From timeouts to texting, a lot has changed since we were growing up. We played differently. We were punished differently. Childhood itself was just different back then. But was it better?
Back in the day...
1. When we were in elementary school and stayed home alone, it was considered the norm; not neglect.
2. There weren't any prearranged play dates. When we wanted to play with our friends, we just did it.
3. We made a million uses out of a few pieces of chalk and a jump rope. We played with Barbies and G.I. Joe; things that required us to use our imaginations. And yes, we also played with toy guns, which weren't so taboo at the time. There weren't games on iPhones, iPads, or iEverythings, and action figures that do all of the talking and moving by themselves.
4. We called our friends on a phone-- a house phone, where it was likely that we'd have to get through their parents first in order to talk to them. TALK, not text, because back then we didn't LOL, we actually laughed out loud.
5. "Sharon" was Ms. Sharon, or Aunt Sharon, or Ms. Jones. And she had the right to discipline us when our parents weren't around.
6. There was somewhat of a limit to bullying and trash talking. Threats and fights weren't recorded and posted online for the world to see.
7. A "time-out" was the break your mom took from whoopin' your behind to ask Jesus to give her more strength.
8. We could have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at school without worrying about one of our classmates being rushed to an emergency room.
9. MTV played videos. We watched sitcoms where we learned life lessons about the importance of family, the danger of drugs, and how our parents brought us into this world, and they could take us out. There was no reality TV, where the only things you learn are how to fast track your way to a record deal and throw a drink in someone's face.
Cartoons were on for about two hours after school, on Saturday mornings, and a few on Sundays. Now, there are at least five different networks dedicated to kids' shows...and a channel just for dogs.
10. Birthday celebrations were parties, not productions. Matching plates, cups and napkins with our favorite superhero, or a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's and we were good.
Despite the many differences in our experiences growing up, there are still aspects of childhood that will always stay the same. There will always be those shoes that you'll just die if you don't have them. There will always be cliques, and clashes with parents who just don't understand.
But now that we're those parents...
Do you think that our kids have it too easy, or is it more difficult being a child these days?
The post Old School Vs. New School: 10 Ways Childhood Has Changed Since Our Day appeared first on MommyNoire.
