Helicopter Ancestors. The real cause of discontent among British teenagers

Original author: Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby
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English society is interested not only in the problems of the survival of horses and zebras , but also in the future of its own younger generation.


The following is a translation of an article on the problems of children and their upbringing in England. Although, it seems to me that these same issues concern not only children growing on the other side of the western borders ...




It is said that children growing up in the UK are among the most miserable in the industrialized world . The UK currently has the highest self-harm rates in Europe . And the annual review of the NSPCC Child Protection Services indicates this as one of the main reasons children go to charities.


Children are monitored and controlled every minute, it is not surprising that this affects their mental health.
Fig_1. Children are monitored and controlled every minute, it is not surprising that this affects their mental health.


Mental health of children is becoming one of the most pressing problems of British society. A recent report from the Prince Foundation emphasizes that an increasing number of children and young people are unhappy with their lives, sometimes with tragic consequences.


This is a generation of young people called snowflakes - unable to cope with stress and more resentful. They also say that they have less psychological stability than previous generations, and are too emotionally vulnerable to cope with the problem on their own.


Social networks are likely to play a role in all of this. Studies show that almost three quarters of teenagers from 12 to 15 years in the UK have a profile on social networks and spend on average 19 hours a week on the Internet. After all, this is the generation of Facebook, and never before have children grown up with such a daily bombardment of photos, products and messages.


But there are other reasons that are much closer to home. In our new book Taming Childhood? we put forward the argument that children and young people may indeed have less vitality than previous generations, but this is explained by the fact that they have fewer opportunities for its development. The reason for this is that childhood turns into training.


"Dangers" of childhood


Today, parents often perceive childhood as fraught with dangers. Not only are there problems where children can play, with whom they can talk and what they should and should not do, but the Internet has opened up a whole new set of problems that parents and the police must experience.


The life of children literally strangles them. Children can no longer spend time with friends unattended, study their community, or hang out in groups without arousing suspicion. Very few uncontrolled games and events take place for children in public places or even in homes, and their free time is often eaten by homework or organized activities.


It also depends on how children are taught in schools, and how the pursuit of success has led to the taming of education . But if children never have difficulties, if they never experience troubles or personal risks, then it is not surprising that they will not have enough resilience.


Taking control


This is not the result of any particular change or development, nor is it done intentionally. In many ways, suppressing the experience of children is often wrapped up in the idea of ​​what is best for the children, or with thoughts of becoming a good parent.


This can be seen in security approaches aimed at eliminating all risks to children's lives. Or in approaches to education, when adults make decisions and limit the possibilities of children. Ultimately, this means that children have fewer opportunities to intervene, study, and experience their world.


Good parenting concepts that highlight the knowledge of where children are and how to keep them safe, combined with cutting-edge ideas that regard children as naturally vulnerable, also do not recognize their ability to cope with situations that we, as adults, find difficult.


All this comes amid growing concerns about the well-being of children. But what adults consider important for the well-being of the child, and what the children themselves consider important, may not coincide.


Competitive education


Children are very often viewed in terms of who they become, and not who they are. This has led to the growth of an intensive type of education, often called helicopter education. Studies have shown that well-being is reduced in children who experience helicopter education.


It is possible that the competitive nature of modern society contributes to the fact that parents dominate the lives of their children for reasons that are appropriate for them. But at the same time, they act contrary to the long-term interests of their children.


The idea that children should not be at risk and protected from everyday adversity means that parents limit where children can go and what they can do, especially when being unattended. This leads to childhood, which for many children is characterized by supervision, surveillance and the absence of any real problems.


Thus, this is not a problem of youth, but a problem of society and parents. It is clear that in this case, parents need to be supported, not condemned , so that they can feel confident that their children will receive a certain level of decision-making and freedom. Children should also be considered more valuable to society so that an unattended playground for children will again become a popular destination. Education also needs to be rethought so that children are not under constant pressure, but can again become independent and cheerful people.


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