Anyone with children, or who is regularly in contact with
children, will know that childhood is radically different to the one they
remember. The prevalence of technology and especially social media has changed
what it means to be a child almost beyond recognition. With such dramatic
changes, is it possible that modern culture is ruining what childhood is?
The
biggest problem reported by carers of children is that they engage less in
imaginative play. Modern technology means that their attention is being demanded
by more and more things, so they don’t have the time or inclination to play. If
they have more and more video games or ways to access TV, why would they have
to make up their own games?
There’s
also the issue of what children can access online. Before the advent of the
internet, carers could control what information a child had access to. Now,
though, a child can find almost anything online. This can be a real danger if
they come across material that’s too mature or graphic for them.
The
largest problem children face in modern culture is that of ‘helicopter
parenting’. The trend of taking control of every aspect of a child’s life comes
from a place of love, as parents of course want their children to be safe and
happy. However, as children aren’t able to go out and have their own
experiences, they’re staying inside and instead experiencing the world through
a screen.
However,
it isn’t all doom and gloom. Children may have access to things their parents
could never have dreamed of, thanks to the internet. The learning opportunities
are almost endless, and they can connect with other children and educational
experts from all around the globe.
If
parents are concerned with what their children are seeing online, it is
possible for them to control what gets to them. Parental controls are easily
set up on most internet enabled devices, and encouraging your child to be open
and honest with what they’re seeing online can go a long way.
Play
is different nowadays, but it doesn’t mean it’s gone. Just like adults did when
they were children, children still enjoy playing as their favourite characters
in the school yard. There’s still plenty of imagination for them to tap into.
The difference is that modern children have a wider pool of experiences to draw
from when they play their own games.
So,
is modern culture ruining childhood? Not necessarily. It’s true that there are
a lot more dangers out there for modern children, but there’s a lot more
opportunity, too. If a child is equipped with the right tools for negotiating
the dangers of modern life, then they can have a happy, fulfilling childhood.
NAME: MUHAMMAD DZIKRI BIN ABD RAHIM
NO ID: PTM170705744
NAME: MUHAMMAD DZIKRI BIN ABD RAHIM
NO ID: PTM170705744
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