Are youngsters these days scared of having fun?

Oh I completely agree, buildagran. My nephew is very similar. Head down on his phone all the time. Goes out rarely and only to work related dos and he's always home before midnight. I quite like having a silly story up my sleeve to remind myself that I am a person who knows knew how to party!

They "live a little" in a different way these days.

My two (10 and 14) are very taken up with Cubs/Explorer Scouts. The older one has almost reached Olympic possibilities in trampolining. And goes off for miles on his skateboard.The younger one plays the piano and the bass guitar. And, yes, the younger one enjoys his games on the thing I bought him but can't now remember the name of.

I think those kind of activities are much preferable to sneaking out and misbehaving!

And there are friendships a-plenty.

I think it's down to parents to be involved in outside activities so that the kids become involved too. Things like church and youth clubs, if the parents don't set an example, what have the kids got to follow?

Be careful what you wish for buildagran

sadly we now live in the age of technology and kids dont want to do anything but playing on their ipads..phones ...games consoles etc...years ago we found our own entertainment it is quite sad because kids really dont know what their missing ...

I've noticed this too. I think youngsters are much nicer than I used to be, but rather...worthy.

Even at age 7, dd was telling my Auntie not to smoke in the car, please. A glass of whisky and a fag were Auntie's only pleasures, poor dab.

Youngsters seem so wise, but somehow so old. They don't seem to want to rebel...perhaps they have too much, too young.

Thinking about it, I rebelled against the status quo; strict parenting, strict schooling, tough rules. So we smoked because we weren't allowed, bunked because it was against the rules, and got up to all sorts in the bushes with unsuitable boys because we feared the consequences. There was a sense of excitement about it all.

Maybe there's nothing to rebel against any more .

I don't think you can lump all kids together. One of my two GSs does have to be screen-rationed. The other, more physically active one, has no interest in playing in games on a device. Depends on the individual child.

For goodness sake! The poor kids can't win!

I should hope a seven year old would have the sense to tell an adult not to smoke in a car he was in!

At 15, in the 60's, I was going into pubs in North London and drinking vodka and lime. I think my teenage DGC and their friends are much more sensible than I ever was. I found my" own entertainment" alright, and it was quite risky.

"A glass of whisky and a fag" only pleasures?!!!

Says more about aunty than any child.

Let's all be sad that schools these days can be enjoyable places for children. That parenting is more enlightened than it was in the forties and fifties. And the rules are sensible, well thought out, necessary ones.

jinglbellsfrocks I do wish you would think before you post!!! some of your comments are really harsh and unwarranted! You seem hellbent in upsetting posters!

Rubbish!

That's the way she is and most of us have got used to it. Can't see her changing anytime soon...

Buildagran, just be thankful that the 22 year old isn't on remand for some 'risky behaviour' and the other two don't appear likely to follow suit!

(meant to add nor would we want her to (change).

Ana ...why should we have to put up with it! it just makes the site very unpleasant!

What have I said now?

Apologies to aunty if that's what upsetting anybody.

The rest is my view.

jinglbellsfrocks my auntie had dementia, and was living in a care home. Her weekly outing with me to the local Carvery for her whisky and lemon and a bit of a smoke was indeed her only pleasure.

Just sayin'...

This is a thread about present day children and young people. Shall we stick to the subject?

But she wouldn't have been driving then, surely? I can't see what was wrong with your DD asking her politely not to smoke in the car when she was with her

You could start a thread about your aunty.

I could start a thread about my aunty.

Shall we have an aunty thread?

I've read through this thread twice and I can't see what you have to object to in jinglbellsfrocks posts Jenty61 - and it's not often I've said that! I have to say I agree with what she says [shock}

Oh, let's get back on topic. Would rather do that than spat.

I tend to agree that youngsters are a lot more tame than previous generations. They're also far more health conscious than I think we ever were. There are no-alcohol bars (that aren't going out of business!), there's the whole-food movement, I think they're getting enjoyment from other things. It doesn't look as much 'fun' from our vantage point but it does make for less worried parents. I think back to some of my young adult misdemeanours with embarrassment