Here in Canada child-rearing has certainly changed since I was last here.
Children no longer play together on the street. Instead they engage in pre-arranged "playdates." Without any evidence that things are now more dangerous, parents nonetheless never let children out of their sight. Ever.
Everything has become completely child-centered. I actually went to a party full of adults and children and when one of the kids said out loud "stop talking!" all of the adults actually stopped talking! The worst is when you visit friends with children for a potluck dinner or something and everyone has to watch Thomas the Train because Junior has bade it so.
Children are rarely scolded or talked down to. Nowadays, you must "dialogue" with your progeny. It seems like if your kids are not organic vegetarians who address you by your first name you are definately living in the in the Leave It To Beaver era. "And what!? Your son is vaccinated? Aren't you aware of the government autism conspiracy?" Blah, blah.
Although some aspects of this are very good, I wonder if in the West we are raising a generation of brats who will be very disappointed indeed when they discover the world does not revolve around them!
Thailand, of course, is very different, for better or worse.
IThink this was taken from this Forum, and has to be about the best explanation of diferences between kids of Today, and kids of Yesteryear.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 19_ _
40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank
while they
carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and
didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright
colored
lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and
when we
rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took
hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special
treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO
ONE
actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with
sugar in it, but
we weren't overweight because
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we
were back
when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then
ride down
the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into
the
bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at
all, no
99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no
cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat
rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were
no
lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live
in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were
told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door
or rang
the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who
didn't
had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard
of. They
actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem
solvers
and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new
ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to
grow up as
kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for
our own good.
And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know
how brave their parents were.
My next door neighbours have challenged me to a water fight , so I am just writing this while I am waiting for the kettle to boil .
Personally I think my kid is much better off here....for all Thailand's faults.
Education versus atmosphere/attitude etc.
Riddle me this brother can you handle it
Your style to my style you can't hold a candle to it
Equinox symmetry and the balance is right
Smokin' and drinkin' on a Tuesday night
It's not how you play the game it's how you win it
I cheat and steal and sin and I'm a cynic
Happychappy, my thoughts exactly!
Happy Chappy thanks that was brilliant. And KK I prefer to have my kids here at a younger age as well. But when they get outa primary school something is gonna have to change. Elementary schools are not up to par here.
San Rafael High class of 1970.
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.
Children no longer play together on the street. Instead they engage in pre-arranged "playdates."I assume that if they're serious about the relationship they don't play "doctors and nurses" until at least the third date.
Everything has become completely child-centered. I actually went to a party full of adults and children and when one of the kids said out loud "stop talking!" all of the adults actually stopped talking!
Or would you like to swing on a star?
I don't know mate....I've always been of the belief it's the individual not the school. And shit there's not a lot good telly shows can't teach him.Originally Posted by aging one
Then again maybe you'll be in for a surprise back in the States! I know a chap on another site was thinking of bringing his kid back from the UK as the education level was worse than here, as was the 'nastiness'.
Things have changed a great deal even from when I went to school.
If I can find a program that is at least bilingual and teaches Geography, World History, and Literature I may stay. But I dont want my kids to end up like the kids at two universities where I teach. 2 in 10 know how to use their brain. The rest can get buy, but only in a country like this. I want my kids to have the same opportunities if not better opportunities than I did.
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