I used to think that children were all the same. Same habits, same intentions and same dreams--although these things are still relevant, the ways they are expressed are vastly different from when I was a kid. With advancements in technology and changes in society, today's children are exposed to so much more than they used to be. My cousins are eight and ten years younger than me. Every time I babysit, I see so many differences between our lifestyles. It's shocking and intriguing how much has changed since I was their age. Although I do not feel old, I already see generational gaps between us.
1. Acceptance and Knowledge of the LGBTQIA+ Community.
I do not recall knowing about the LGBTQIA+ community until middle school. In elementary school, it was not that I thought only heterosexual couples existed, but rather I was just learning what a "crush" was or how "liking someone" felt. Nowadays, more children know that love is not restricted to just heterosexuals. My cousins being aware of gay couples was initially shocking to me. I guess the previous societal norm of children being oblivious to the LGBTQIA+ community was ingrained in my mind. As of now, I think there is nothing wrong with informing children about the LGBTQIA+ community. Seeing how accepting my cousins were, I think this step towards educating could also help society become more comfortable around the LGBTQIA+ community. Perhaps, the violence and hate crimes against this group of people will also decrease. No one should be discriminated against for their sexual orientation.
2. Use of Technology.
When I was in elementary school, my parents were amazed at how easily my sister and I could use a computer at ease. For them, it was still a new device. As an adult, I can not believe how absorbed my cousins are in their smartphones and tablets. I did not get my first smartphone until high school, yet children now have iPhones and iPads. It's a bit weird to see them stray away from other toys, but the activities they do on these devices are no different from the activities they would do with tangible toys. Some benefits of the new technology are no messes, unlimited amounts of activities and certain levels of parental control.
3. Popular Clothing Brands.
It might have been different by location, but at my elementary school, the most popular clothing brands were Aeropostale, Limited Too and Nike. My cousins and their friends shop at PS Kids, the kids version of Aeropostale and Justice. While the clothing companies are essentially the same, the styles and designs of the clothing differ greatly to the clothes I wore in elementary school. It's bizarre to see children wearing current fashion trends in kid versions. It shows that fashion has no age, and that trends do keep changing.
4. No Child Left Behind Vs. Common Core.
I was helping my cousin with her math homework one day, and I was perplexed at the methods she was using to solve her problems. To me, the steps she took were just making solutions to easy problems way more difficult than it had to be. I wonder if children are learning better with these "innovative" teaching methods.
5. Disney then vs. Disney now.
I grew up with shows like "That's So Raven," "Lizzie McGuire" and "Phil of the Future." Not to mention "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." When I mention these titles to my cousins, they do not recall the shows, but rather the individual stars, such as Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez. Their opinions about Miley Cyrus were also interesting. They had only witnessed Miley's crazy outfits and interesting performances. For my generation, we had witnessed Miley's beginnings as a celebrity and understood the reasons behind her current eccentric style and music.
