I was reading this article and I completely agree with it
Modern childhood 'ends at age of 12'.
Not that it was that long ago (even though it seems so), but when I was 12 I didn't think twice about how I looked or acting 'mature'. Why should you have to worry about it anyway? You can get away with it when you're a kid so why not take advantage? There's a right time for these things and no one sane or has common sense will judge you for it.
One of the most obvious differences I find between my childhood and say, my 12 year old brother's childhood, is the availability of technology. I work for a mobile company, so don't get me wrong, I love technology and am very passionate and excited when there are new advancements in technology. But nevertheless I find that this has made the experience of childhood very different today. Kids log onto Facebook to update their status (!) rather than talk to their parents. Kids play Xbox and PlayStation rather than go out to the park or take up an extra-curricular activity that they ma potentially keep as part of their lifestyle. To me, this forces kids to be lazy because what they 'want' to have fun is right under their hands within minutes. Kids should be given the opportunity to find what they truly love because, let's admit it, it's easier to learn when you're a kid. For example, rather than always looking forward to going home to play Xbox, why not, say twice a week, go to an after school club that teaches some basic programming in java? or any other programming language. It doesn't have to be programming, it could be dance, exercise or even arts.
One thing I find in common is the over protectiveness of parents. This is a good thing, but to a limit. Parents should learn to let their kids explore and figure out what they want for themselves, not find it obligatory to force 'good things' on their kids. This will help them grow to become independent, mature adults.
P.S. whatever happened to Lego?!
