The way children were raised 30 years ago is very different from today. Cellphones and social media weren’t invented yet and children had more freedom to go and do whatever they wanted.
In present times, things are the opposite. Kids now have cellphones and access to social media, informing close friends, family and complete strangers where they are and what they’re doing at all times. This leads to parents being able to “helicopter” their kids.
According to the CDC and a variety of scholars, young children and adolescents are being diagnosed with anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders more than ever, along with diabetes, obesity and other physical-related issues. Older adults, especially parents, don’t know why the mental health crisis in the youth is rising. However, maybe it’s the parents themselves that are behind the causes of the youth mental health crisis.
Emily Oster is an American economist, professor of economics at Brown University and podcast host of “The Free Press: Raising Parents with Emily Oster.” What she does as a career may be different from what her podcast series speaks of, but after listening to the first episode my eyes were opened to the connection between parenting and children’s mental health.
One of the possible reasons might be that parents are overprotective of their kids. Oster explains how adult supervision wasn’t a major thing during her childhood in the ‘80s. Children could walk or bike to school or be out at night without an adult supervising them.
We must allow the kids to be kids and let them have a taste of freedom
Today, that is happening less and less. Oster explains how kids are now less free because their time is more structured in school, with homework and extracurricular activities, and they are less likely to take risks. This can explain why kids are sadder these days.
Tim Carney, author of “Family, Unfriendly” and a father to six children, explained how parenting has become much harder than it needs to be. About 20 years ago, parenting was more lenient. They taught their children the basics: no drinking and driving, don’t do drugs and don’t be stupid, generally speaking.
Now, parents are more controlling in raising their kids. This intense parenting is connected to “helicopter parenting” and wanting to raise children to be “perfect and successful.” Sending them to the best schools so they can go to an Ivy League University is a perfect example of intense parenting.
I asked my grandmother about this matter and she said during the ‘70s and ’80s, if parents went to a store and lost their children, they would panic wondering where their child was, not if someone abducted them. She also added that human sex trafficking didn’t exist during those times as opposed to today.
It is mentioned in the middle of the podcast how during the ‘80s crime was higher than it is today. After the pandemic, the crime rates have decreased, yet it is believed the outside world today is not as safe.
“Are We Over-Parenting Our Kids?” explains in detail the way parenting has changed over the years and connects to the mental health crisis in our youth today. As Oster says at the end of the podcast, focusing too much on safety leads to kids having less independence and becoming insecure adults.
We must allow the kids to be kids and let them have a taste of freedom. Even if the parents are uncomfortable and want their kids to be safe, it is essential for their growth, maturation and ability to become independent, confident adults.
vgiorda1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @profemilyoster, Instagram
