Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence in an Urban Context

Childhood today is not what it used to be decades ago. In those days, computers and new technologies were just becoming familiar to people and coming out. Cellular phones were just beginning to be popular.  Children watched only several of hours of television and that mostly cartoons on weekday afternoons and on weekends. Video games in those times were also less violent and more child appropriate. Children also did not participate in inappropriate sexual acts as much as now. However, times have changed drastically.

The age of technology has become a corruption of childhood. Instead of going to the park or playing outside with friends, children are on their cellular phones text messaging their friends once there get out of school using i-phones, i-touchs, and cell phones with keyboards. They run home to check their AIM messages (AOL instant messenger) and facebook accounts to see if someone sent them a comment or message online.

Children are watching more television than they used to, however the focus is not on how much they watch but what they are watching. Children watching violent television shows is on the rise. However, watching sexual content on television is becoming just as popular. http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/tv_impact_kids.cfm The interest has changed from watching cartoons and action children shows such as Power Rangers, Yu-Gi-Oh, and PBS kids shows to watching MTV and reality shows such as 16 and Pregnant, Skins, Jersey Shore, and Celebrity Deathmatch.  Children have moved on from childish shows into what is considered more adult shows. The media advertises these reality shows and dramas, and more children than adults have been watching these shows in the last years.

Although television content is a major change in what children used to watch and what they watch now, gaming is another aspect that has changed. There are more violent and adult games coming out in this generation and under-aged children are playing these games. Among the most violent games are Grand Theft Auto, Soldier of Fortune, God of War, Mortal Combat, etc. Games that involve killing people and animals, using drugs and alcohol, criminal behavior, foul language, and sexual exploitations of women. Although these games might have benefits in promoting fine- motor skills and problem solving the violence of the games help in causing the children to become more aggressive towards their family and peers.http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_and_video_games_playing_with_violence

http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html

Over the last decade, children are trying to grow up too fast. Among the more obvious sightings of this is an increase appearance of sexuality. Sex is becoming a major issue with children and teenagers, children from the age of 5 are learning and being exposed to sex; ten year olds are already hitting puberty, having sex, and getting pregnant. The media is not the only blame, but one of the most influential. Television shows these days have sexual references and content associated with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppUkWGKgls

The childhood that we used to know has changed drastically. From the television shows we used to watch and the games we used to play, to the activities we participated in, the new generation has been exposed to more violent, sexual, and harmful versions of what was once innocent entertainment. From having the latest cellular phones to using laptops, childhood has become a commodity of the past. Instead of enjoying being a child, children are already adjusting to being in the adult world.