what would they be like today?


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Previous # Next ] [ Start New Thread ] [ TarBoard ]

Posted by Jonathan Labaree on July 01, 2003 at 19:27:25 from 207.5.234.19 user JLabaree.

Guy’s contribution to the scone thread below (message # 11783) in which he wonders about the Ss, As, and Ds in the modern world reminds me of a question I have been meaning to pose for some time, but have been afraid the ground has already been well covered before my awareness of the board.

What would the kids be like if they grew up today? I do not share Guy’s pessimistic views. For one thing I don’t necessarily see the mutual exclusivity of such things as mp3s and being an Amazon pirate. For another, I know plenty of kids who love being outside, want to explore, and are keen to learn.

Could they pull their adventures off today? What obstacles lie in their way? What aspects of the books are only possible in the time in which they were set? - as opposed to what aspects seem clearly fictitious, such as parents allowing their pre-adolescent kids to camp alone for two weeks on an unfamiliar island, which is owned by someone else (at least this strikes me as a bit of a stretch, even for the time).

I like to think that most of the books’ adventures would indeed be possible today and that the right group of families could find ways for their children to experience a similar sense of adventure, discovery, and plain old fun. An obstacle I see, at least in the culture that surrounds me, is the incredible over-scheduling of kids. Sports teams, music lessons, play groups, homework, community service (required in many schools, I’m glad to say), and theater all seem to dominate their time. Most of the children I know have little time to explore on their own, even here in laid-back Maine.

I hate to sound the “when I was a kid” horn (I’m 40), but this lack of free time does seem to be a problem. Children are less likely to explore, learn, make mistakes, and discover for themselves in an environment where everything is set up for them. I see this in something as inauspicious as Lego. We loved Lego growing up and had a magnificent collection of blocks, gears, wheels, and even engines. We made all sorts of fun things, none of which actually looked like it was “supposed” to. Nowadays, almost all Lego products are pre-designed for a specific end-product (a Star Wars spaceship or Thomas the Tank Engine). I think that’s too bad. It’s not really the commercialization that bothers me, but the there’s-a-right-way-and-a-wrong-way undertone. Kids pick up on that fast and I think creativity is the victim.

I know that we will face an uphill battle maintaining truly free time for our 3-month old daughter as she grows up. But I hope to give her (and her siblings, should she ever have any) opportunities, if not to camp alone on an island, at least to explore, discover, and even goof up.


Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
Eel-Mail:

Existing subject (please edit appropriately) :

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

post direct to TarBoard test post first

Before posting it is necessary to be a registered user.


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TarBoard ]

Courtesy of Environmental Science, Lancaster

space