Althouse: "Kids are just different... They are more easily frustrated

September 8, 2015

"Kids are just different... They are more easily frustrated – often crying at the drop of a hat."

"She had also observed that children were frequently falling out of their seats 'at least three times a day,' less attentive, and running into each other and even the walls. 'It is so strange. You never saw these issues in the past.'"

22 comments:

traditionalguy said...: Silly Rabbit. They cannot find their iPads. And there are so many others in the same room.; 9/8/15, 8:09 AM
rhhardin said...: It's the wine at rest period.; 9/8/15, 8:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Maybe it's because Moms work now. Back in the day, kids had their Mom at home until they went to school....They have to grow up a lot faster now.; 9/8/15, 8:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Preschools need to introduce Sock It To Me Time.; 9/8/15, 8:25 AM
Jake said...: No shit.; 9/8/15, 8:25 AM
Wince said...: So, recess and play were the "sock-it-to-me" experiences that help children develop the social skills. And notice the Wonder Bread ad copy in the article.

As parents and teachers strive to provide increasingly organized learning experiences for children (as I had once done), the opportunities for free play – especially outdoors is becoming less of a priority. Ironically, it is through active free play outdoors where children start to build many of the foundational life skills they need in order to be successful for years to come.

In fact, it is before the age of 7 years — ages traditionally known as “pre-academic” — when children desperately need to have a multitude of whole-body sensory experiences on a daily basis in order to develop strong bodies and minds. This is best done outside where the senses are fully ignited and young bodies are challenged by the uneven and unpredictable, ever-changing terrain.

Now we protect children from unsupervised play, and even Wonder Bread advertisements. Excerpts from a 2002 FTC Complaint against Wonder Bread:

4. Respondent has disseminated or has caused to be disseminated advertisements and other promotional material for Wonder Bread, including but not limited to the attached Exhibits A and B. According to the product labels, Wonder Bread contains, among other ingredients, calcium. The attached advertisements and promotional material for Wonder Bread contain the following statements:

A. “PROFESSOR WONDER: Moms know calcium helps build strong bones. But did you know it helps build strong minds, too? * Neurons in your brain need calcium to transmit signals. Without it, they can be, well, a little slow. [Inside Missy’s brain, Professor Wonder sees tired neurons that have obviously not gotten enough calcium] Let’s see what happens when you give them soft, delicious Wonder Bread. [Professor Wonder, with the help of Mom, constructs a demonstration that will allow Missy to get her calcium.] A good source of calcium with vitamins and minerals.

WOMAN: [After Missy takes a bite of her sandwich, Mom directs Missy to do her homework in order to show how well the calcium worked. Professor Wonder looks into her brain again.] Missy, go do your homework. [Inside Missy’s brain
we see lively, active neurons.]

NEURON: Let’s go, guys, time to do homework.

PROFESSOR WONDER: Wow! I’ve never seen anything like it! Calcium helps you remember things, too. So remember, Wonder helps build strong bodies and minds.”

5. Through the means described in Paragraph 4, including but not necessarily limited to the advertisements attached as Exhibits A and B, respondent has represented, expressly or by implication, that:

A. As a good source of calcium, Wonder Bread helps children’s minds work better, and

B. As a good source of calcium, Wonder Bread helps children remember things.

7. In truth and in fact, respondent did not possess and rely upon a reasonable basis that substantiated the representations set forth in Paragraph 5, at the time the representations were made. Therefore, the representation set forth in Paragraph 6 was, and is, false or misleading.

8. The acts and practices of respondent as alleged in this complaint constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and the making of false advertisements, in or affecting commerce in violation of Sections 5(a) and 12 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

THEREFORE, the Federal Trade Commission this ___ day of _____, 2002, has issued this complaint against respondent.; 9/8/15, 8:28 AM
Birkel said...: Really and for true? Uphill both ways?; 9/8/15, 8:28 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Perhaps the tag "these kids today" isn't intended to be snarky.; 9/8/15, 8:59 AM
Known Unknown said...: Can't one adjust for this at home?

My kids have spent gobs of time outside, running around, jumping on a trampoline, riding bikes, having nerf gun wars, etc etc etc.

Yes, they still have iPads and an XBOX, but they rarely pass up the opportunity to get outside when it's nice.; 9/8/15, 9:10 AM
mtrobertslaw said...: Is there a single progressive idea that doesn't make matters worse?; 9/8/15, 9:10 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Now i know the real reason why ipads run on battery.; 9/8/15, 9:11 AM
Scott said...: They just need more Ritalin.; 9/8/15, 9:16 AM
Michael K said...: "Is there a single progressive idea that doesn't make matters worse?"

"even though her school was considered highly progressive"

Bingo ! Twice !

The WaPo readers will never understand this.; 9/8/15, 9:27 AM
Henry said...: When you're 4, falling out of your seat when is play.; 9/8/15, 9:32 AM
Jaq said...: Kids can laugh at us old timers, but sometimes I hear a note of envy from millennials when we describe being thrown out of the house to sink or swim at 18 or 21, depending on when you finished school. Grad school? You were on your own for that one.; 9/8/15, 9:35 AM
Henry said...: I actually more or less agree with the article. Not enough play. Not enough recess. The demand that young kids sit and be bored. It's the psuedo-science that bugs me.; 9/8/15, 9:35 AM
MayBee said...: Early daycare teaches children they have to compete for attention of adults.; 9/8/15, 9:35 AM
Heartless Aztec said...: Duh...buncha' progressive dumb shits. My daughter was a free range beach child through the late 80's and 90's. We would go on long extended camping trips where she was the (pre GPS) 6 year old Westfalia navigator from Delorme Gazeteers telling me where she wanted go and what she wanted to do. Shoot, she once navigated me to the Smithsonian to see Dorothy Gales ruby red shoes. She turned out spectacularly well. These helicopter hover and organize everything patents are the worst...poor kids.; 9/8/15, 10:38 AM
Jaq said...: I blame local TV news, which sensationalizes and graphically presents to you, in your living room, all the horrible things that could potentially happen to your child. Nobody wants their* kid to be the one who pays the price of freedom.

*Yes, I know I should have used the PC "her" in place of "their" and yes, I was taught in patriarchy school that I should have used the pronoun "his" so cool it jimbino.; 9/8/15, 10:57 AM
Known Unknown said...: "I blame local TV news, which sensationalizes and graphically presents to you, in your living room, all the horrible things that could potentially happen to your child. Nobody wants their* kid to be the one who pays the price of freedom."

My wife falls prey to this from time to time, freaking out about abductions and whatnot. I try to reason with her, but it's hard.; 9/8/15, 11:30 AM
Real American said...: I read a bunch of books about animals to my 4 year old. Every single one, when discussing the cubs or pups or whatever, without fail, states that the young animals learn the skills they'll need as adults through play. I fail to see how humans are really that different. Sure, there's a bit more intellectual stuff we need eventually, but learning through free play should be the foundation of all early childhood education.; 9/8/15, 11:53 AM
Larry J said...: They keep kids indoors, wrap them in bubble wrap lest they scrape a knee, and then wonder why they're fat, uncoordinated, and can't sit still.; 9/8/15, 3:01 PM