Do you think we should go back to allowing children to be children?

Well it would be best if they didn’t try to grow up so fast but there really isn’t much we can do about that. I think all kids want to grow up, I know I did when I was younger… But I think it just depends on the kid and how they were raised and what they have been exposed to. It’s not a new thing that’s happening, a lot of kids from previous generations wanted to grow up fast too.

I think a lot of the problem is the kid’s programming today. When I was a lad there wasn’t much actual kid’s programming. We mostly watched family shows like The Avengers (The British one from the 60’s), The Andy Griffith Show, Carol Burnett, Beverly Hillbillies, D1ck Van Dyke, Get Smart… Shows that had gentle humor and a lot of heart that were entertaining to all ages. Now kid’s programming is awful. I think the worst show on TV is iCarly. They make light of Sam’s mom being a criminal and her being a juvinile deliquent stealing, breaking entering, vandalism, bullying etc. Then there is socially awkward Freddy who’s is the son of an overprotective overbearing mother and who Sam mercilessly bullies. Gibby is also socially awkward but is usefull because he lets the more popular kids humiliate him. All of the educators are mean, petty, and incompetant. The police are corrupt, apathetic and incompetant. The webshow is stupid and fans of the webshow usually turn out to be psychotic as does Carly’s older brother Spenser’s romantic interests. Most of the dialogue of the show seems to be insults that always get big laughs. In the shows I grew up on human shortcomings were something to be symphathised with rather than something to be exploited and made fun of. Shows now teach kids it is cool to talk ugly to other people, to bully or make fun of people less popular than yourself, to break laws as long as you don’t get caught etc. Also, most parents are too busy now to know what their kids are watching or to do anything about it.

Yes, kids always wanted to grow up before there time. In my generation, it was all about turning 18 and mvong out. Today it’s all about being 15 and raising a family with no forsight to moving out. I know far too many 50-60’s parents with 20’s kids still living at home and a growing number of grandparents left to raise their grandchildren because it’s fun to act like an adult, but not take the responsiblity that comes with their decision making. I think the politcally correct way to raise children today has much to do with what a parent can or can’t do or won’t do. But as society adds to pressure the trickle down effect takes place and kids are at the bottom.

I agree with everything you said, but I was wondering, would it be considered censorship to hide things like that from children’s programming? I’ve seen quite a few arguments about censorship regarding children’s programming and whether or not hiding vulgar language, sex, violence is censorship.

I think parents should do their job and decide what is appropriate and what isn’t. Sometimes I’ll let my daughter watch something I find questionable but II talk to her afterword and ask her if it is realistic, if that is the right way to handle a situation; of someone’s behavior is justified and appropriate; how she thinks different actions make people feel, etc. It’s the parents who drop the ball here. If parents didn’t let their kids watch shows like iCarly than Disney wouldn’t make them.

it could be quite difficult to do that, considering there is the internet so they are exposed to a lot of things but if it were to be supervised they wouldn’t feel as respected or would feel the need for more freedom. i think maybe we let them know what they are capable of understanding, since children are curious and let them know their place in the family-that they are not the boss and should give more respect to others. however that can only be done by giving them respect as well. if anything we should let them go back to being children but here’s the thing.. what if we can’t?