Contemporary American kids are assumed to be overindulgent, materialistic, and more authoritative than kids living elsewhere in the world. Generally, American parents also think that kids today are self-obsessed and undisciplined because parents are over protecting children like never before. According to a poll commissioned by Time and CNN, two-thirds of American parents think that their children are spoiled. This gives rise to the question “Are kids today really spoiled and undisciplined?” Let us find the answers to this query by looking at the issue in the light of facts.

Trying to Understand the Little Brats

The media believes that the modern kids are no more than little brats who can be described as vain at their best. Mostly, this behavior is associated with lapses in parental authority and responsibility because experts believe that parents provide their kids with too much stuff, excessive praise, and inability to make them aware about the advantages of discipline. In view of the results obtained from such observations, we are constantly reminded by the media and other sources that kids today are rude, irresponsible, carry a sense of entitlement, and are spoiled to a great extent.

We can believe what we want to believe in this regard but the reality is so different from the generally held assumptions that it might take the adult population some time to swallow the bitter reality pill.

The theory about the rise of little brats trying to take over the world and make it the most disorganized place in the universe has been shattered by a recent report released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on the state of Americans’ health. The report shared the following findings on teen with the general public:

• The number of teens who report having had sex has dropped significantly in the past 20 years. The teen birth rate has also dropped drastically along with teen abortion rate. Also, teens are more likely to use birth control methods if they do engage in coitus.
• Cigarette smoking among teens has dropped by 30% since 1980.
• Compared to past statistics, a lower number of teens are smoking marijuana and the number of teenagers using hard drugs has dropped to the lowest possible mark in years.
• The percentage of teens who report trying alcohol has declined from 70% in 1980 to less than 40% in 2012.
• Another CDC report states that the number of teens who drive under the influence of alcohol has dropped by 54% since 1991.
• Instead of partying all the time, teenagers of today have opted for an active lifestyle by exercising to their heart’s desire.

These statistics show a completely different side to teen life than what people generally perceive. This also proves that the hue and cry raised by the media in connection to this issue has no significant factual standing and are seen to be more rating oriented news rather than being based on real statistics.

The Other Side of the Picture

If you’re looking for some positive parenting tips then look no further than the daily interaction that you have with your children. Contemporary kids are not necessarily spoiled as one might believe them to be. Instead, there has been so much awareness about child issues over the last few decades that the overload of information is proving difficult for adults to grasp. This assumption also didn’t gain ground because parents are not good parents anymore as this is also not true.

Children are shaped by many forces that exist within and outside the secure boundaries of their homes. Parents just need to be sensible when dealing with their kids and teach them the finer points of life that they think would benefit their kids in the long run. We can leave the final decision for time and tide to decide. Happy parenting to all!