CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR S.C. TEACHER CADET COURSE | EXPERIENCING EDUCATION, TENTH EDITION
Theme I: Experiencing Learning
Unit 3: Growth and Development
The Hurried Child—Questions
1. Comment on Elkind’s complaints about children’s fashions.
2. What are some physical and social problems with organized, competitive sports
for elementary school-aged children?
3. What are Elkind’s feelings about young girls wearing makeup, being a
cheerleader, and entering beauty contests? Do you agree or not?
4. How might the fact that little girls are wearing makeup and little boys are playing
midget football contribute to sexual stereotyping?
5. What is valuable about children’s spontaneous play? What are some ways in
which they are being deprived of this type of play today?
6. Give some specific examples of how the media are hurrying children.
7. How have children’s literature and television programs changed over recent
years? Consider, especially, the characteristics in the stories. What are the
vanishing “taboos”?
8. Some nursery schools are now including academic subjects in their programs.
How does Elkind feel about this? How do you feel?
9. Our country’s high divorce rate has created family situations in which children
are often more “hurried.” Explain. (examples: single parenthood, financial
problems, parents dating, child becoming the parent’s confidant, etc.)
10. Elkind states that many parents go by the social intuition that since we live in a
tough world, we best prepare our children by exposing them to these harsh
realities. What does Elkind say about this philosophy?
11. What signs are there that children are dealing with too much stress?
12. Elkind says to provide children with an “oasis of quiet” every now and then.
What are some examples of how we can do this for children?
13. “Parents should never say ‘no’ to their children.” Reject or defend this statement,
according to Elkind. Explain.
14. What can schools do to reduce stress for the children and teachers?
15. In what ways do you agree and/or disagree with Elkind’s views?
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