Should teenagers today be allowed more or less freedom than we were?

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   motherbeastlyposted 14 years ago

   Should teenagers today be allowed more or less freedom than we were?
   
   Are the dangers greater in the real world than 25 years ago?

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2. 59

   mom101posted 14 years ago

   You are correct in asking are the dangers greater today than 25 years ago.
   
   I grew up in a time, if I wanted to "camp out" I could. Many nights my friends and I would sleep out in the yard with a sheet made tent  without worries. When it came time for bedtime, the first thing we did not HAVE to do was make sure the door was locked. When we went shopping, most of the time I went to my favorite department while mom and dad did the same. WITHOUT fear.
   
   In todays time, I feel we must take many more precautions when it comes to our children. Hands down, there are so many more dangers.
   
   Our teens are our tomorrow. With that said, does it not make sense to protect them at all cost and to ensure their safey? For now, they are just that. Teens.
   
   Think about when you were a teen and compare that to today and then ask the question again.
   
   In short answer to your question. No.

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   justomposted 14 years ago

   I'm not so sure things are that much different except now we have 24 hour news so not only do we hear about every little thing that happens we hear it over and over and over, which gives the illusion that things are much worse than they really are.

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   chspublishposted 14 years ago

   I think the dangers have increased and they do need more moniitoring and boundaries around their activities. I learnt this from my own teenagers who told me there were more dangers - increased use of drugs, alcohol etc and even highlighted these dangers to me in case I didn't lknow.

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   freefoggingposted 14 years ago

   absolutly. Although I think freedom should be reined back, I doubt that will happen. I see children around the age of 4 or 5 riding or walking by themselves in downtown Gainesville (busy college town). Where are their parents! Yes, parents give sometimes dangerous amounts of freedom.

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   Monisajdaposted 14 years ago

   Regardless of the dangers (which I agree are greater nowadays) we need to give them tools how to live in this world and give them some freedom. If we always keep them sheltered and chaperoned they will never learn how to avoid the dangers. Here is my recent hub on this: http://hubpages.com/hub/How-much-indepe … r-a-child.

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   IN2Deepposted 14 years ago

   Many things are different then 5-10 -25 years ago it is like a lifetime in changes anymore-but that's what helps us to grow and learn.  Teach them right from wrong- and common sense-A parents job is to teach children how to survive on their own- not to depend on others for survival-
   Freedom gives them the ability to show the world they have learned from you and can face the world on their own-no matter what change they are faced with. Use your judgement-each child learns at a different pace. Some teenagers are a lot smarter than adults. Someday they will need to learn the dangers of the world and how to deal with them- Things will always change. Nothing stays the same.
   You Can Not Always protect your children-no matter what you do-unless you lock them away from "The Real World" and never let them experience it.If you restrict them from it too much-they will be lost and have no clue how to protect or support themselves (SURVIVAL) when you are gone.Teach them about the things that are changing-because you will never be able to protect them from change. Things will always Change.

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   ImYoungAtHeartposted 14 years ago

   I think that whether or not we try to restrict the freedoms they are already there. The internet and cell phones provide links to communication with friends and the world that we could not have imagined when we were teenagers. They know instantly what's happening where and with whom. And this information goes two ways with our children publishing on facebook or tweeting what they are doing in real time. So the dangers are increased dramatically for our children. So its not about allowing them the freedom to participate, its about communicating with your children about the dangers out there, about what they are doimg and where they will be and when you can expect them back. And the consequences they can expcect from you if that trust is broken.  Feel free to browse my hubs for additional tips on raising children.

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