The article about "modern childhood" seems really strange on a lot of levels. Modern childhood is so different because kids today don't have "the no-cares time of innocence, exploration, and imagination" that their parents recall about their own childhood? I would like to suggest that the author, and/or the parents being interviewed, are conveniently forgetting some aspects of their own childhoods.
I was a child of the 1970s, and it was not a "no-cares time of innocence." I had responsibilities and obligations. I lived with somewhat less scheduling and supervision than the average child of 2011, but not none. (I had Hebrew school and scouts, and either chorus or a sport.) When I was out to play, I was responsible for looking after my little brother, and we weren't allowed to go more than 2 blocks. And had to call home if we went into any house.
I also have a problem with trying to conclude that "kids are more anxious/stressed/depressed these days than they used to be," based on surveys about of how they are now. Was anybody doing surveys of kids a generation ago? Two generations ago? It doesn't count if you ask a bunch of adults, "How happy were you when you were 9?" Memories blur...the ones who didn't keep diaries are likely to think, "Oh, it was great, I didn't have [this specific problem] or [that specific problem], so I had nothing to worry about."
no subject
I was a child of the 1970s, and it was not a "no-cares time of innocence." I had responsibilities and obligations. I lived with somewhat less scheduling and supervision than the average child of 2011, but not none. (I had Hebrew school and scouts, and either chorus or a sport.) When I was out to play, I was responsible for looking after my little brother, and we weren't allowed to go more than 2 blocks. And had to call home if we went into any house.
I also have a problem with trying to conclude that "kids are more anxious/stressed/depressed these days than they used to be," based on surveys about of how they are now. Was anybody doing surveys of kids a generation ago? Two generations ago? It doesn't count if you ask a bunch of adults, "How happy were you when you were 9?" Memories blur...the ones who didn't keep diaries are likely to think, "Oh, it was great, I didn't have [this specific problem] or [that specific problem], so I had nothing to worry about."