play. So what if it is to hot or to cold, put the appropriate clothing on them and send them out side to play. I used to play out side till the time I got up till the time I went to bed. I do make my children get out side and refuse to buy them any type of video game at this time. I found the video games just frustrate children. I have seen some get so mad at start screaming at the TV.
Kids are simply getting lazy. I have a friend with a 5 year old daughter that is already weighing 110 pounds. My friend says it is because she lives in an appartment and has no were to play. There are parks all around her she could take her child to. There is no reason a child should be cooped up. When her daughter comes over here she refuses to play saying it is to hot or either to cold to play out side. She will pitch a screaming fit before she will go out side. Then her mother will tell me to disipline her like it is my place. I think parents let their children get away with to much simply because they do not want to take the time to punish them. Children need to be taught to play will with other children and how to talk to adults. Children are so disrespectful now

Answer 8

Nope not much different than kids of other generations, each generation has their own style. But if you don't like the television shows your children watch on television you do have the option of turning the television OFF

Answer 9

Im a kid and one thing that I cant do now that my parents did was being able to go around my whole neighborhood and play with friends without having to worry about being abducted or whistled at(i hate it when guys do that!). When my parents were young, they played games all throughout the neighborhood untill it was so dark they couldnt see. Im not even allowed to go out past 7;30 to play =(

Answer 10

I have noticed by watching myh moms old video tape of Andy Grffith Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver It has changed alot and some shows are AWFUL but some are good!