Wake-up Call - Kids in Crisis

Childhood is seen by many as a period of protectionrelationships, behaviors and risks,and subjective
for the development of our children. It is anwell-being. Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands
important social investment in our future. Forwere found to be taking the best care of their
example, we have laws against child abuse and childyoung, while the United States and the United
labor. Because of this we would assume thatKingdom scored the lowest. While the data and the
corporate America also would have the bestdefinitions in the survey are still being refined, it does
interests of our children and youth at heart.show the importance of taking better care of our
Surprise, surprise. This may not be so. Indeed, in thechildren (Shift, 2009).
process of questioning the politics of the free marketA crisis creates new opportunities. Our awareness
system, experts on the development of youth havecan stimulate us to reclaim our power and take
begun to question the impact of a money-drivenaction for what we want in our communities for our
economy on the well being of children (Giroux, 2009;children and families. If we complain about the
Shor, 2005). Rather than a culture of protection,negative, we continue to give it power, and we only
these writers report of a culture that has beenget more of the same. Far more powerful is to focus
corrupted by rampant commercialism,on the assets children need in order to grow up as
commoditization, and consumption.healthy, responsible, and caring.
For example, the United States is now reported toWe can turn off the television, and spend time with
be one of the most violent countries in theour kids, whether it is playing with them, reading a
industrialized world, leading in homicides, rapes andbook, or taking time for an evening meal. It is
assaults. TV guide report has reported that a violentthrough these kinds of activities that we show that
incident is shown on television, on the average, everywe care. For many, spending time with our children
six minutes. The number of violent acts depicted onand grand children, is one of our most fundamental
television has tripled since the deregulation of thesources of happiness. It is also our future.
industry. In a national survey, 91% of the respondingResources:
teachers reported an increased violence amongGiroux, H. "Youth in a Suspect Society: Beyond the
children in their classrooms as a result of cross-mediaPolitics of Disposability," to be published by Palgrave
marketing of violent cartoons, toys, videos, andMcMillan in 2009.
other licensed products (National Association of TheNational Association of the Education of Young
Education of Young Children, 1998).children, NAEYC Position Statement on Violencein the
In 2007 UNICEF released a report on the well-beinglives of children, 1998.
of children in nations with the most advancedShift Magazine, "In Search of Happiness," Spring,
economies. Children's welfare was evaluated along six2009.
dimensions: material well-being, family and peerShor, Juliet. "Born to Buy." New York: Scribner, 2005.