[Blackmirror]

What age would you say childhood ends..

I still took a teddy to bed at 15

Are our children growing up too quickly and missing out on being children ?

Has childhood become too commercial ?
It certainly is big business..

Be interested in your views

[Goku]

Excellent topic BM. In my opinion, childhood never stops. Whatever age you grow, there is always a child within you.

However, as you rightly say, today's children are rightly missing on their childhood. Computer games and useless shows are taking up their time which were earlier alloted to creative activities. Its what they call fun but never actually realize what beautiful world they are missing outside.

Sigh, I guess this is the generation gap speaking.

-- Goku

[Jason]

I'd say 16, 'cause that's when you go for Apprenticeships ect. Although some would argue lower, with all the binge drinking, crime ect.

To Goku's reply, I don't think computers games ect stop childhood because it's a choice to play a console. If people can't get off their computer, then it is their own fault, no-one else's.

[Blackmirror]

There are some children who have never ever

Made a mud pie
Eaten a worm .. yummy
Climbed a tree
Made a daisy chain
Fed a horse with grass
Made a tent from all your mums pegs and the washing line and sheets

Those are things from my childhood

[Goku]

I have done three of those things on your list BM:

Made a mud pie.
Climbed a tree.
Fed a horse with grass.

I was raised in the tech world and therefore never took the time out to interact with nature. Thankfully, I grew up watching some of the better channels and therefore could keep some of my own views. But, this was not an efficient substitute. As you see, I still lack the understanding at some point.

-- Goku

[Jason]

Each childhood varies. What may seem natural to you, doesn't mean it will to others'. For example, I play football, others' choose to do something completely different. Doesn't mean one's childhood is worse.

I do think everyone has a childhood dream. But, as you get older, most have to accept that their dreams won't come true, as sad as it may seem.

[Blackmirror]

I know children as young as 7 who have the latest mobile phones
TVs in bedrooms seem to be the norm now

You only have to look at programs like super nanny to see the effects of modern living on children


I didn't say it was the normal Jason but playing in dirt didn't hurt me
it has been proven to strengthen the immune system

Then they wonder why children are so sickly

[Jason]

That's true, young kids have the latest gadgets nowadays. However, isn't that a sign of time moving forward? It also said that Puberty is starting in younger kids than it normally does, so perhaps that is why childhood is shortening, because they are becoming adults?

[Blackmirror]

They are going to be born internet ready before too long

[Jason]

Lmao. We'll see what the future holds....

[Blackmirror]

Xbox360- controllers as standard

[Daveskater]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

They are going to be born internet ready before too long

Built in WiFi

I do think that some kids are trying to grow up too fast these days, not enjoying their childhood properly imo.

I have done these hehe

Climbed a tree
Made a daisy chain
Fed a horse with grass
Made a tent from all your mums pegs and the washing line and sheets

Although what we did with the tent thing is we did it inside with chairs And I climbed a tree two days ago Hanging off of the branches hehe.

[Goku]

Originally Posted by Jason

To Goku's reply, I don't think computers games ect stop childhood because it's a choice to play a console. If people can't get off their computer, then it is their own fault, no-one else's.

I have always believed that more or less, it is parents who make the child what he / she is. Children are young and curious and always emulate what they see. If you can't devote enough time to your children, then they will turn to other ways to satisfy their curiosity. Turning to gaming consoles is one such option. And what happens when they play games such as Grand Theft Auto? They will learn accordingly.

Again, addiction to such consoles is another reason why the current generation is lazy and ill-mannered.

If you can devote enough time for your children, then you must be proud because you are building up someone's life.

-- Goku

[Gunner]

Was childhood ever innocent?
This BBC article pretty much sums it up for me.
"...hasn't society always worried that young people are experiencing adulthood too soon?
I won't bore you all with what I really think.
Being a child, son, dad and granddad, I have seen all the stages.

[Blackmirror]

I forgot the link Gunner
Thanks
An interesting read through the ages

[MightyQueenCarolyn]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

There are some children who have never ever

Made a mud pie
Eaten a worm .. yummy
Climbed a tree
Made a daisy chain
Fed a horse with grass
Made a tent from all your mums pegs and the washing line and sheets

Those are things from my childhood

I did all of the above except the worm eating as I preferred beetle bug suckage.

I was also orally raped at 5 years old (because Mum didn't teach me about stranger danger) and analy raped at 11 (because Mum didn't teach me about bad boys and menz). Protecting my innocence, she was. *shrug*

My lads did all the "natural kids stuff" as above quoted and more, but were also warned and rewarned and taught and practiced and role-played instances of "the world's dangers" before they hit school. It scared them as so it should.
Life is tough and dangerous and if THAT had been taught me when I was a little one, my childhood and resulting adulthood would have been very different, me thinks.

[Albert Lionheart]

Nothing much outdoors seems to be part of childhood any more. Mine was brilliant but I didn't realise it at the time - there was always a boat somewhere to play with and some sea to get lost in. I seemed to have survived that with most of my bits still attached and working. And there was desert in one place and an enormous forest in another.
One major disappointment was not being able to go and work for Jacques Cousteau because I was too young - had all the French Navy Sub-aqua training certificates but just 1 year too young. Thats when my childhood ended I think.

[Blackmirror]

I remember my lads and their spades
They used to go out in the fields and dig up things
We had a box of animal bones

[Albert Lionheart]

Our kids used to do the same - and wander off on bikes all over the place. So long as they always came back when they were supposed to we only worried a little bit. Just enough.

[Blackmirror]

The only trouble we had was when someone set fire to their base

Ooh they were mad