Please read and respond to the following Time magazine article with an in-depth response. Do not skim the article, but read the entire piece and refer to specific information in your response.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1940395,00.html
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29 comments:
I strongly agree with this article. I feel that from day one stress is overwhelming a child’s life because of how much pressure their parents put on them. I feel that the more pressure put on the kids the more likely they are to crack and just rebel. I feel that if parents let their child or children live in a bubble, in the future they are only going to want to break out of it and go against everything that they know. For example, my aunt has two little boys and she will only buy the best and healthiest foods for them. On Halloween they were only able to keep five pieces of candy and they are not allowed to watch any fighting or action movies or shows on TV. I have a feeling that in the future these kids are going to want to break out and rebel just because of all the stress the parents put on their lives. In today’s society, the kids who are usually bad are from the parents that say, "Not my child."
I strongly agree with this article. I think that if parents are going to go to extremes to protect their children its only going to hurt them in the long run. This article also proves that it parents shelter their kid for so long its only going to lead to rebellion. Children need to realize that in the real world there isn't going to be someone to hold their hand through out it, if parents over protect their kids for too long, the children will never get a sense of what its like to be on their own. Suffocating children and not letting them do things they want to a certain extent will only lead to a less structured society, after all they are the future.
Lauren Graff pd.2
I do believe parents are obsessed with their childrens success, mostly because those children are representations of them as parents and as people. I feel as though parents put themselves under to much pressure to ensure that their children are perfect, resulting in the children going under too much pressure.
Sheltering parents take away things that are necessary to their childs development. This includes play time and extra0curricular activities. I believe school is important, and educational or learning issues should be conquered with tutors, but no one is perfect, and everyone deserves some fun.
There are ways to teach parents how to "parent", but it isn't going to be easy to change ways they have already implemented. I believe that children who do not have enough freedom will rebel and lead to distruction. That being said, not all children will follow this path. They may be accustomed to what they have learned from their parents, and see nothing wrong with it. Perhaps that is where we got " mamas boy" from.
I agree with this article and think it shows how crazy this country is becoming. While it is necessary for parents to be involved in their childrens lives and ensure that they are safe, it will hurt them to always be sheltered. The example given about "helicopter parents" is rediculous, if you children do not experience what it is like to fall off swing sets and walk without being on a leash, they will grow up fearing everything. It is a shame that the percent of kids walking or biking to school has decreased so much because that is something you are supposed to enjoy when you are younger. It is pastimes like these that you recall as you grow older and tell your kids as they are riding their bikes to school. If the kids of our future aren't given room to experience things on their own, fall off the swing and get back up, or even walk to the school door by themselves, what does our future hold?
Abby Dante, pd 2
I strongly agree with this article because parents are obbssed with their childrens success. I feel as though parents try to live their lifes through their children and make sure they are as successful as they wish they were when they were a child. Parents shelter their children and try to prevent them from having any bad expirences. I believe that this is only hurting the children because it is not preparing them for what is out there in society.
Courtney Widmer
Per 2
I agree with this article completely. I think that parents that sit on their children are just sheltering them from failure so their kids will never learn. I think they are holding their kids back from experiencing anything and that the less parents invade in their kids lives, the more their kids will want to open up to them. If a parent is constantly perstering their kids to tell them everyting the kid is more likely to get annoied and pull away from them. They are holding their kids back from becoming their own people and inevitable setting them up for failure by loving them too much.
Julianne Russo per 8
I completely agree with this article, I believe that stress is very powerful and effects child's lives. There is so much pressure from school and parents that it becomes overwhelming for young child. I believe that if you are over protective with you child and the rukes you have, it effects the kid in a negative way and things become worse in the end.
I agree with this article. Parents have become too obsessed with keeping their kids safe, that it is going to hurt them later in life. The parents need to know that the less they try to be in their kids lives, the better they will get along and have more open conversations. I also agree with the point that this trend will likely lead to the kids rebelling since most times they will do the opposite of what their parents tell them.
Stephen Pulaski Per.2
I strongly believe in the "less is more" parenting method that this article mentions. However, contrary to the part of the article that says parents are cutting back their children's extra-curricular activities due to hard economic times, I personally believe the opposite is true. Parents nowadays are so focused on their children succeding in the monetary sense, especially with the poor economy that they are overlooking their children's development of character and individuality. While these parents convince themselves that by being so overbearing they are only helping their child, they are not allowing their children to learn things the hard way. One of the only ways to true success is through failure, and without the ability to do any wrongs you can never learn the true meaning of success. Parents put so much pressure on their children that they start to do things just to avoid a lecture or looks of dissapointment instead of doing things becuase they want to do them for themselves alone and have the drive from within. My parents guided me in the right direction but didn't push me into anything. If I decided that I didn't want to do my 7th grade math homework, for example, they didn't punish me; I was the one who was responsible for my own actions, and I learned that early on because there was nobody scruitinizing my every move like so many parents do.
Shayna Williams, Period 8
I agree with this article. It is very true that parents are overparenting their children in the 21st Century. Years ago teenagers our age and maybe younger were aloud to walk and ride their bikes every where without worrying about the scary man that roams the neighborhood. Today people have developed a fear that prevents them from doing simple enjoyable things. Hovering over your children can do more harm than good. When kids are ready to go to college some are no able to make it without being told what to do each step of the way. Others also lose their way when they don't have rules to keep them under control. Parents can't keep their children in a bubble they must learn to fend for themselves. If the baby falls teach them to get back up brush it off and get right back to what they were doing. If younger kids are having a disagreement allow them to work it out themselves it teaches them problem solving. Kids need room to grow and parents are there when you need them but if you don't they need to stand by and hope for the best.
I strongly agree with the article. I believe over parenting can result negative effects for the furutre of a child. During their childhood they are constantly told, "Can't do this" or "Can't do that." This is imprinted into their brain, till when they finally go to college they unleash themselves. Usually it's these kids that are the wildest in college because they are not used to such freedom. The children who are used to such freedom, usually treat the college situation like they've been there before. This helps them stay out of trouble.
Bryan Martin Per.2
The effects of over protections that parents put on there kids is the worst thing they can do for them. Kids that suffer from the sheltering of there parents will not be prepared for the real world when they are put out on there own they with crash at the first sight of diffrence kids should be raised hard and know that the world isnt great because it makes them ready for anyhthing. so making these kids mommas boys/girl wont help them.
We definitely see this everyday. The Mozart baby thing, teaching children to learn really early and then not giving them any room. It is funny how far we have already gone for the norm. I always found SAT classes funny. People waste a ton of money on these courses which they say don't pay off at all. The article makes some great points such as how crazy teaching Mandarin in elementary school is. We have all seen the so called "helicopter parents" and how they manage all their kids schedules. "I think for a lot of parents, college admissions is like their grade report on how they did as a parent,". This guy, whoever he is, makes a great point about how parents just interfere because they feel it will reflect themselves. I mean, parents should worry because the other side of what happens is usually worse, but some of these extremes are kinda funny. The "stealth bomber parents" who strike after tests or musical auditions just make us want to hit yourself in the head like the V8 thing...or at least not, and say you did.
my opion on this article is that if parents are being this over protected they are nuts. i would never want a mom or dad like that. why would they cut down 3 trees because a grandson that doesnt even live there is allergic to nuts, thats crazy. the lady that moved to westpoint with her college son to watch him through a telescope is werid. i never knew that there were parents that were like this. i couldnt even imagine my mom watching me through a telescope. doesnt these people work and support them selves. Lenore Skenazy is called the worst mom ever. sahe was labeled this because she let her son ride the subway by himself. alot of kids do this on a every day bases. people need to let there kids fend for them selves so they can be strong and smart when they get older and there not clueless.
This article is actually quite comical. It is so true and there are so many kids that still have these types of parents. Even in senior year of high school, parents are still babying their kids. I know a few kids that are almost completely controlled by their parents. These kids mine as well be handcuffed to their moms because they can not do anything without checking in with them before the fact. I know one mom that sends her daughter around with an epi-pen just in case her daughter gets stung by a bee. The thing is that she is not alergic to bees.
Chris McCormack Per. 2
Overall, I agree with a lot of the information mentioned in this article. Generally I think it is understandable for parents to be a little more protective over their children these days compared to years ago, because the world is a lot different. However, I don’t believe parents should be as protected as some of the parents mentioned. I mean honestly, getting the government to cut down three trees for you out of the fear that a nut substance will fall into your pool that your grandchild swims in is a little ridiculous. It maybe something happened and your grandchild got sick because of it, then you can get the trees cut down, but before that I don’t see the need for it. I actually have an aunt who I believe is too over protected of her children. I mean every time they fall she doesn’t give them their own chance to get up by themselves because she immediately rushes over there to make sure they are okay. If parents are too over protected of their children I don’t think children are going to be able to grow-up and make it in the real world when they are older. Children and parents should learn from mistakes rather than always trying to prevent them.
Jackie Loveland
Period 8
i agree with the article that sometimes the pressure from parents can be very overwhelming but sometimes the child can overreact. Parents are only doing things for our best interest, and yes some parents do take things over board, but it is important not to forget that they just want to help. They should, however, respect their child's wishes if they do not want help and they should be allowed a decent amount of freedom to do whatever it is they want.
I agree with this article. I think that if parents are overprotecting and putting too much pressure on thier kids that it will do more harm than good. Eventually the kid will get annoyed with how they are treated and in the long run it can cause serious problems.
If parents are to protective of their kids, they will be dependent on their parents when they grow up and have to go to college. By over proctecting your kids, you don't let them learn how to take care of themselves. Now I'm not saying that all kids should be left alone free to do what ever they please but there has to be some leniency to let the child learn to face problems on their own.
This article is so true. I think everyone in this class is of the age that our parents all were somewhat affected by this "overparenting" thing. Everything is so much safer today, and yet parents allow their kids less freedom out of fear. Kids need to be able to explore their interests and do what they want while they still can. They need to be able to just be kids. But parents today are so competetive and want their kids to be the best - not to do their own best. I actually visited a few colleges that had the "Mom Cams" in courtyards, and I thought it was really creepy. Especially by college age, parents should relax and realize that they've prepared their child for life on their own. However, most parents these days don't do that, they only push their child to achieve and are there watching over their shoulder every step of the way. These parents' efforts actually backfire and cause the children to be even less ready to do their best, and certainly not be "the" best.
Steph Chocko Pd 8
I strongly agree with this article. I feel that all of this is very true. Parents have become way to obsessed with their children's success to the point where kids dont have fun with what they are doing. They are too focused on doing whatever they need to satisfy their parents that they can no longer do anything just for fun and they cant enjoy much anymore.
Matt Scicchitano Per. 8
I most certainly agree with this article. Parents are the role models for their children and whatever they do, their children will emulate. Parents tend to stress too much which then rolls over on their children. They need to let loose and actually enjoy themselves. With all the stress in their lives, their children will act up and not perform at their best. The thought that when parents do the best for their child, their child will be better is at most cases false. Some parents need to allow their child to have more freedom and experience what it is like to be a real kid. In the article, it discussed how a grandma was so worried about her grandson getting sick if a nut fell in her pool. This is so outrageous and bizarre that the grandma should feel embarrassed she said this. A simple nut is not going to hurt or harm a child in no way. The kids who play in the dirt, eat dog food and run around barefoot are in most cases healthier than the ones who eat organic food and are only allowed to walk around outside. Children don't perform at their best when they have all this pressure from parents telling them what they can do and can't do. The article also says that the children who tend to be socially isolated or have learning deficiencies are the ones who weren't allowed to play or have a chance to experiment with objects. My cousin doesn't allow her children to have any junk food and their only allowed to eat organic. She doesn't even allow them the opportunity to play outside because she's fearful of them catching germs. These children are perfect examples of what not to do. This only yields more visits to doctors offices and apprehension when they get older and realize that they can say what they want. Parents need to realize that there are other ways to parenting which will result in happier and more productive children.
Gabriella Sehne, Period 8
I strongly agree with this article because I feel parents can become so obsessed with watching over and protecting their kids, that they are hurting them without realizing. When parents put pressure on their kids, they will eventually crack. I have experienced this effect with ice skating because some parents are obsessed with what their kids are doing on the ice, they keep them in basically a bubble of isolation all the time. These parents are putting so much pressure on their kids. All of these kids end quitting and they eventually crack. I think you have to find the balance of being a watchful parent and letting your kid find their own way so they can grow up. The kids who are overparented will never grow up, unless they crack.
This article summed up all my feelings about protective parents. If parents are always there to do their children's work and help them 24-7 how will they learn to be on their own? The day where a child will have no choice to be on their own without a parent will come, it's part of the cycle of life, and by parents not letting children grow on their own that day could result badly. Stress is on everyone, especially children. Stress comes from school, friends, sports or other activities and parents just add to the unnecessary family stress. I think children who are kept as "goody-goody" kids from day one, will become rebels and do exactly what they were taught not to. If kids can experience on their own they will soon learn what is good and what isn't good and do what is right. People learn best from their own experiences and can grow better in their own light without their parent's shadow.
-MIchele pd 8
I agree with this article. Parents today are not letting they're kids experience the real world and so they are unprepared when they get there. they are not letting they're kids experience anything bad, so when something bad happens the kids freak out. Kids are barley aloud outside anymore. Parents keep they couped up inside like a bunch of hermets. When I was a little kid i was shoved outside and told to play. I made up gan=mes and had to find ways to entertain myself. When kids have to do this, it leads them to have problam solving skills and helps them find ways to entertain themselves and break into they're creativity. Kids these days arent doign that. Theres a difference between caring about your kid's safety and becoming neurotic about it. Kids have to get hurt sometimes because its how they learn. They need to learn to do things for themselves because we won't always be around to do it for them.
I agree with this article 100%. I feel that overbearing parents need to realize that not exposing their children to things right now only hurts them in the long run. Kids need to know what it feels like to scrap their knee, hit thier head or eat something that isn't the most healthy thing for them. Growing up is all a learning experience and if kids don't get that, then why were they born? To be dolls? No!
Danielle DeSantis
period 2
I strongly agree with this article. I think that some parents are way too protective and obsessed with their kid's lives. I believe that one day the over protectiveness is going to drive down social interaction and cause depression. All this obsession makes kids think that this is what life is really going to be like and it is not. In the real world they are not going to have mommy or daddy there to hold their hand through the tough times. I think that one day kids are going to have to realize that their parents are too overprotective and have to move out or leave. Maybe even take a breather. Hopefully this generation of kids do not grow up like their parents and become over obsessive freaks. It’s to much pressure on kids and a waste of time for everyone. It also causes a lot of heartache.
Kevin Schlakman
Period 2
I completely agree with article, that partents are trying way too hard and are overproctecting their kids in everyday situations. I have also came to the realization of the evolution of over parenting. That even when I was a child their was Helicopter parenting going on. Such as kids playing sports and automatically being rewarded for everything they do. Sports such as little baseball make kids think their the best when their really not. From personal experience I have trophies for sports I played as a kid. The problem for this is I have the same trophie for coming in last place as well as being the Champion team. This leads kids to think they deserve the same treatment for everything. However this setups them up for failure because when they grow up they will expect to be treated as if world should revolve around them. This gives those people the mindset that they should get a promotion or raise even if they have done mediocre work and that they are just as good as someone who legitimatly works hard. Kids will never learn if they don't make mistakes or understand they made a mistake because a parent is too worried about their child failing or will be hurt. So instead they hound the teacher to give a better grade or make sure the child doesn't leave the backyard. Or just as in the article with pushing the kid to draw. Therefore never letting the kid grow up and explore what s/he likes, is good at and how to learn properly.
I agree with this article. I feel like kids who are given too tight of boundries, their parents impose more stress on their kids rather than kids who have few limitations. I think is smart that parents let their kids grow up to discover themselves, ofcourse certain rules and morals are acceptable but not to the point where your child is tied down to his chair. I feel like the more kids are given responsibilities of their own to take care of, the more mature and easierly adapted to society they become. You most certainly cannot live your life paranoid and worried about what could happen- thats how people learn, and have experience.
kristen severino
period 8
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