Is helicoptering making kids less able to socially adapt to new situations?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't know -- Disney channel is full of current equivalents of Full House. But as a family, we prefer things like The Amazing Race or Chopped, or DVDs of things like I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show.

I disagree. The Disney Channel is full of shows with sassy teens/pre-teens who mouth off to parents and teachers, do whatever they want, and NEVER get in trouble.

At least in Full House, those girls did things wrong, but they got caught and grounded EVERY time. I have other reasons for disliking Full House - namely growing up with the maiden name Jessica Ripper (Jessie & the Rippers - haha - never heard that one!).

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

EEK AGDee-I read the wiki and that sounds absolutely terrifying! I wouldn't play outside either.

My dad use to make me watch Lawrence Welk-anyone else have to be tortured like this? I loved the Carol Burnett show!

It really was terrifying, especially as an 11/12 year old.

[33girl]

As was mentioned above, it's a lot scarier to think about sending your child outside to play all day when you don't know your own neighbors. My mom was fine with me riding my bike up the street as everyone knew each other. It's not that way any more.

This being said, I still think there's a way to get kids together to play and then let THEM do the game thinking-up rather than everything being little league, soccer etc - something structured. I think they need to make all the unused Borders stores into playgrounds for kids in the front and wine/Clive Owen porn for moms in the back.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Mevara

What's wrong with shows like Modern Family, Glee, American Idol (and the likes)?

Depending on the age of the child, some parents may not be comfortable with some of the more adult content or language of these shows.

(And I just have to say, I think my wife and I are two of the only people in America who have tried a number of times to watch Modern Family and find just it boring and very un-funny.)

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I disagree. The Disney Channel is full of shows with sassy teens/pre-teens who mouth off to parents and teachers, do whatever they want, and NEVER get in trouble.

True. I was thinking more in terms of the lack of inappropriate content, but this is definitely one of the (many) downsides of Disney Channel shows.

Meanwhile, for a good look at why kids don't play (and free play) outdoors as much anymore, I highly recommend Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. (And since I think I remember a discussion about this book before on GC, I'll just go ahead and say: No the author isn't creating a new diagnosis called Nature Deficit Disorder. It's just a handy way of making a point.)