Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, November 04, 2010

What Lies Ahead For Social Skills In Our Children?

If you are anywhere near my age you'll remember back when you were a child playing games at night with no street lights, playing ball in the street, playing little league ball and going to your friends house to hang out.

When 8 or 9 pm hit, you were in bed, period. Very few of us had any kind of luxury with a cordless phone, (not invented yet) in our bedroom or any other phone. When it was time for bed, we went to bed.

Today, many children have the use of a cell phone. Everyone has come up with some stupid excuse to allow our children to have access to a cell phone and text messaging is now a way of life. Back when we were kids we had the Six Million Dollar Man with bionics. Today, every child from 9-up now have bionic fingers where they can text without even looking.

I have spoken to several parents who have told me their kids, (at times) have been up the whole night texting their friends. When they're supposed to be in bed at 8, they're sneaking their cell phone into bed with them and texting away. Many parents now make their kids put their phone on top of the frig at night so they can get some sleep. Most parents just don't care.

Yeah, we had some video games when we were kids but it didn't stop us from what we thought was normal socializing. Social skills in the next 10 years is going to be very scary! Are we simply not looking into the future. Are we becoming so lazy, (thought wise) that we're not paying attention to how things might become down the road. Do we live in a world now that is becoming instant gratification at all costs?

There's no doubt that those parents raising children through sports and after school activities and very strict phone rules will be much better off in the future. I believe many parents are failing to take any responsibility in properly raising their children any more and quite frankly, (in most cases) who can blame them. We're now subjected to working two jobs just to pay the bills. The cost of a college education is going through the roof, yet the economy is dropping and most families are now losing their homes to foreclosure. TIME FOR KIDS, WHEN?

I just want you to think about how this will affect kids down the road because you and I didn't grow up in that world and it's our responsibility to manage their future. Our Grandson is turning 10 years old soon and you can believe one thing, he's not getting a cell phone any time soon. Although he chose not to play baseball this past year, after putting more thought into it I can assure you, like it or not, he's playing ball again next season.

I can see it now, World Championship Texting Contests with kids so pale white they rarely ever see the sun.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

thats ok. there's room to add on to wcdc. they will continue to educate your failures

Anonymous said...

You were right up until making him play ball whether he likes it or not!! That's a whole other issue that parents (grandparents) are doing that doesn't serve the kids well!!

Anonymous said...

Yes because forcing him something he doesn't want to do will make it better, he'll end up hating you.

Anonymous said...

You are referring to social engineering. We are being conditioned by those who are pulling the strings of technology, advertisin, and general mind control.

Anonymous said...

Parents don't correct thier children any more. They don't take the responsibility to raise them, allowing them to be pushed aside for the cell phones, & tv games to raise them. They only learn violence from it and that is what you see on the streets.
Start making your child be responsible for actions. If they steal make them return it and face the consquences. If they get a speeding ticket make THEM pay for it and face the consequences. If they act up in school then they face repeating a grade.
It begins at home the lessons children learn.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:28 It would sure make life easier on teachers as well. I don't remember many classes all through school that had "less than" 35 kids. Everyone behaved because if you didn't you'd get punished in school AND when you got home. Parents have to take back the responsibility of raising their kids without worrying about someone calling child services because of a single swat across the butt (I'm not advocating beating a child, here. There's a BIG difference between the two).

Anonymous said...

Kids nowadays have no fear of consequences like we did because there is no such thing as consequences anymore!

Anonymous said...

ALL KIDS ARE NOT CUTOUT TO PLAY SPORTS. My oldest son loved computers..he now works with our joint chief of staff writing code. He took up swimming, skate boarding and Cub and Boy Scouts. We are very proud of him.

Anonymous said...

Hence all the crime in the streets. Kids have no fear, no respect and no class.

But we are all very pc aren't we?

Anonymous said...

12:09, you lie.

Anonymous said...

Some of the WORST behavior that I see is at Rec/School sporting events and 9 times out of 10 it is the parents and coaches not the kids.

Anonymous said...

You may believe 12:09 is lying, however he/she is correct in saying not all kids are cut out for sports. I used to tell my 17 year old daily, time to shut the computer off, go outside, time to go to football practice (whatever the case may have been that day). I no longer do this. I can remember my brother in law sitting in front of the darn tv all day playing stupid games. We made fun of him for it, I used to tell my little sister he's a loser, move on. Well he now works in for a huge gaming company designing those horrible games your kids play. Not a so very dissappointing... he puts food on the table and a roof over my little sisters and their childrens heads! My point is, there are positive sides to a child using electronics daily as well. I don't think theres anything wrong with kids having cell phones, especially nowadays! Set some boundaries for the electronics so they still experience other things in life!

Anonymous said...

It's all about the limits we set for our children. Let's face it, it is nobody's fault but our own that our kids are up all night texting. I don't see verizon setting up booths at the grammer schools in the area yet, so parents, you better start parenting your kids.

As far as pushing your kids into sports when they don't want to....it sounds like someone needs to get over their missed glory days and concentrate on what interest their child. We have forgotten to let our kids just be kids. I don't get it. It is weird to me that I live in a neighborhood full of kids from great family's and no one is ever home, they are shuttling their kids from one venue to another..Maybe I am old school, heck I am only 37, but I don't remember all the times I goaled in HS/University lacross/hockey,or even how to play anymore, but I sure as heck remember every fort my sister and I built with our friends in the woods near our home. It is selfish, and only teaching your kids that you can bully (yes I said it) them into anything..
Give your kids a technology break people!

LadyLiddy said...

Parents need to parent - end of story. Two jobs, foreclosures are just excuses. You made the choice to have children - raise them. Life isn't fair and life isn't easy. Get over it, get real and deal with it. Adults need to be adults and take care of their business. Society does nothing but whine about what they don't have and how hard life is.

Anonymous said...

I think most of you are missing the point. It doesn't matter if one kid out of thousands get lucky and land a job making video games. And worrying about ur kids hating you for making them do something is unrealistic.

Social interaction is the issue. Hanging out, making forts, playing ball etc. all all good things. and make memories that last a lifetime.

Pretending you're a gangster or soldier blowing people away is good for what? Entertainment sure, but it shouldn't be your lifes work.

Get out, make friends, get exercise, make contact. And do so without being a member of a gang. You may not live long enough to enjoy any memories.

Anonymous said...

Narrative: On 3 November 2010 at 5:20 PM deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 1200 block of Pine Street in reference to a report of an assault in progress.

Upon their arrival deputies observed a female later identified as Karen Dunn standing outside the residence. Dunn had severe facial trauma and it appeared that she had been assaulted. Deputies met with Dunn while she received medical treatment from Delmar Emergency Services. Dunn advised the deputies that she was assaulted by her son Bradford Ayers. Dunn was then transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where she received further treatment for her injuries.

After meeting with Dunn deputies entered the residence where they located Bradford Ayers. Ayers was located in an upstairs bedroom and was covered in blood. It appears that the blood was not his own but had come from his mother as a result of the assault.

Ayers was placed under arrest and later transported to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he was released to the custody of central booking. Ayers is being held in lieu of a $50,000 Bond.

Charges: Assault 1st Degree/ Assault 2nd Degree

I bet this kid never got a spanking, just a 'time out'.

Do they have video games in prison?