Kids with Casts. When Was The Last Time You Saw One?
I bet, for most, it's been a while.
By TLS
This came up at a social event I was attending the other day. Someone was talking about a cast, then someone else mentioned a kid having a cast. That’s when we realized how long it has been since we have seen a kid in a cast.
When I was in school, and it wasn’t a big school, I remember there was almost always someone in a cast. It didn’t matter when and it didn’t matter the grade, there was almost always someone with a cast on some limb. Hell, in high school, we even had a kid with one of those TV antenna frames bolted to his head, for like six months.
When was the last time you saw a kid with a cast? A long time I bet. I doubt this is because medical technology has improved to the point that bones don’t break anymore.
I’m pretty certain it’s because kids lifestyles have changed significantly. No longer are kids out in the dangerous ‘real’ world doing crazy stuff likely to get them killed. This had the added benefit of teaching real world consequences too, if you survived.
Now, I would be willing to argue, kids are more likely to report carpal tunnel syndrome, strained eye or repetitive motion injury, or cervical nerve impingement from continuously looking down at a screen.
Does this sort of upbringing produce well-rounded adults? I’m not sure. Is this a better childhood than what was typical several decades ago? Again, I’m not sure. There are certainly pros and cons to each but is there a net improvement now?
I guess, maybe, the simple answer would be they are learning to live in the world they will inherit. Unfortunately this may leave them under prepared to deal with the physical world. But then again, maybe by the time they get there, they won’t have to.
One this is for certain though. Times, they be a changing!
If you grew up when broken bones were common, you know the cast was more than medical treatment. It was a symbol of living fully, taking risks, and bouncing back. Now the risks are quieter, but the consequences may be just as lasting. What do you think, are kids better off today, or are we raising them too safe for their own good? Drop your thoughts below and let’s compare notes.
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