Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence in an Urban Context

Childhood has evolved and changed over the generations. With advances in technology and communication, children today are developing faster than ever before. Although exposure to modern games, music, and the media has changed the lives of children, childhood is still present in today’s society.

During the past decade, many children have shifted from playing with dolls and toys to electronics and video games. Children as young as 3 are playing with electronics as opposed to a decade ago when children played with electronics at the age of 8. In an articled titled “Forget dolls, toys – kids want tech” by Vikki Ortiz Healy, a study in 2010 reported “31 percent of kids 6 to 12 want an Apple iPad, more than all other electronics this year,” and “computers and the iPod Touch tie for the next most requested devices, at 29 percent.” Not only are children begging their parents to buy them electronic devices, but they are asking their parents to get them the most recent and expensive ones. However, electronics and video games can deliver educational and entertainment values that dolls and toys cannot bring.

The growth of technology has brought upon a greater medium for listening to music. Two decades ago, the primary method of listening to music was through the radio. In the current generation of children, there are multiple ways to listen to music, such as through an iPod, MP3 player, or cell phone. As a result, it is much easier for children to be consumed in the world of music, whether or not the music is appropriate for children. In a chapter on “The Effects of Violent Music on Children and Adolescents” by Donald F. Roberts et al., violent music can cause children to develop aggressive and angry attitudes and behaviors. Most, if not all, of the violent songs were intended toward the adult audience, but because music is easily accessible to both adults and children, kids are exposed to the swearing and cursing. As a result, music can be entertaining as well as detrimental toward a kid’s childhood.

The media and television has a dramatic impact on childhood. What is shown on the television can influence the attitudes and behaviors of children. In an article titled “The downside of childhood today” by Michael Morpurgo, the author’s children watched horrifying and disheartening news broadcasted over the television, which saddened the emotions of the children. “What they see on television is a reflection of a very fragile society,” the author said. Exposure to violence and terror can bring negativity to the development of childhood. However, the television has, more often than not, been educational and informative for children.

Sources:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/family/111939399.html

http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/~dgentile/106027_08.pdf

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1528716/The-downside-of-childhood-today.html