Fashion Forum

Just came across this article about "paranoid parenting" and how soft people are on children these days.

A psychologist claims that "some parents, intent on ensuring their child's happiness,
- DISCOURAGE children from taking the slightest physical risks, such as walking down the street.
- COMPLAIN to schools if their child is punished for being naughty.
- TAKE items banned on excursions like cameras to the location for them.
- INVESTIGATE why their upset child wasn't elected school captain.
- CRY bullying if their child has one run-in with another child.
- DELIVER fast food for school lunch to show how much they love their child. "

Nothing new really, but I do tend to agree - it seems to me future generations are just babied to a ridiculous extent and will hardly have a hope of fending for themselves. Is it just me, or is society too sensitive?

That just sound ridiculous!

Ha, you thinks thats bad. I had my father for year 7 english, now im having him for business communication for my commerce degree. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA :(

Brats... err kids are bubble wrapped these days. Bring back the cane.

I agree- kids need discipline and they need to do kid stuff like fall out of trees and get in fights and scrape their knees running down the road and all that. I mean really- what use is telling your kid to "go to their room" gonna do when their computer, ipod, tv, stereo and playstation are all in there too? Smack em and they wont do it again!

Being a teenager at the moment, I think parents need to let their kids make their own mistakes - to learn and grow from them of course. Even though parents, in most cases don't want their kids to 'make the same mistakes they did' I think its something everyone needs to experiences for themselves. Sending them off to their rooms, discouraging them from doing 'kid things' will most likely just send their kids rebelling against them in the long-run.

Also..having said that, I think that parents shouldn't be so over-protective because if they're ALWAYS going to be there to PROTECT their children..they won't learn to be independent. And what would they do if they're left to fend for themselves one day and dont have their parents there? Parents need to let their kids run wild and enjoy life while they can!!!! FREE THEM! ...or just be less over-protective.

The cane isn't necessary but a little common sense is, or frankly these kids will have no sense what so ever.

I work at university, and I can't tell you how many times my students have come near to tears because I've asked them to try and think something through. I am not talking about any great mathematical concept or confusing school of literary thought. I merely ask them to debate their point of view beyond saying "This is what I think because I said so."

I truly fear for the world in the next twenty to thirty years because we have raised a generation of people, many of whom have no original ideas, and will blindly follow what is said on the tele.

-- LJG

Well, honestly say my mom is a bit like that (She had done to me all what you mentioned there hahaha, but only when I was younger) I do understand her because I am the only child of her and she's divorced, single. Therefore she put lots attention on me.

Although at the same time she knows how important it is for a woman to be independent,so she threw me out of wealthy family at my age of 12. With little support from family, I had to handle everything else myself. With failures, tears and fell downs, I learnt a lot.

I do agree with you, with over protection from parents is a bad thing. I experienced two extremes, on the other experience, my teenager time is empty - it's like directly jumped from childhood to little understanding about world, then directly to adulthood. Something's missing.

So I guess somewhere in between of protection and let-go is the best. Children get love from parents and same time get lessons from experience and "adventures".

i guess those parents are always successful who have a set of rules with their kids, but they are friendly on the same time.
Kids know they can ask anything from their parents except those rules. :)

My Husband is a psychologist (he specializes in children & families) & this is the biggest problem he faces. It used to be UNDER parenting now its OVER parenting. It causes major obstacles for both children & parents as they grow up - independence is so important.