Today’s parents of youngsters and early teens have been described as “The Anxious Generation,” for serious reasons. Even parents of kids in early grades at school are concerned about what’s ahead. Their fears have entered widespread discussion, with the arrival of one book which recently reached the top of the New York Times’ literary chart.
It’s titled, The Anxious Generation or “How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness.” Written by Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist who previously co-authored The Coddling of the American Mind, the new book sounds a chorus of serious concern about new and alarming behaviours currently affecting children as young as preteens. It especially applies to children who’ve developed eating disorders and body-image changes regarding their personal choices on calorie intake.
In a world of constant social media chatter, selfies and videos, counting calories has become a big issue among young teenagers. As one social worker puts it, “social media is so dangerous. Experts in this field are still just scratching the surface of the harm being done.
“The kids are so sophisticated about sex and alcohol, yet they still have teenage brains. It’s not just girls worrying over ‘bulking up’ their image. Boys are appearing equally self-conscious.
” The current concern affects all body types. Some children purposefully manage their food intake or its rejection, even from age 10. No surprise, now tha.