[finallyamom0310]

Okay so a post from Storm today got me to thinking about this and I didn't want to hijack her thread. What are the trends today of children of all ages? I mean I have a toddler and a teenager and the teenager comments all the time that things are so much different today then when we were kids. I know we have all heard this before when we were kids saying it to our parents so I thought maybe we could all share the trends today with other parents so that we could be prepared.

I will start:

Boy / Girl sleep overs are normal (everyone already knows how I feel about this one)

Pants hanging down below the butt are cool.

It is cool not to include capitalizations, grammatical puncutaion and to always talk in text language.

Slang words include but are not limited to (Disclaimer that I do not mean to offend with these words they are just words my teenager uses to mean cool or bad): Sexy, Gay, Pimping,

I know there are more so I reserve the right to add in as this thread grows. Please share everyone. We all need to be prepared.

[Leigh131313]

2 words... Cell Phone.

To ME that is the single biggest difference. It has truly changed the world our teen's live in. Text messaging, the constant availablity.....the EXPENSE???


yeah, that's the biggest thing I can think of that is different.

[kretzklan]

The skater revolution - my kid doesn't even know how to stay up on a board...yet, it's vitally important to his social well-being to wear skater clothes and shoes. The droopy pants, the brand tee shirts, the loose shoes and the baggy hoodie.
The I-pod stuck in one ear with the other open to "hear" his phone ring. On constant availability...

Also, the Emo movement - I don't have any kids in this...but it's HUGE here. The very goth look and boys wearing girls clothes. I don't really get that one!

[mommmmy]

Originally Posted by Leigh131313

2 words... Cell Phone.

To ME that is the single biggest difference. It has truly changed the world our teen's live in. Text messaging, the constant availablity.....the EXPENSE???


yeah, that's the biggest thing I can think of that is different.

I agree with this one!

The others that have been mentioned...they come and go and depend on where you are and who your kids hang out with. My teens would laugh at most of the things listed so far and tell you that those things are not cool at all.

However....cell phones have a huge impact. And I'd say it's more texting now than calling.

IPods are the other big thing.

Most of the other things like way of dressing, hair, music, slang, using capitals every other letter or none at all and things like that - there are always versions of that. Hell there were those things when I was young.

[feelingreyt]

Cell phones and texting is probably the biggest difference.
My dd is 8 and she THINKS she needs a cell phone. I don't think so!
Also, computers. Yeah, we had computers, but not like today. The internet is everywhere!
Webkinz, oh my goodness, webkinz. Can I just say I am sick to death of webkinz? Yes, we've always had the "fad" toys, they come and go, but webkinz is pretty hot right now in our area.

[crystalp]

Webkinz is huge here too. My DD thinks that she will die without one. We'll just have to see if she keels over.

[belleinblue1978]

Not to be a downer, but I work with teenagers, and I know that things have changed even from when I was in high school fifteen years ago. The drug use is astronomical, meth being the worst. The pressure to be in gangs. Stuff I can't even imagine having experienced when I was a kid.

Remember I live in the midwest too. I'm not talking even a large anything I live in a town of 2500 people. The stuff that happens even here is scary.

[Beth34]

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

[Fran27]

Yup definitely MySpace and cellphones...

Also, kid fashion... They make clothes for 8 year old nowadays that I wouldn't have dared wearing at 16!!!

[nikkianni]

Originally Posted by Fran27

They make clothes for 8 year old nowadays that I wouldn't have dared wearing at 16!!!

Yes!!!! I've said it before but I do not understand why they make skinny cut jeans for 12 month olds....but they do.
And it worries me. What is DD going to want to wear by the time she's 10? Halters and biker boots?

[finallyamom0310]

I don't know why I didn't think of the cell and myspace items last night when I started this. My SS will text all night long, then when we go to bed get on the phone till 11:30 (the latest he is allowed) and then text and email till he gets tired.

I am amazed that they feel they have to text when in the same room as the person they are talking to. I tried to explain that it is like whispering a secret and is rude to the others in the room but he doesn't get it. Ugh.

[sbaglio]

Originally Posted by Fran27

Also, kid fashion... They make clothes for 8 year old nowadays that I wouldn't have dared wearing at 16!!!

Agree completely. Why does a 5 year old need to show her belly? No 2-piece swim suits for DD until she's 18 (okay, maybe a little younger than that..)!

[loveajax]

DD said in the tub the other day, "I love the Jonas Brothers!" (Oh gosh, she just turned 3...what happened to Dora? I'd even take Caillou back at this point). I don't allow her to watch them, but she must see it when she is with her older cousins.

If I see one more small girl with a "word" printed across her butt in short shorts, I am going to heave! (Btw, DD does wear two piece bathing suits...some of them are just too dang cute!).