Childhood And Depression
I was disturbed to read that depression amongst todays children is commonplace and on the rise. Apparently it's been brought about by the many indulgences we adults extend to children. The main culprits -junk food, extensive marketing, over-competitive schooling and electronic entertainment.
The term 'death of childhood' is not new. By today's standards, children growing up during and after the war years (1940/50's), when poverty, depression, low wages and poor housing were widespread, were also robbed of the simple pleasures of childhood. And there I think lies the key. Simple pleasures.
When I was young there were no electronic games. There was TV, but I didn't have one in my bedroom. I shared my room with two sisters. Us three girls were very different personalities. Our likes and dislikes often led to childish disagreements. Having a TV in our bedroom would have led to a very noisy bedtime. We were encouraged instead to read in bed. A simple pleasure.
The joy of falling asleep with your mind imagining what might happen next in your unfinished book is a pleasure that has not left me. Todays children are not encouraged to use their imagination in a healthy way. They grow out of the habit of imaginary games and simple play too early. It's not the childs fault, nor is it entirely the parents fault.
Being politically correct in your childrearing is pushed at us from all directions. We have become an over-protective society in a way that does not allow our children to experience true life. We no longer prepare them for the knocks that life will give them as an adult.
I remember once writing a story about a sheep that learnt to whistle. Just imagine the fun and confusion this caused for the farmer. When I sent my story to a publisher the following was the main tone of my rejection slip - 'beware of fantasy in children's stories.' At the time I was too shocked at this statement to be upset about being rejected!
Allowing children to use their imagination and to have a little healthy fantasy, may well go some way to improving a childs cognitive skills. The experts think they have found a link between cognitive skills and depression. An assessment of a child's cognitive capabilities can show how a child processes information and applies knowledge - their mind, reasoning, learning and perception or mental functions and processes. Simply put this is an an IQ test. Recent cognitive tests on 11 year olds showed them to be 2 to 3 years behind in cognitive capability than they were in similar tests run 15 years ago.
Maybe it's time we took note and worked towards a 'back to basics' in childrearing. Forget being PC. Let's have learning to use your imagination, natural curiousity and fantasy on the national curriculum.
The term 'death of childhood' is not new. By today's standards, children growing up during and after the war years (1940/50's), when poverty, depression, low wages and poor housing were widespread, were also robbed of the simple pleasures of childhood. And there I think lies the key. Simple pleasures.
When I was young there were no electronic games. There was TV, but I didn't have one in my bedroom. I shared my room with two sisters. Us three girls were very different personalities. Our likes and dislikes often led to childish disagreements. Having a TV in our bedroom would have led to a very noisy bedtime. We were encouraged instead to read in bed. A simple pleasure.
The joy of falling asleep with your mind imagining what might happen next in your unfinished book is a pleasure that has not left me. Todays children are not encouraged to use their imagination in a healthy way. They grow out of the habit of imaginary games and simple play too early. It's not the childs fault, nor is it entirely the parents fault.
Being politically correct in your childrearing is pushed at us from all directions. We have become an over-protective society in a way that does not allow our children to experience true life. We no longer prepare them for the knocks that life will give them as an adult.
I remember once writing a story about a sheep that learnt to whistle. Just imagine the fun and confusion this caused for the farmer. When I sent my story to a publisher the following was the main tone of my rejection slip - 'beware of fantasy in children's stories.' At the time I was too shocked at this statement to be upset about being rejected!
Allowing children to use their imagination and to have a little healthy fantasy, may well go some way to improving a childs cognitive skills. The experts think they have found a link between cognitive skills and depression. An assessment of a child's cognitive capabilities can show how a child processes information and applies knowledge - their mind, reasoning, learning and perception or mental functions and processes. Simply put this is an an IQ test. Recent cognitive tests on 11 year olds showed them to be 2 to 3 years behind in cognitive capability than they were in similar tests run 15 years ago.
Maybe it's time we took note and worked towards a 'back to basics' in childrearing. Forget being PC. Let's have learning to use your imagination, natural curiousity and fantasy on the national curriculum.
posted by Anonymous at 9/12/2006 11:56:00 am
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