What Are We Doing to Our Kids?

What are we doing to our children? They are entitled and aggressive.; they have night terrors and go to psychologists. They are mean and angry. Little girls four and five years old have cliques and tease other little girls because they don't have the right clothes according to the an article in NYTIMES Style section Oct.10,2010. Boys and girls bite other kids in pre-school or are the victims of biting?

As a mother and a grandmother, two reasons stand out to me.

l. First, we treat them and dress them like miniature adults rather than babies. Why do little kids have skulls and bones and tattoo art on their clothing? Why do little girls wear belly shirts with rhinestone appliques over tights.? What toddler really needs a pair of boots? If someone think they look like a rock star and are told they are cool; they really believe they are cool. What happens next is the annointed cool make fun of those that aren't. Those that can't afford the $125 jeansand those that are still dressed as kids in smocked dresses and peterpan collar shirts or worse outdated hand me downs begin to feel that they are losers. Most kids love their treasured stuffed animal until they are pre-teens; but they have to hide these comforting fluffy petsfrom their friends for fear of being teased.

2. Why can't a child enjoy an old- fashioned feel good kid's movie? We just say SECRETARIAT - a perfect Disney Movie. This story had all of the elements to make a child interestedand help him develop good values and feelings of self worth. A horse that was a longshot- a woman that believed in him and the world that didn't think he could win . Through hard work and perseverance, the horse became the triple crown winner and the world loved him. There would be no night terrors if these were the kinds of movies kids saw in theatres and on television.

There are too many terrible films to name that are designed for kids . I know Alice in Wonderland was not designed for kids, but why did it need a PG- 13 rating. Who needed Johnny Deep or a curvaceous Alice to muck up a classic children's tale.

Parents are quick to stand up to the toy and clothing industry to protest items that are toxic to their children's bodies, but what about standing up to the clothing and entertainment industry when there are items toxic to their children's minds and psychological well being. Kids should remain kids longer - why do want them to grown up so fast?