Child rearing

Nick Lawson

I don't know whether this is the correct forum but are there any children left anymore? I have a primary school age daughter and am attempting to ensure she enjoys her childhood without growing up too fast and inculcating an interest in nature, history, geography etc.

The problem is her peer group seem to be increasingly only interested in popular culture including pop music, shopping and television and nothing of any real substance. They even make up games based upon soap operas and their characters. I find it bizarre, to say the least, that their parents allow them to watch such drivel - do they want to grow up too fast with a warped view of life?

I was in the company of some girls who have just completed their secondary education the other day and their topic of conversation centred around alcohol, soap operas (all of them) ,fake tan and giggling after every sentence about same. These girls were from remote rural areas surrounded by flora and fauna but have absolutely no interest in such.

To be honest I find the above depressing as I know my daughter will not be brought up in this way but will she have anyone to identify with as she gows up?

I need to decide which secondary school to send her to in the near future; is there any 'escape' from the afore-mentioned by choosing a certain school?

Apologies if this comes across as a rant but I do feel strongly about it.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Gaspode

I hear you man, and agree. But stick to your values and try to instill same in your children without ramming it donw their throat. They'll pick up more than you think.
I dont think choice of school will make any difference to be honest.

challengemaster

Its just what this generation finds interesting... yours.. well you found nice scenery interesting. as things advance and modernise, so do peoples values. at some point you're going to have to let your kid be their own person, whatever that may be.. and realise it'll happen if you like it or not. all you can really do is try to give some morals. but forcing your views of what should be liked by people onto her isnt going to do anyone any good.

Ickle Magoo

Surely it's just a matter of personal taste & I'd have to say if I ever met a father who found the majority of his daughters interests, interesting - I'd probably think he - or she - was a bit odd...(flaura & fauna?!)

There is a huge age gap, generation gap, sex gap, you name it. She's interested in whatever girls her age are interested in, why do you think she should be interested in what interests you, or you think she should be interested in, for that matter?

I grew up playing role-play games, indulging in make-up & other frivolous girly things - and guess what? I was just a normal girl, it didn't prevent me getting a third level education, a husband or growing out of all that stuff - just leave her be. I think telling some girls not to be interested in soaps or stars or suchlike is akin to telling some young lads they shouldn't like porn - and I'm guessing no harm done in the majority of cases there either & changing school wouldn't make an ounce of difference?!