it seems everyone's too scared or they've got a ridiculous amount of homework to do. I dunno...It just sort of hit me that a big part of childhood has died now.
Yep. Happens here in Portugal as well.
TV is directed at old people, playing in the street is a big no-no (unless it's for playing football), no cartoons..
Truth is, nowdays kids gather at home. Bringing friends home was an event when I was a kid, kids I know do this regularly, seldom feel the need to play outside.
Also, the internet is the main entertainment source, even for little kids. They watch cartoons there (spongebob, for example). There are also cable channels for cartoons like Cartoon Network
Basically, habits changed, but kids will always have fun. Just not like we did, same way our parents thought our generation was miserable and doomed.
Homework is a bitch today, but it all comes down to parents actually caring about their kids' needs and wants, or caring more about their self-assurance that they are good parents.
I know a couple that spent 600 euros on a vaccine for their baby of a rare virus that you can only catch on northern countries (where they have no plans of going in the next....94 years), also no one was allowed to touch or kiss the baby. How do you think that kid will develop?