Titian Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I woke up this morning to find my pet subject being discussed on Radio 4...Rushing childhood. I'm certainly not a parent with victorian values or prone to remembering the war years, partly as I'm far too young, but I do feel very strongly about the world we are creating for children now. See what you think, I happen to agree with everything in this "open letter" and I'm happy to see high profile people trying to make a stance about it, at last. It's something that has always been a relevant topic in my line of work and what the Steiner movement has been saying for years. Clicky and another look under "news" for details of a relevant conference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birth-Peace Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I completely and utterly agree. Children are not being given the chance to be children anymore. Children need to play and not be inundated with exams, pressure from school,tv and more tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titian Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 One symptom of rushing childhood is the large number of teenage pregnancies we have in this country too. We rush them when they are small which results in them wanting other adult pleasures too early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I certainly agree with the general sentiment of the letter, but I think that they are indulging in hyperbole and unsubstantiated claims that can only damage their point, eg. "Since children's brains are still developing, they cannot adjust. . . to the effects of ever more rapid technological and cultural change," they write. Patently untrue. Since they are still developing and have a high degree of plasticity they are far more capable of adjusting than an adult. There also seems to be some sort of undercurrent of distrust of all things technological, a ludites agenda hidden in this issue. Electronic games are not new, the first games consoles came out 35 years ago, they've been with us through at least 2 generations upbringing, so why all of sudden should they be destroying childhood? Bad parenting that allows children to spend too long playing on computers/consoles instead of with other children is the problem, if there is one, with relation to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 One symptom of rushing childhood is the large number of teenage pregnancies we have in this country too. We rush them when they are small which results in them wanting other adult pleasures too early. Comparisons with other european countries would suggest that the lack of early and good sexual education is the primary cause for our teen pregnancy rate being higher than most of europes. It's also worth noting, that our teen pregnancy rate has been falling for 40 years now, as has the rest of europes. The only concern is that ours is falling more slowly than the average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evildrneil Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Maybe slightly off topic here, but I can't help wondering if the age of consent (along with our culture of "bad is cool") is actually one of the big reasons for our high level of teenage pregnancy. Forbidden fruit is always the most attractive - look at the number of underage drinkers and smokers - and sometimes these age limits appear to be viewed as a goalpost to have been drunk / smoked / had sex by rather than a startline!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bago Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I think the keyword is balance, isn't it ? Electronic games were seen as toys in the past. You pick it up, and you let it go again. Then there's the parental interactions, and the peer interactions. Today, it's almost used as a tool to occupy the kid. Cos they want to absorb everything about the world. I think the report is emphasizing on the importance of the child's social interactions and development. Maybe it's different if other social developments were happening in conjunction with electronic toys. Then they may not be stripped of their own biological development. My nephew once asked me about an advert on tv. He asked me with a little frown on his face. "Why is that woman naked ?" The advert showed a female in a bikini. i.e. using sex to sell the product. I think I said something stupid like, "She isn't naked, she's in a swimming costume." It's only later did it occur to me that he shouldn't be watching such materials at a young age of 7 ! It was way past his bed time. I was curious about his questions. Saying that, I think I too watched movies that were of a certification which were beyond my own age when I was a kid. Just so I'd be having some kind of family time with my siblings ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bago Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Comparisons with other european countries would suggest that the lack of early and good sexual education is the primary cause for our teen pregnancy rate being higher than most of europes. It's also worth noting, that our teen pregnancy rate has been falling for 40 years now, as has the rest of europes. The only concern is that ours is falling more slowly than the average. I think it's not fair to compare teenage pregnancy this way. When the culture is very different to begin with. Even in what seems to be liberated Holland, the teenage pregnancy there is quite low. Why is this ? The culture is a very very reserved one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick2 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Electronic games were seen as toys in the past. You pick it up, and you let it go again. Then there's the parental interactions, and the peer interactions. Today, it's almost used as a tool to occupy the kid. You need something to occupy them, like TV or a Playsatation if you won't let them leave the house for fear of them being murdered or abducted. When I was a kid the Atari was a last resort, only used it it was realy, realy bad weather outside and speeding through the woods on your BMX actually became seriously dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titian Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 Patently untrue. Since they are still developing and have a high degree of plasticity they are far more capable of adjusting than an adult. There also seems to be some sort of undercurrent of distrust of all things technological, a ludites agenda hidden in this issue. Electronic games are not new, the first games consoles came out 35 years ago, they've been with us through at least 2 generations upbringing, so why all of sudden should they be destroying childhood? Bad parenting that allows children to spend too long playing on computers/consoles instead of with other children is the problem, if there is one, with relation to this. A developing brain needs the right kind of stimuli though doesn't it? Flickering imagery or instant gratification has no positive effect on a young brain, it causes the brain to form a series of short connections, not long ones needed for healthy brain activity, in simplistic terms. The effects of the playstation nation will only be prevelent in the next 20 years and you can probably expect to see an increase in special needs. Don't believe the hype that Sony tell you. Children need to experience nature and the use of their bodies far more than the use of their thumbs and eyes at a young age. The rest can come later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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