Articles complaining about kids today aren’t too uncommon. Making the rounds is this article that asks, “WHY ARE KIDS IMPATIENT, BORED, FRIENDLESS, AND ENTITLED?”
I couldn’t disagree more with most of the answers among which include delay gratification, limit technology, and the very worst of all, “Teach your child to do monotonous work from early years as it is the foundation for future ‘workability.’”
Here are some other ways to respond to kids
today.
Suggestion 1: Don’t be afraid to set the limits. Kids need limits to grow happy and healthy!!
Wrong: Don't set limits. This does not empower
the young person to set their own limits. They think someone else is
responsible to do that for them. It teaches dependence and compliance.
Instead: Have real conversations about
decisions, choices, and help them make good choices using critical thinking
skills you help them to develop.
Suggestion 2. Limit technology, and re-connect with your kids emotionally
Wrong: Stop blaming technology. Sometimes tech
is the very tool we use to connect with others in powerful ways.
Instead: Focus on what you are trying to
achieve. If you want to connect with your kids figure out ways to do that. It
may very well be by building something in Minecraft, memorizing every country
by listening to a powerful video on YouTube Kids, or Skyping with Grandma.
Suggestion 3. Train delayed gratification
Wrong: Why manufacture reality?
Instead: Be real. Discuss benefits of having
something now verses later. Sometimes there are benefits. Sometimes there are
not. Discuss and decide.
Suggestion 4. Teach your child to do monotonous work from early years as it is the foundation for future “workability”
Wrong: Terrible advice. What kind of
boring job are they trying to prep kids for.
Instead: Look at real careers and what that work
entails. Many careers are not boring or monotonous. Geesh.
Suggestion 5. Teach social skills
Wait. What? Who are the adults saying this
shouldn't be done? No one. Of course we want to support kids in positive social
interactions and that should be both face to face and online.
Your Turn
What do you think? Which of these suggestions
might work for you?
I agree with much of what you wrote.....though as hard as I try sometimes reasoning with a 4 year old and discussing getting things later vs now can be difficult. I’m getting tired thinking about the conversation before lol!!
ReplyDeleteYou know I’m also coming at this as a parent not necessarily as an educator, which I think makes a difference in my view for right this moment. :)