About 15 years ago, when my children were still in elementary school, I was very active in the Parent Teacher Association. At one of the monthly meetings the topic of discussion was the new curriculum that the state of Michigan was presenting. Many concerns were voiced at that meeting, and one of them was my own. My concern was that the children were being taught academics that were once taught at a much later age. When will the lessons of the children get to such an advanced level that they fail?
My concern is still present, and I voiced it recently to my husband after seeing what the age expectation was on a few children’s games. It seemed that the kindergarteners of today are being taught what the fifth and sixth grade children of previous years were learning. How could this be? Are the children more advanced? Or, are we pushing them to perform at a more advanced level out of our need to be superior?
Let’s face it, children today have to learn and adapt to a more technological society, one where if you’re not a peak performer you’re just not well received. Some say that the children of today have it so much easier than 10-20 years ago. They’re given so much more, not having to work for their toys and little extras. They sit all day long in front of a computer playing games… how hard can that be?
I, for one, think that today’s child is missing out on so many wonderful experiences because of the technology. What type of people skills are they learning? They can thumb-type faster than any other generation before them, but they can’t pick up the phone and have a really deep conversation. Today’s child can see your profile picture on Facebook any time of the day or night, but try to have one of them sit fact-to-face with you and they squirm in discomfort.
I have an elementary school not far behind my home and I used to see children on the playground every day. Weekdays and weekends, there would be children playing, shouting with joy. Although the elementary school has been closed due to declining enrollment, I don’t see many children there after school, nor on the weekend. Has the playground gone from our children’s life? Has physical activity, which is sorely needed by our children, been banished due to budget cuts? Do the needs of children differ much to the needs of children 20, 40, 50+ years ago? I think not.
Nurturing families will always be a must, but today many parents are so terribly stressed that they often push aside the needs of pure entertainment and joy, as well. How, then, are they going to be able to teach their children? I know many teachers, some of whom are friends and family that may throw a shoe at me when I say play doesn’t always need to have a purpose. And it doesn’t always have to have a teaching module included. To compete in today’s world, the children have to be experts at multitasking, and on top of their game at all times. I, for one, think this is a shame.
When will the children be allowed to be children?
Blessings ~ Lisa
