Modern life harming generation of kids

Education has improved, poverty in the real sense has been virtually eradicated and yet our way of life appears to attract these relatively new maladies. Why is this? Well I think we would do well to take a closer look at the way we live today.

Take social media, for example, here we have a platform for both young and old to say what they think about whomever they like whenever they choose, all done behind a virtual door. Do parents really know what their children are accessing when they are supposed to be doing their homework or asleep? You wouldn’t allow your child to speak to a stranger on the street so why would you dismiss Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as being any different? Also, games such as Fortnite are making children aggressive and violent. Although restricted to use by 12 year olds and above, many as young as six are playing it. A teacher in Gloucester recently said that young children find it difficult to distinguish between the game and real life.

This window on the world is also putting huge pressure on people to conform to ideals of appearance or body image that are in some cases impossible to achieve. Unfortunately by the time some parents recognise the change in their children’s behaviour it is often too late to do anything about it. Sadly suicide among the teenage population is on the rise and this may be a major contributory factor. Social media and the internet at large need speedy regulation before this generation suffers a major meltdown.

Food allergies also seem to be far more common today, the question again why? Growing up, we ate anything and everything our parents gave us and allergies were virtually unheard of. Today restaurateurs and food manufacturers need to go to extreme lengths to ensure their products are properly labelled to satisfy customers they are not being put at risk. But what is at the core of the problem? Many academics assert the rise in allergic reaction to food is that we now have an excessive obsession for cleanliness. One such physician recently said that we are being too clean and essentially creating allergies for ourselves. It is becoming extremely difficult for those in the food and drink industry and is unfair to lay all the blame at their door. More urgent research needs to be carried out before this problem worsens.

In halcyon days we swam in the sea, climbed rocks, went fishing, carried knives, fell out of trees, played rugby, football and cricket, fought in the playground, lit fires and guess what – nobody died. Nowadays the over-protection of young people engaged in normal physical activity is doing them a disservice. Sports clubs and other institutions are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteer assistants for fear of litigation as a result of accidents.

A recent Ofsted report claimed nurseries that ban climbing frames stifle children’s physical development. It also states that playing on climbing frames, having cookery lessons and going on trips are now regarded by early years providers as activities which are too risky as youngsters may get hurt. These activities are part and parcel of growing up – if you cook you may get burned, if you climb you may fall. Take away these valuable lessons and you remove the ability to make more serious risk judgement in later life. It is my belief that we all need to do more and take a serious look at the way we are operating before we inflict any more ills on ourselves.

RICHARD LE BARGY

Rouge Rue

St Peter Port