http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/03/why-are-american-kids-so-spoiled Comments On: Why Are American Kids So Spoiled? by Bethany Jean Clement en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Sat, 25 May 2013 13:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by goshengirl]]> Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:32:31 -0700 The Stranger
I agree that dysfunctionnal families do hide pretty well their behaviour, the more dysfunctionnal the more hidden. But in some cases the parents don't even have a clue that their parenting is wrong, and they don't hide it at all - and some parents think they are above everybody else and that nobody will ever dare to confront them. So - not all dysfuntionnal public behavior is innocent.

@54 Katy The plight of children in poor classes is the basic argument for social state help in my country. Giving money and a home to their parents is intented for the children to be able to concentrate enough on their studies, to find a path out of poverty for themselves.

@56 DRF I'm sure that most of the time, young children out late are due to parents who couldn't care less, and that's what you've seen at the mall. Over here too there are parents who do the same. I was, rather clumsily, trying to jump on your example to make the point that parenting is not a bed of roses, and that one can end up doing not-very-good parenting because of circumstances.

I think there should be parenting classes included in the basic education, at highschool level for example. Also relationship classes. It would save a lot of hurt.
Posted by sissoucat]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 23:54:58 -0700 The Stranger Posted by mtnlion]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:45:03 -0700 The Stranger
amiright?


Posted by mtnlion]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:37:35 -0700 The Stranger
As for daycare age, in the U.S., kindergarten starts no earlier than four, usually five. Kindergartens usually have "nap time," which doesn't last long, and no one actually sleeps.
Posted by DRF]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 19:30:52 -0700 The Stranger
Also, society would use less resources if all the people worried about using resources would stop using resources.
Posted by Medina]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:47:23 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Katy]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 08:02:04 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Friendstastegood]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 04:22:06 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Snowguy]]> Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:51:11 -0700 The Stranger
What is your address?
Posted by Snowguy]]> Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:49:09 -0700 The Stranger
On your other point, I think #14 may have experienced what many parents, especially isolated parents like me, often come to experience : a judgemental non-parent coming up to us, to declare that we are badly parenting our children, by pointing out model behaviours at which they fail, that even most adults don't routinely exhibit (like entirely finishing off a plate of food they dislike, or absolutely keeping without any moving or talking during an entire hour-long boring talk). It's not helpful. Parenting is hard work, long work, it takes years to show results, it's not something magically simple that we are too stupid to instantly get.

Of course even a non-parent can spot instances of bad parenting... but it's not always what it seems.

Let's take your example : what if the single parent of the two-year-old at 10:45 PM in the mall had just been back from the local clinic because an older child has been hit at school and needed a radio and there was such a waiting line - and that parent had planned to go to the groceries that day, because the fridge was empty since there had been no time for groceries on other days because of work - and thus the parent had ended up going late evening to the mall to feed everyone ? It's happened to me once or twice. I didn't like it and I felt bad, but better get food and eat too late than not eat.

Stupid tricky situations like that do happen to parents. As long as a parent strives to do his/her best parenting for the children despite his/her circumstances, that parent is OK in my book.
Posted by sissoucat]]> Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:10:48 -0700 The Stranger
French kindergarten schools have sleeping rooms to accomodate for the afternoon nap in the first year (3 to 4) ; second year (4 to 5) they get a "quiet time" in the afternoon, when the curtains are drawn and kids are engaged to rest or sleep on cushions in the classroom ; third year (5 to 6) there is work in the afternoon too. It has nothing to do with accomodating the parents - not letting a small child have its afternoon nap is frowned upon, and considered by most, including myself, as ill-treatment. Such young children should be in bed by 8 or 9 anyway.

@47 I totally agree. My 13-years-old son can already make his own meal by himself if needed - he can cook pasta, eggs and steak, he knows how lettuce and tomatoes are prepared. He sometimes surprises me with "playing restaurant" - he does the cooking and his sister does the serving for the rest of us. He still doesn't know which one is the washing machine and which one is the drying one, but I'll make sure he knows that before he leaves for college - thanks for reminding me ;)
Posted by sissoucat]]> Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:43:06 -0700 The Stranger
(Answer: I've heard that many daycares make children sleep in the afternoon so that the parents can interact with them in the evenings. Is it true?)
Posted by DRF]]> Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:18:04 -0700 The Stranger
@45 I was lucky. When my roommate couldn't figure out how to shut off the stove, he just asked me. (But we were Ivy.)
Posted by DRF]]> Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:46:18 -0700 The Stranger
"Mom, can I skip my can opener lessons tonight? I need to study"
Posted by ams_]]> Wed, 04 Jul 2012 08:03:27 -0700 The Stranger
@38 at least in my example the can opener-challenged was a really mediocre student barely squeaking through college because he would rather play video games
Posted by Ratatoskr]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:40:52 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Prettybetsy]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:03:49 -0700 The Stranger Posted by dwightmoodyforgetsthings]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:59:52 -0700 The Stranger a wealthier and more productive country than a low carbon footprint country like, say, bangladesh.
Posted by Redderic]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:16:27 -0700 The Stranger
Hello there. Lived overseas 30 yrs, 6 different countries, speak 3 languages. American kids are fine. It's the thug kids who are the problem here. middle class American kids are generally perfectly polite.
Posted by Try not to generalize]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:08:34 -0700 The Stranger Posted by thatsnotright]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:26:21 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Jessica]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:12:17 -0700 The Stranger
My niece couldn't use one 15 years ago, because she was accustomed to using an electric can opener.

And do you think that being an honor student might have something to do with it? Like that kid is too busy trying not to be a failure as an adult? For more information, read #32.
Posted by keshmeshi]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:11:00 -0700 The Stranger
Yes. You're so worldly. Remind us how there aren't any fat people in Africa.
Posted by keshmeshi]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:05:07 -0700 The Stranger
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each. –Plato

Education is teaching our children to desire the right things. –Plato

The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress. -not sure, but it's from a long time ago

And just because I like this one:
If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things. –Plato

Posted by what's wrong with the kids today?]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:58:52 -0700 The Stranger