Is anyone afraid we are raising a generation of spoiled impolite kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I know I'm not.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you live in the DC area?

Yes. Is it different elsewhere?

Yes. Quite.
I have lived in DC, southern VA, SC, and north Florida. The kids in DC were the most impolite. The children in SC had the best manners (and no, before you ask DCUM, they weren't all racist Christian fundamentalists.) We now live in FL and *for the most part* the teens here make eye contact, use please and thank you, can have conversations with adults. I have never heard a parent permit a child to refuse to say hello, like I did in DC all the time. There is a higher expectation for kids to have manners and the good behavior is encouraged in schools.

Very interesting. But aren't the majority of DC parents transplants? I would think they would bring some of the values you've experienced elsewhere with them. And yes - OMG not requiring a kid to say hello is one of my personal pet peeves. I will drill that into my kids if I have to die trying!

Even I am more polite when I am out of here. There is a rude vibe - the competition, the stress... When you realize, you are doing the same.

[Anonymous]

No, however they are more outspoken and engaged. Perhaps this is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you live in the DC area?

Yes. Is it different elsewhere?

Yes. Quite.
I have lived in DC, southern VA, SC, and north Florida. The kids in DC were the most impolite. The children in SC had the best manners (and no, before you ask DCUM, they weren't all racist Christian fundamentalists.) We now live in FL and *for the most part* the teens here make eye contact, use please and thank you, can have conversations with adults. I have never heard a parent permit a child to refuse to say hello, like I did in DC all the time. There is a higher expectation for kids to have manners and the good behavior is encouraged in schools.

Very interesting. But aren't the majority of DC parents transplants? I would think they would bring some of the values you've experienced elsewhere with them. And yes - OMG not requiring a kid to say hello is one of my personal pet peeves. I will drill that into my kids if I have to die trying!

Even I am more polite when I am out of here. There is a rude vibe - the competition, the stress... When you realize, you are doing the same.

NP. My impression is the opposite. Kids are kids everywhere but elsewhere, people are more tolerant of normal kid behavior, more relaxed.

[Anonymous]

Every generation says this about the next.

[Anonymous]

OMG yes OP. I was observing a kid’s gymnastics class for three and four year olds. One kid started grabbing some rubber blocks and hurling them at the glass observation window. Other kids began to join in. When my kid picked up a block to throw, I immediately got up, entered the class, and said sharply, “Larlo, if you throw that we are going home”. The other parents were content to let the poor 20 year old instructor contend with the misbehavior and shocked that I did something.

[Anonymous]

Kids call teachers/parents names, hit and spit on them.

They tell coaches/umpires they’re blind and old.

They flip off police and scream obscenities.

And these are elementary age students (no sn)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I know I'm not.

This.

+1

Even my two year old uses her manners. She knows if she would like something from someone to say please, and thank you. She always says thank you and good bye to any “service” type adult, and goodbye to adults we chat with. We’re working on the talking part, but she’s two.

I’d say she’s more polite than about 75% of the adults I know, and they were raised long ago.

[Anonymous]

Same as it ever was....
"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room."

Socrates.

[Anonymous]

I think it's an over generalization. DS 16 is incredibly polite, respectful and kind, sometimes even when it's not deserved. It was the first and will be the last thing I instill in him. It's the first thing I hear from every teacher, every time. Most of the kids we know (NY Public school) are very polite and respectful, maybe not always to each other, but they are to adults/teachers. I think the most glaring thing I notice with some kids is self absorption. This is true for many adults.

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old is more polite than most adults I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3 year old is more polite than most adults I know.

Don't worry, she'll grow out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same as it ever was....
"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room."

Socrates.

Yep. Adults have been lamenting the terrible manners of "kids these days" since forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just read the thread on the people calling the mother a monster because she spanked her willfully year old and you have your answer.

DP You should read some basic parenting books. Here is one study discussing how harmful it is and brings the opposite behavior you want.

https://news.utexas.edu/2016/04/25/risks-of-harm-from-spanking-confirmed-by-researchers/ And another from pediatricians

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/health/spanking-harmful-study-pediatricians.html

Please educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Forget the kids. Where did all these moms come from recently who refuse to say "no" to their kids? And I do not mean "no" in a disciplinarian way. Mine are older now but I am noticing this trend among younger moms of not wanting to disappoint their children by denying them ANYTHING.