Children these days don't know how to behave

[DoYouWantMeToBeTheCat]

AIBU to wonder why?

image descriptions for visually impaired

1. Photo of socially distanced lunch tables in primary school with taped areas for seating
2. Photo of socially distanced classroom in secondary school with children sat in masks
3. Photo of child cycling past a play area taped up with signs advising it's closed
4. Front page of the Sunday People with headline that says "Death is all around us.. so follow the rules"
5. Photograph of toddler at window with an old lady at the other side - both putting their hands up to each other.

My 8yr old DS knows perfectly well how to behave tah, I don't show him tabloids for one thing.

We protect our kids from the awfulness of the world and teach them how to protect themselves as they get older.

It's true, I haven't in a lot of ways.

that is not a healthy environment for your children op. address that rather than navel gazing about children’s behaviour

What’s the point of post then?

None of that separation of dinner tables happened at our school. Is that even a photo from the UK? Playgrounds weren't closed here either. I know some were but none we used. Some had one swing removed so children couldn't sit too close together which was farcical but hardly distressing.

The OP is nonsense.

To make it clear - I think children these days behave just fine. Should have put my title in quotes!

Yes it's a phrase that's been round for a long time, long before lockdown - love the previous quote from Socrates! But the "I'm alright Jack" attitude some parents have to the effect of lockdown on children is bothersome. Because they were able to manage well - that means lockdown effected various communities and households the same? I don't think so.

DNephew (5) knows how to behave but I tests rules and is influenced by his friends. His DM is or was a “gentle” parent. My DB, his dad is firm but stricter. So if he’s really badly behaved he’s sent to his room or given warnings and rewards for behaviour in terms of privileges.

Children do know how to behave and generally parents are good at parenting but you always get the not so good parents whose DC behave in that way too.

To make it clear - I think children these days behave just fine. Should have put my title in quotes!

wtf?

op you need to address some of your own issues around this, namely fact you haven’t moved on from covid

I've worked in education and with children for 25 years.

It's not been the last 4 childrens behaviour has declined.

It's been a continual decline for at least a decade.

Many many factors but there's no denying covid did exacerbate the issue. But it didn't cause it.

In fact some parents with awfully behaved children before covid have just used it as an excuse since covid.

Are you one of those OP 🤔

I was complaining about some of that before lockdown. People were complaining about that when my dc were small (19 and 17, so a while ago)

It was covid, not war!

“but no one is happy to give this generation a little more grace and understanding.” 🤔🙄🤣 Get a grip.

This sounds like complete bollocks. Are you still living in lockdown? All is back to normal now and has been for a long time.

You are not making sense.

Photograph of toddler at window with an old lady at the other side - both putting their hands up to each other

Is it just me that thought this was a picture of Rolf Harris staring at a child through a window?

The reason why I wanted to make the post, with visuals, was to try and highlight that although covid was "ages ago" it made a pretty big impact on children whose development during that time was severely hampered. Ages ago for an adult - but for a toddler unable to socialise and play? For a primary school child who lost out on motor skill learning? For a teenager who couldn't interact functionally with their peers?

It wasn't "ages ago" - it was an important chunk that was lost. Do you remember how long 2 years felt when you were a child? I remember thinking it would take me all day to count to 100 when I was young.

Let's assume shit parenting.

How do you think it helped children who have shit parents being stuck with them and only their influence for that extended period of time?

Don't worry we had exactly the same conversations about my 27 year old's generation.not convinced we can blame lockdown for that 😂.
OP time to move on. Jesus life throws shite at us if I dwelled on the shit that has happened to me I would be a miserable fucker. But life is short, look forward not back.

Just taken 44 10-13 year old lads away on a trip for 3 days - they’ve been BRILLIANT. Not perfect but an absolute credit to us. Definitely the norm, don’t tar them all with the same brush op. Although I’ve no idea what your pictures have to do with anything

i can’t believe we’re debating this

seems so long ago to me, my children, family, friends, colleagues, school

i can’t remember last time even mentioned

you say you haven’t moved on op. address that rather than starting a thread wanting to chat about it some more

Oh come off it.

Those threads were all around us pre 2020 and they'll still be around in a couple of decades.

Kids tend to behave as well or as poorly as the adults around them allow.

There have always been different expectations from adults in charge.

YABVU. I've been a teacher for 30 years. Believe me, behaviour has been nosediving since way before the pandemic. Yes, there are aspects of behaviour which were definitely affected by lockdowns. Schools are very much aware of this. I'm not sure why you are under the impression that this generation are not given 'grace and understanding'.

Schools are generally bending over backwards to understand children's problems and make schools safer and more conducive to learning for all. Surprise surprise, that often involves trying to control and limit bad behaviour of disruptive and violent students. You can't just give them a pass 'because covid', because you have to actually look after the welfare of all the other students too.

I'm with you, OP.

We do know that Covid lock downs had an impact on speech and communication for a lot of children as nursery and school settings have reported this themselves.

My own daughter was only 18 months when the first lock down started, right about the time you'd hope for speech to occur. She has since been diagnosed with autism and a chromosomal disorder but has little speech even now - I can't help but resent the lock downs somewhat as it would have been easier to get her out and about and access the support we needed at an earlier age.

We know as many parents have reported on here, that it had a deleterious affect on children and teen mental health as well.

Whilst poor parenting will always be a factor for some children, it's not the be all and end all of explanations. Individual personality also comes into play.

Where in the UK were you? Our playground gates were taped off and the equipment on it too had tape round it.

Images found were UK based -
Lunch room https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/28/back-to-school-in-covid-times-what-can-pupils-in-england-expect-

Playground - https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/17/let-us-play-parents-and-charities-plead-for-swings-and-slides-to-be-kept-open-during-lockdown

It wasn't "ages ago" - it was an important chunk that was lost

it wasn’t ideal
but my children sure as heck didn’t “lose” these years

You have a point in that not enough was done, or even has been done since to explore children's experiences during COVID.

Jacinda Ardern was the only leader to directly address children in child friendly press conferences.

I did some training on Children, Young People and Flooding for work and similar results were found, that nobody addressed children's specific concerns and worries and has led to policy change. This wasn't about their behaviour though but more can certainly be done for children in emergency / disaster situations and during the recovery especially as often children don't want to burden their parents when they can see that they are already stressed.

How do you think it helped children who have shit parents being stuck with them and only their influence for that extended period of time?

Parents are responsible for parenting.

Maybe covid highlighted the number of shit parents there are when their children didn't have positive influences from peers, teachers, NDNs etc.

If we didn't rely on schools and teachers to literally be responsible for the upbringing of children and instead expected parents to parent o don't think covid would have had such an obvious effect on some children.

I'd be interested to hear if other countries are experiencing the same with their children?

Adults don't know how to behave either.

Next whinge?