Essential Baby published a post earlier this week on a dilemma of modern parenting, asking the question “Are parents today getting it all wrong?”

I know that I parent differently from my parents, but I think that within the bounds of normal (whatever that may actually be ) my children behave with consideration and respect for themselves and others the majority of the time.

Amity Dry who wrote the post noted that through previous comments to her writing she found:

Certainly there were many readers who felt, as I do, that smacking a child is wrong for the reasons I pointed out. However, just as many felt that the lack of smacking was part of the ’soft’ approach to parenting that is contributing to a generation of spoilt, badly behaved, disrespectful children.

This post has elicited quite a response, with over 90 comments from parents and non parents around the world. I found myself agreeing with some comments and strongly disagreeing with many others.

But the issue that came out most clearly to me was that I don’t think all of the “problems” of this generation of children can just be blamed on parent’s discipline style. Part of me lamented the structural changes in society that see parents being far more alone in bringing up children; extended family and neighbourhood networks have shrunk and family units themselves are becoming smaller and often fragmented.

Social scientists have labelled today’s tweens and teens “the most brand-oriented and materialistic generation in history.” I monitor and limit TV and computer time in our house, but I can still not hide my children from advertising and branding in the external environment and from their peers at school.

To me it seems that there is a tendency to label the newest generation of children the worst. Instead of labelling children, I think that it would be more helpful to work together to provide a more nurturing, caring and less branded environment for them to live in.

So do you think that we are rearing a generation of spoilt, badly behaved, disrespectful children?

Technorati Tags: parenting, smacking, society, spoilt children

• May - Posts Of The Month
• The Smacking Debate.
• 10 Top Posts For June
• 10 Guiding Principles For A Happy Family

Here are a collection of posts that I came across in my travels across the blogosphere, that I enjoyed during the month of May.

SOCIETY
I fear for our young people written by Belongum. I came across this blog from the Aussie Blogger’s Forum and am so happy to have discovered it. This post is a beautifully written plea for us as a society to start taking better care of our young people.

Club 21, “girl world” exposed: binge drinking, bullying, low self esteem and distorted body image. - posted by Leigh from All for Women. Having only a four year old daughter, this post gave me a shocking insight into how peer pressure is now presenting itself if the environment of the Web 2.0 world.

From Let’s talk about social justice, Loren poses the question “Are we racist?” The post looks about the importance of dealing with race in a positive way with children. To end racism it will need to start with the next generation.

Wants VS Needs - posted at Journeyer’s Chronicals, looks at how easily we fall into the consumerism trap.

PARENTING - STORIES FROM THE HEART
Two - from Alison at Three Times Kewl writes a poignant piece about her hopes and fears for her beautiful child.

The club nobody wants to belong to - Tiff from Three Ring Circus has experienced grief as a mother that I cannot imagine. In this heart felt post, she gives a delicate insight into how a new member of her club may be feeling.

A Letter to My Son, on Starting Out In Life - Leo from Zen Habits shares with his readers a letter he has thoughtfully written for his three year old son.

PARENTING AND EDUCATION
Another “No Homework!” Note to the Teacher - by Angela at Homework. Dinner. Life. I am not a massive fan of homework and I loved the idea that Angela is encouraging parents to stand up for their kids and write a note to say they won’t be doing homework on their family holiday.

Can Parental Involvement Make Kids Smarter? - Eden Kennedy guest posting on Wonderland, looks at a number of issues in this post, but the one I found most startling was this fact that I found from a link she had to the New York Times

A profusion of online programs that can track a student’s daily progress, including class attendance, missed assignments and grades on homework, quizzes and tests, is changing the nature of communication between parents and children, families and teachers. With names like Edline, ParentConnect, Pinnacle Internet Viewer and PowerSchool, the software is used by thousands of schools, kindergarten through 12th grade. PowerSchool alone is used by 10,100 schools in 49 states.

Create your own audio books - from PlayActivities. A simple way, with links to free software on how to make your own audio books for your kids.

HUMOUR
Why I’ve cancelled my facebook account - from Cello Bella. Now I don’t have a facebook account, and I still found this video very funny. Mr Infrastructure who does have a facebook account found this hilarious.

Hope the start of June is kind to you!

Technorati Tags: blogs, humour, parenting, society

• He’ll Be Ok: Growing Gorgeous Boys Into Good Men (Part 1).
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• March - Posts Of The Month
• 10 Great Children’s Audio Books For Long Car Trips