Are Our Children Addicted?
Published by Bob Foster
Last month I wrote a post about children born today, on average, having a shorter life expectancy than their parents–primarily due to sedentary living brought about by technological gadgets and toys.
Then, I ran across an article recently by Seth Godin, which, through a video he posted, depicts a disturbing picture of kids with gadgets. If you view the following link, watch the young boy at about the 2:40 mark.
Have we so ingrained in our children the need for the latest electronic gadget, that they have become “gadget addicts?” How big a role have these gadgets played in creating the sedentary lives and childhood obesity that is being called an “epidemic” today?
I would like to hear what some others think.
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They way I see it, our American culture has created this phenomenon. Look at how these kids are marketed to today. How are they pumped up and bombarded with the notion that their lives will be better if they have a certain video game? (Notice the last kid in the move got an XBox – LOL!)
It’s not just Saturday morning TV commercials anymore… the new weapon of choice is the Web. The teasers for the launch of a new video game are virally pumped up for month before a release (usually before Xmas) and that’s all the kids at school can talk about. If you get one, you’ve reached a particular status in your peer group – not to mention being able to chat about it and be part of something much more global with online groups and forums.
But then again – these ARE kids after all. I think I pretty much peed my pants with excitement over a train set I got for Xmas when I was about 10. There was no marketing hype or bragging rights to achieve back then. I was just really excited and happy to receive such an amazing gift.
I find this video neither funny nor adorable. In fact, I find it quite distressing. I did wrap a Nintendo Wii Christmas Eve for my nephew. Now, I will have to go back and ask my sister how he responded to the gift. There is just way too much emphasis on gifts.
When we were kids we went to nursing homes and sang for the elderly, we went caroling, and visited juvenile detention centers, spreading joy! Might any of these kids be doing such things? Are they taught that “it is more blessed to give than receive?”
Come to think of it, I’ll have to ask to see if any of nieces and nephews are doing such things at Christmas. I know that throughout the year they do community service through the church, though perhaps far less than we did we were kids. Oh, thank you, Bob, for upsetting me this afternoon.
Judith Ellis’s last blog post..Being Delores Lee Ellis II
Jeff—I also, can remember getting a train set for Christmas and how excited I was, but the point I am trying to emphasize is that children today will have a shorter life expectancy (according to the U.S. Surgeon General), and their quality of life will be less than previous generations. Further, I submit that one of the reasons (out of many) for this is the constant barrage of technical gadgets that keep kids indoors playing with an electronic device, rather than outdoors doing physical things.
I keep wondering if all the marketing hype and peer pressure have not made kids addicted to their electronic gadgets—an addiction that can carry over into adulthood?
Bob Foster’s last blog post..Are Our Children Addicted?
Judith—I am sorry for spoiling your afternoon, that certainly was not my intention. However, I do get excitable when I see the current generation of kids being so negatively impacted by fast food and electronic toys. If this were just a fad it would be one thing, but this is the accepted lifestyle of an upcoming generation.
The Millennial generation is now hitting the employment ranks and there is a $50 Billion dollar industry that has sprung up for the primary purpose of teaching these young people “how to work.” I can’t imagine what will happen when the Wii generation hits the job market.
Before I get labeled as a crank, let me say that, everyday I see young people who are industrious, who play sports, who have goals in life, who understand about health, and who will make fine leaders in the future. I am only worried about the large number of kids (maybe a majority?) who are only happy when they are playing with one of their many electronic gadgets—or eating.
Bob Foster’s last blog post..Are Our Children Addicted?
As a child, I wanted a Secret Decoder Ring that was advertised on a Cereal box (1930’s) and a Daisy BB gun (1940’s) advertised in comic books…I was told ‘we can’t afford the ring’ but you may have it if you earn the money. As to the BB gun, the answer was a resounding ‘NO.’
I blame the parents who never learned that postponing those immediate gratification pangs by teaching the child to mow the neighbors grass and saving up, might impart a life lesson that would last forever. It’s easier for the parents (who are both working) to give in to their guilt and hand the kids a check, credit card or spendy gift that is seldom taken care of…and limiting the amount of ‘gaming’ and TV viewing to an hour a day. That in itself should limit the amount of electroic gadgets they have.
Good article, Bob.