Are children today luckier than ever before?
Are children today luckier than ever before?
Our twin girls are three, soon to be four years old. In their short lives they’ve experienced quite a lot. They’ve been on an aeroplane twice, enjoyed two holidays abroad plus two holidays in the UK.
They’ve also been to four theatre shows plus a live show in an arena and they go on lots of days outs to farms, zoos, beaches etc.
In December 2015, we went away for two nights to enjoy a Christmas themed break, meaning our twins saw Santa a total of three times. Once with mummy and daddy as we booked to see him in the garden centre we took them too last year, once again with their school and then again when we went on our two night break.
In addition to all of the above, our girls never go without in terms of toys, books, magazines etc. They’re not spoilt though. I don’t buy them a new magazine or toy every time they ask for one.
I do think children today have more opportunities available to them than when I was a child. With that said, I think I was lucky in that my childhood was a happy one. We’d go on at least one holiday a year, which was usually abroad and I never wanted for anything when it came to Christmases and birthdays.
Although children appear to have more opportunities in todays world, I also think that they live in a scarier world and are under a lot more pressure to succeed than ever before.
I’ll address the first point to star with and that’s about todays world being a scary one. In truth it’s probably always been a scary world, but we’re more aware of it nowadays with the ever increasing world of social media and so-called ‘social experiment’ videos on You Tube.
When I was a kid I would play outdoors in the park with my friends and when it was time to go home, I’d walk in the dark either on my own or with my sister.
To be honest with you, I’m not sure how happy I feel about letting my girls walk home on their own in the dark.
With regard to the pressure to succeed I think with the current state of the economy, it’s either a case of do well or end up on benefits. Not because they’re lazy, but because in terms of jobs, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of them to go around.
In this day and age, it’s pretty hard to earn a living. There’s always someone willing to do the same job as you, for a lot less money.
What do you think? Are children today luckier than ever before?
15 Comments
Moderate Mum
January 11, 2016 at 11:11 am
The title made me smile because I think every generation thinks the next one has it easy. My son has been on several flights, I feel so happy I have given him this experience but I also remember how exciting my first plane trip was, something that will boring and pedestrian to him. Overall I would say children are unluckier because of the lack of employment opportunities but hopefully that will change by the time ours are ready to work.
Little Pickle’s Mom
January 15, 2016 at 10:03 am
Wholeheartedly agree with this! Our own childhoods will always be different from that of our children, and with advances in technology and social constructs and economies… we'll always think they have it easier. And in some ways, tougher. The lucky thing is that at least they won't know the difference! It'll just be normal to them, and the best thing we can do is prepare them for whatever is to come. And that might mean making some parenting decisions that are different from those we experienced by our own parents, but that's okay.
Liane
January 11, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Children nowadays seem to have so much more available to them, computers, Internet, toys, holidays etc but I don't think they're luckier than we were. I have similar memories to you of playing at the park and not going home until it was dark.. Our kids will never know that freedom. They'll never use the street lights as an indicator of when it's time to go home. They have so much more but I personally think they'll miss out on more than they gain x
Jessica Powell
January 11, 2016 at 9:19 pm
I think they are in terms of how more the world is open to them. The internet has made it so easy to learn about new places, find new things to experience, etc. When it comes to jobs and the economy, it's always cyclical – it's just luck of the draw how things are when you reach working age. x
Leanne Dolan
January 12, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Times have definitely changed. I do think children get more luxuries than years ago when I was a child for example! But then everything has moved on and advanced. It's all relative I guess. X
Sarah Howe
January 15, 2016 at 7:48 am
I think my daughter gets more than I did as a child especially trips abroad but times have changed. I think pressures for money and jobs and education are harder so swings and roundabouts xx #binkylinky
Mummy Fever
January 15, 2016 at 9:54 am
I think things are very different. I travelled a lot with my parents and we do with our children. I think that sometimes it appears children are luckier because technology has changed etc. It really depends on the way we parent. #BinkyLinky
Helen Gandy – Beautiful Things
January 15, 2016 at 10:40 am
I think that yes children are luckier these days but I think our salaries and lifestyles mean that we can offer more opportunities and treats than perhaps years ago. I hope that even with treats and days out our children grow up to realise that you can only have the nice things by working hard for them. Great post Emily and got me thinking! Thanks for hosting #binkylinky
Something Crunchy Mummy
January 15, 2016 at 11:16 am
This is a great post, I think children nowerdays have more opportunities and guidance. We do live in a scary world so will our children be more cautious that we were when we were younger. #binkylinky xx
Random Musings
January 15, 2016 at 1:53 pm
This is a tricky one – in terms of opportunity available etc, they have so many options but at the same time, there is so much pressure, so much more hate and so much more availability to that too. I wouldn't like to be growing up now that's for sure. Thanks for hosting the #binkylinky
Debbie
Jodie Allen
January 15, 2016 at 11:25 am
I agree with you here. In one way yes they are luckier than ever before with so many more opportunities. But I also think the world seems to be getting less and less safe – Not so long ago our grandparents left us outside shops in buggys without a care in the world – whereas now I don't feel right if I haven't got at least one hand on the pram at any time! #Binkylinky
gina caro
January 15, 2016 at 1:06 pm
It's a tough one that, personally I don't think we can really compare our children's childhoods to our own because they are being brought up in a completely different world. Like you said I use to walk home on my own and go out all day playing in the woods etc and my Mother didn't have a clue where we were or what we were up to and nothing bad ever happened to me. People just wouldn't do that these days with their children. I do wish mine would play outside more though instead of staring at their computer screens all the time! #BinkyLinky
Mrs Tubbs
January 15, 2016 at 9:49 pm
I agree with you. In someways children today are better off as they have more material goods etc. But they also face more pressures. I wouldn't want to be growing up now
Emma
January 16, 2016 at 9:05 am
I definitely think children are luckier now. My own children have travelled more in 8 years than I did in 25. I do think though that as they grow teenage years maybe worse due to social media pressures and the worry we all face of our children being safe. #binkylinky lifeinthemumslane
Nigel
January 17, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Our two sure as hell are!!!