90’s kids versus 2000’s kids
By Peter Gagnon//Staff Writer
The 90’s were a very different time for children versus those today. Kids are kids because they’re still learning constantly, making mistakes as they go along. However, learning from mistakes is a different story. Growing up is about learning how to go through life effectively and efficiently. Technology, in a lot of ways, has seriously altered the way children are raised. Socially, physically and medically kids have changed drastically.
In the 90’s, children were raised somewhat independently, at least this was the way it always was in my household. Being the youngest of three kids, my two older sisters and I were never pampered. If we wanted something, we had to figure it ourselves. A sense of independence was instilled in the three of us. Even something as simple as getting a glass of orange juice was something we had to do ourselves. We learned life skills and how to be our own person. My mother and father were strict and taught us to be independent – If you want something, go out and get it.
Children today, as I have realized, are very much “entitled” to new fashions such as smartphones, clothing, foods, toys and even music.
iPhones/iPads and other smart devices all contain ads. Televisions have always contained ads, and of course on the internet there are ads, but they are much more targeted today. In the 90’s, there was no real outlet for advertising to children other than on TV. Today, children see these ads almost anywhere there is a screen. Other kids having items such as smartphones or the latest new fad makes all children crave material possessions even more. Fitting in is more important than ever because every child wants to be accepted.
Now, skip ahead to the late 2000’s. My father and mother have friends in a neighboring town – they are nice people with young kids. I have realized that their children are poster children of the 2000’s – entitled and not independent. They learn from television shows and YouTube videos rather than actually experiencing things. Children today seem to be influenced by what they see on Instagram or Facebook. This is not where our future children should be learning basic life skills.
Kids today are extremely sheltered and do not spend as much time outside as kids in the 90’s did. They don’t ride their bikes in the street and play nearly as much as before. Even when one goes out to a restaurant and looks around at the younger families, you see endless amounts of iPhones/iPads and other smart devices. What happened to the coloring books or even just being able to entertain yourself during a short dinner period?
What allergies were common when you were growing up? I can name three: peanuts, canine dander and feline dander. Today you have allergies such as shellfish, dander, grass, soy, wheat (gluten), egg and dust. Studies have shown that with the new millennium, the number of children developing allergies has more than doubled. Thus comes the hygiene hypothesis. In the simplest terms, because children are so much more sheltered than they were in years past, their immune systems are not exposed to as much outside bacteria and thus create antibodies against things such as peanuts, grass and shellfish.
There are many different ways both generations of children differ. The main contributor, however, could be linked to technology. It wasn’t all thanks to the rise of technology, but indeed technology has played a major role.