Online Sermons
Lesson #13 - The Hurried Child
Series: Home-BuildersLESSON #13 – THE HURRIED CHILD
INTRODUCTION
In his ground-breaking book, The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon, Child-Psychologist David Elkind argues
that we are putting undo pressure (perhaps unwittingly so) on our children by requiring them to grow up too quickly.
Over the last several decades, STRESS, a heretofore adult phenomenon, has begun to make serious inroads into childhood.
Perhaps we see this most clearly in the age-group dubbed “the tweeners” - - those drawing near to puberty but not yet teenagers.
SLOWING DONE THE INEVITABLE
~ Sooner than we can imagine, our young children will sail into their teen years and then ever-so-quickly into adulthood.
- With the intention of helping rather than hindering a child's development, can we somehow slow down the clock a little?
- Is it selfish to want your child to “just be a child” for a number of years?
~ Can responsibilities be instilled in incremental ways so as to not rob childhood of FROLIC?
- How would you define “frolic”?
- What other words ought we use to describe the life of a child?
- Should not childhood provide a predominately CAREFREE existence?
- Historically, some might argue that modern childhood is a relatively new creation, but Jesus seemed to recognize
the first-century world of childhood as being something rather unique (different than adulthood). cf. Mt.11:16-17
As to this “time of innocence”, see also Mt.18:2-6 & 10 and Lk.18:15-17
THINGS THAT SPEED UP THE GROWTH PROCESS
~ “Today's child has become the unwilling, unintended victim of overwhelming stress - -
the stress borne of rapid, bewildering change and constantly rising expectations.” / Elkind
What are some of the major contributing factors that can do harm by accelerating growth?
1) Academic achievements
2) Competitive sports
3) Travel
4) Lawyers - - kids have been encouraged to sue their parents.
5) The Media - - music … books … films … TV … electronic games … the internet … smart phones.
Elkind notes that although the brain and body may be manipulated to excel beyond what is considered normal,
“feelings and emotions have their own timing and rhythm and cannot be hurried.”
SOME CONSEQUENCES OF INTENSIFIED GROWTH
~ When normal growth patterns are sped up, “kids” often assume they automatically come with adult “privileges”.
e.g. smoking … drinking … driving … exploring sexual interests … etc.
When they are denied entry it can bring crime ...physiolgoical ailments … psychologial disorders ... and even suicide.
I have frequently heard Tom Hamilton (Voice of the Cleveland Indians) warn parents about
the pitfalls of forcing their young athletes to become “specialized” at too early an age.
In other words, don't start when your son is eight to try to make him a Cy Young winner like Corey Kluber.
Cultivating a child prodigy quite often comes at a high price!
IS IT OKAY TO HAVE AND BE A NORMAL CHILD?
~ What can parents do to engender normalcy?
~ How does one discern when to “push” and/or when to “relax” and let nature takes its course?
~ What can the mentors of young children do to encourage a better usage of “imagination”?
~ At what age should a child be granted unrestricted access to the internet and/or possess a “smart phone”?
WHEN CHILDREN HAVE GROWN UP
By Erma Bombeck
One of these days you'll shout, “Why don't you kids grow up and act your age?” And they will.
Or “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do...and don't slam the door.” And they will.
You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy...bumper stickers discarded...
spread tucked and smooth...toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged.
And you'll say out loud, “Now I want it to stay this way.” And it will.
You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no
finger traces in the icing and you'll say, “Now, there's a meal for company.” And you'll eat it alone.
You'll say, “I want privacy on the phone.
No dancing around. No pantomimes. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear? And you'll have it.
No more plastic table cloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange the room around. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.
Imagine lipstick with a point on it.
No baby sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground.
Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.
No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of adhesive tape. Think about it.
No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy, oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy.
No more giggles in the dark. No knees to heal. No responsibility.
Only a voice crying, “Why don't you grow up?” and the silence echoing, “I did.”
