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I work with children in a library and I would say one of the biggest changes is living your life and communicating online. The boys are obsessed with Rune Scape and boys and girls are obsessed with My Space. The same principles are still there, it's just in a different forum. Where it used to be that you were popular with a big group of friends, now you are popular if you have a big group of friends IRL and online. The ways to hurt each other are the same, yet different. Instead of writing nasty things on a bathroom wall about someone, you post it online or remove someone as your friend.
Kids talk to each other through their games, even if they are sitting right next to each other. Kids spend hours at a time on the computers. Sometimes the kids get to the library at opening time and don't even leave until we close.
Unfortunately another trend I have noticed is the number of kids who are very overweight. I remember when I was in school that there was usually one or two kids who were overweight, and who, unfortunately got picked on. Now, it seems that many many kids are very overweight. It is just startling to me.
Beth
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Proud Mama to Abby 3/3/06
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