Part of the "hyperactivity" trend in children is just the educational establishment trying to make children be passive and doped-up. Also, our grandparents worked when they were children (did chores on the farm or whatever) and that used up a lot of energy. People older than 40 were involved in sports, bicycle riding, etc. as children and that used up some energy. In the last 25 years or so children have been very restricted in the physical activity they are allowed to do. School sports are out because of political correctness and liability reasons. Most children cannot run around the neighborhood because it is no longer safe. So children have all this excess energy that is not given a constructive outlet. They are, essentially, physically constrained and given a steady diet of violent "entertainment" so it is no wonder there are so many problems.
Excellent points.
You are so right. I have 3 boys, 16, 15, and 9. All three are bundles of energy. My youngest will literally crash and burn when it's bed time and the minute his eyes open he's at a dead run. It breaks my heart that so many kids are so restricted. It's like they are busting out of their skin. My kids play organized sports and even when they are home they are outside, riding bikes, shooting hoops, playing hockey. Who is prescribing all of this medication? My pediatricians will not prescribe any such drug. I brought my oldest in for migraines, he wouldn't prescribe Imitrex or any migraine meds because he felt there was not enough research on the effects of these meds on children. And I also don't understand how this generation of kids have so many mental issues.
Where I live it is safe but the kids ride electric and gas powered scooters. Kids almost never play unless they have uniforms and are driven to a playing field mostly for soccer but T-Ball is also played.
The kids here are also over weight and lazy. I just don't know if things will ever get better given that is seems the parents allow this to happen.
I agree with your assessment. I might add a couple more points* but your comments are right on.
I should ping the list to this one, maybe tomorrow.
*Such as the pounds of strange chemicals now added to food. And the miserable content of what passes for education, actually indoctrination. And the solid ground of culturally accepted moral absolutes that are now swirling down the drain. Sorry for the mixed metaphors.
You hit it on the head.
I firmly believe that while ADD/ADHD is "real", it is not abnormal. It's just within a range of perfectly normal responses to a modern lifestyle that it utterly abnormal for the human animal, and happens to be maladaptive for the modern lifestyle.
The lack of physical activity and accompanying emphasis on endless acquisition of new knowledge and new mental skills, are inevitable outgrowths of the advancement of human knowledge and technology. But the ADD/ADHD mindset is exceptionally well-suited to the life needs of a few generations ago. What's the one thing that most ADD/ADHD children and adults are good at and have no trouble concentrating on? Repetition of simple physical tasks. In other words, exactly what was needed for success in a society focused on simple farming and manual trades, and where the daily routine of food preparation, heating the home, obtaining water, etc. involved endless repetition of simple physical tasks. Back then, everybody wanted and admired an "ADD" child -- they just didn't call it that.