Article: "Why American Kids are Brats"

[ChrisFL]

http://ideas.time.com/2012/02/10/why-american-kids-are-brats/

I happen to agree with most of this article, and it shows with some of the topics here that people are complaining about, like behavior in movie theaters.

Thoughts?

 

[kimblebee]

I tend to agree with the article. As a Canadian, my impression of Americans in general is that everyone looks out for #1 no matter what you have to do.

Please and Thank You goes a long way.

 

[plutotek]

The article was very interesting, and I would say it was accurate. There are still families that hold to those same basic principles, but they are becoming a dying breed. And contrary to the previous comment, I think it's not limited to Americans.

 

[HoneyPooh]

I live in a tourist area and it is DEFINITELY not just americans.

 

[Buckalew11]

I agree with the article. We are a very self-centered country and it is reflected in our youth. Are they all that way? no. But a good number of kids these days a spoiled rotten and act the same.

 

["Got Disney"]

I see this all the time with kids...its also the feeling of entitlement....they deserve everything without earning it....like a trophy even if their team looses....

I have taught my boys to give up a seat to woman,older people and pregnant woman and so on....also to go up and shake the hand of everyone they see in uniform that fights for this country and say "Thanks for serving"...

they are teens and have jello for brains but respect of others and volunteering is very important.....

do they have this feeling of entitlement...of course they do...their teens....but that does not mean that they also need to know that they are not "All that"...and that it is not always about them.....

We have a house full of kids all the time...we have 4 of them sleeping here this 4 day weekend.....when they come here they follow our rules...or they can't stay....but the kids love coming here because we do have boundaries and can't do as they wish.....they are not entitled to that....

I am far from a perfect mom....who is right....but there are a lot of brats out there of all ages....and even many follow it into adulthood....and I have no time to waste my time with adults like that.....kids are a different ball game...they are still learning and are always a work in progress.....thats what makes parenting such a challenge.....they always want to do what they want no matter the consequences and its up to us not to just let them do as they wish....and make them think they are better than another kid out there.....thats when they become bullies.....

I am still a parent in training.....

 

[mamacatnv]

I agree with this article. What I found interesting was that the author does't necessarily zero in on indulgent parents who give and give and give but she spends a lot of time on parenting that lacks giving children the insight that they are not the center of the universe.

 

[mvazul]

We insist our children say please and thank you and make eye contact. In fact, we are often complimented on how well they behave in public, restaurants, etc. I have taken a lot of flack from my family for expecting my children behave this way. The same family who raised me with the same beliefs. My son is now 17 and our daughter is 10. There are times I would like to strangle them for not behaving - they're kids. I appreciate being complimented on how well our children behave, but more often than not, I am embarrassed to have someone say something. After all, this is how they are SUPPOSED to behave.

Now, for the article to say we need to model ourselves after the French, I have to disagree. My family hosted a French exchange student. She was the rudest person I have ever met in my life. She made messes in our home and would walk away from it. One day, she dumped an entire container of grape juice on the floor. She and my sister were the only ones home at the time. This girl left the juice and went to take a nap, expecting my sister to clean it. She would say horrible things about us to her family when they would call. My sister and I had both taken years of French, so we could make out what she was saying. She did nothing but complain the entire time she was there. She is certainly not someone I would want my children to model themselves after. I know she is not ALL of France, but she is what I know of it. We were very happy to see her go.

Michelle

 

[Tiger926]

I agree with some of it, but as the article points out, it is the parents who are creating this lack of empathy and altruism.

Manners are important to us, and so our kids are very mannerly because we have taught them to be so. They also give their toys and clothes to charity, help others in need, etc. And when something goes amiss, we discuss and role play so that they know how to properly do it for next time. My little guy who is only 4, is quite the mannerly little gentleman some days!

Many adults I know are like the kids in the article too though, so it's not just a problem that is only seen in kids.

Tiger

 

[ChrisFL]

Many adults I know are like the kids in the article too though, so it's not just a problem that is only seen in kids.

Tiger

True, but I bet THEIR parents were not bringing them up properly either.

 

[tinah159]

Very interesting article. I completely agree!

 

[merryweather20]

http://ideas.time.com/2012/02/10/why-american-kids-are-brats/

I happen to agree with most of this article, and it shows with some of the topics here that people are complaining about, like behavior in movie theaters.

Thoughts?

Seriously? Heck no! I live in a large city so my apartment building is a cultural mosaic. I know exactly two French families. The mother of the first set off her fire alarm daily and the other let their kids run around in the halls ad nauseum. They knocked over a delivery man while playing soccer in the halls one afternoon and can be heard screaming down the halls up to 11:30pm. I won't pretend to judge a whole nation based on two families, but feel free to read any world travel survey. The French as a people are not known for being courteous, personable or polite, or for their work ethic.

I agree with the author, about, little miss cancels at the last second, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the author isn't a perfect parent herself (and who is really ). My Grandma knew some ill mannered little pills when she was little, and there will be a few when my great grandchild is born. I suspect if the author was truly being honest with herself she knew a few back in France herself.

I for one never noticed some big difference when I crossed the border into Buffalo.

 

[ndelaware]

We brought our children up to say please and thank you and help out around the house and I cant understand why anyone wouldn't.

 

["Got Disney"]

Seriously? Heck no! I live in a large city so my apartment building is a cultural mosaic. I know exactly two French families. The mother of the first set off her fire alarm daily and the other let their kids run around in the halls ad nauseum. They knocked over a delivery man while playing soccer in the halls one afternoon and can be heard screaming down the halls up to 11:30pm. I won't pretend to judge a whole nation based on two families, but feel free to read any world travel survey. The French as a people are not known for being courteous, personable or polite, or for their work ethic.

I agree with the author, about, little miss cancels at the last second, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the author isn't a perfect parent herself (and who is really ). My Grandma knew some ill mannered little pills when she was little, and there will be a few when my great grandchild is born. I suspect if the author was truly being honest with herself she knew a few back in France herself.

I for one never noticed some big difference when I crossed the border into Buffalo.

it is said that the French...from France... are very rude...the ones I have met have been...but I will not of course paint them all with a broad brush.....but that part I don't agree with that all the French are well behaved and polite.......

 

[Poohforyou]

I guess we must live in utopia because just about every kid I know uses basic courtesies on their own or are reminded by parents/other adults to do so. It needs to start from day 1 though to make it habit.

 

[Anjelica]

It's not just "American" children but youth from varying different countries. I've traveled quite a bit and its a common thing amongst youth these days - not all youth, but more so than the older generations I have dealth with.

 

[kimblebee]

Seriously? Heck no! I live in a large city so my apartment building is a cultural mosaic. I know exactly two French families. The mother of the first set off her fire alarm daily and the other let their kids run around in the halls ad nauseum. They knocked over a delivery man while playing soccer in the halls one afternoon and can be heard screaming down the halls up to 11:30pm. I won't pretend to judge a whole nation based on two families, but feel free to read any world travel survey. The French as a people are not known for being courteous, personable or polite, or for their work ethic.

I agree with the author, about, little miss cancels at the last second, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the author isn't a perfect parent herself (and who is really ). My Grandma knew some ill mannered little pills when she was little, and there will be a few when my great grandchild is born. I suspect if the author was truly being honest with herself she knew a few back in France herself.

I for one never noticed some big difference when I crossed the border into Buffalo.

Are you sure they were France french and not Quebec french? BIG difference

 

[izzy]

One of my all-time favorite parenting expressions came from these boards:

A parent's job is to prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.

Sadly, many parents I see these days seem to subscribe to the "road for the child" philosophy.

 

[merryweather20]

Are you sure they were France french and not Quebec french? BIG difference

You mean there is a big province next to mine where people speak French ?!? and additional areas of French speaking communities throughout the country ?!? Never heard of such a thing. I assume your comment was in jest No, neither family is Quebecois, or French Canadian.

 

[punkin]

Ridiculous on so many levels...I have two DDs and they and a vast majority of their friends are wonderful, polite, and well mannered. I have no idea what French children are like other than this: http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/youths-continue-france-riots/