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Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

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Re: Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

#3
Wait. Does this pass for science in these fields, psychology and medicine? They summarize various statistics from prior papers as if they are trends across space and time (hello sample bias, are there papers that contradict their claims they are omitting because it doesn't fit their thesis?) and then make broad conclusions based on anecdotal evidence and sweeping theories.

This should barely pass as a "kids these days" like-and-share from your grandpa on Facebook that has a bunch of comments from Cheryl about how true it is. Which is tragic, because it's something anyone who spends time with children can figure out... that independence makes for a happy child. But to be published in a journal I thought the point was to find rigorous evidence for such things, not muddy the waters further with vague specious claims.

Re: Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

#5
This is something that free range parenting advocates have been talking about for a long time. See https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/03/6412565....

For me one of the most compelling data points wasn't even a parenting reference. It was https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Surprising-Amer.... First published in the mid-1990s, the chapters on the children of millionaires found that the more support millionaires gave to their children, the worse that those children turned out. Armed with that theory, I've always doubted the wisdom of extreme helicopter parenting that has become popular since.

Re: Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

#7

Wait. Does this pass for science in these fields, psychology and medicine? They summarize various statistics from prior papers as if they are trends across space and time (hello sample bias, are there papers that contradict their claims they are omitting because it doesn't fit their thesis?) and then make broad conclusions based on anecdotal evidence and sweeping theories. This should barely pass as a "kids these day…

You've evidently never heard of a meta-analysis.

Re: Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

#8
Sometimes people get so tangled up in half-baked theories and rationalizations that they need to be reminded that water is wet. It should be common sense that lack of autonomy will mess kids up, but some people just don't get it. A refusal to tolerate any risk or uncertainty ironically ends up doing more damage than whatever it is they fear.

Re: Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in child mental health

#10

Wait. Does this pass for science in these fields, psychology and medicine? They summarize various statistics from prior papers as if they are trends across space and time (hello sample bias, are there papers that contradict their claims they are omitting because it doesn't fit their thesis?) and then make broad conclusions based on anecdotal evidence and sweeping theories. This should barely pass as a "kids these day…

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