Focus: The rise of “adultescents”

Gone are the days when children would take on responsibilities and perform household chores at an early age, and here are the days when parents have to beg their children to attempt even the simplest tasks. According to Jean Twenge from San Diego State University and W. Keith Campbell from University of Georgia, both professors of psychology, there is a reversal of the past ideal and instead of children striving for their parents’ approval, parents are now seeking their children’s approval. As a result, children expect their parents to eliminate all obstacles for them, rather than facing their problems on their own.

The focus of this week’s debate is on the rise of adultescents and whether they are exploiting their parents?

These are the statements to be debated:

• Adultescents is the byproduct of parents’ good intentions and overinvestment.
• Parents are blaming children for not being self-sufficient and independent, when they do not allow them to experience struggles and hardships.
• Just because children have not been exposed to hardships, it does not give them the right to exploit their parents.
• Children are self-absorbed and expect the world to be offered to them on a silver platter.

Participants will be required to clearly state whether they are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the statement and provide their supporting arguments for the same.

The debate will start at 4pm on Monday, December 29. Participation requirements are at the end of this blog post. Please do read them carefully.

Click Here to participate.

Participation requirements:

• Participants are required to be older than 18 years.
• First-time participants will be given preference.
• To participate, please send a request to readers@gulfnews.com along with your details.