14 of 202

Write now Article Tools

Each generation is unique and has its major events that dictate a lot of what goes on. I will say that as a teacher I have noticed a huge change from generation to generation. Children are one of our best indicators on how things are changing and if it is in a positive way or not.

When I started teaching many years ago kindergarten was just that, a half day where children would come in and we would work on the basics. This included the alphabet, basic counting, shapes, etc... Children would call me by my last name and almost always used manners. Class time was spent mostly on academics not social lessons or behavior management.

Kindergarten now has extended care hours before and after class (childcare) and often I am not called by my last name; I am called by my first name with a Miss in front of it. I now have to include lessons on manners such as using pleases and thank yous. I also teach about respect and how to respect adults and each other. These are things I would have never dreamed of teaching years ago.

There are a couple of factors that play into this change. One is most families have to have two incomes. This does not allow for much family time or just even quiet time. Schedules are very tight and have become organized chaos. I sit back and think sometimes if I was a child how would I feel if I was woken up at 7 in the morning and off to before school care I went, then school, then after school care, a sport or other activity, dinner, homework and last going back to bed. When families have ore then one child it becomes even more intense. Parents are always tired; working full time, trying to keep a house in order and be there for your children all the time is an unreasonable expectation. What happens is parents don't have time for those discussion and lessons regarding respect, time management, sex education and so on.

Another huge factor is a lot of children are so scheduled they don't know what to do when they have quiet time and they have no idea how to behave. Often many homes are full of technology and that fills that quiet time'; but these things entertain children not engage them. Children need to learn how to be imaginative and not have every toy possible. I think sometimes if we went just back to basics like wooden blocks or Lincoln logs; play time would be a lot different. Developmentally children learn a lot during playtime because it is suppose to be a time of discovery not entertainment. Over scheduled children become over scheduled adults; this is a cycle that needs to be broken. Corporate America needs to allow parents to have time just to do that-parent. There needs to be more free time' and less entertainment. Children should be the imaginative and creative ones not the toys they play with.

As time passes and this cycle continues the more problems will arise with just basic skills people seem to be lacking, like respect.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Powers.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Our next generation: Are things getting better or worse??
We want to hear your view. Write now!