Do you think having to face adversity at a young age is a good thing?

[exitseven]

I see young people today that had everything handed to them and they are mostly underachievers.

[Screenwriter]

It's not about something as dire as "adversity." But it's about having to do things that develop gumption and character.
Clean your room, mop the floors, straighten the garage, sweep the porch, vacuum the car, have a part-time job in late high school, volunteer work during the summer, take good notes, do your homework, be kind to animals, don't cheat.

[exitseven]

You must have known my parents.

[Screenwriter]

No. I've known MY parents!

[loves2learn]

I do think overcoming adversity at a young age is character building to a degree. It can also be incredibly detrimental. For example being a young child and having to find your own food and not cared for properly can damage a person for life.

[AmandaYVR]

Inspiring question 😁.

I don't have a strong opinion on this so I can't answer, really. It's why I asked you. I had a chat with a friend and he believes it strongly (though we were speaking of people in general, not children specifically.)

I do have one theory that somewhat relates - I have found a bit of a pattern where young children tend to come out relatively unscathed by the early events in their family (terrible fights between the parents, etc.), but once they turn 13ish and beyond, they are more aware, and seem to pick up all sorts of details that the younger kids miss, in their more rudimentary understanding. Large, explosive negatives, they will all notice, of course, but it's the more subtle yet insidious lies, manipulations, etc etc that I think tweens/teenagers, get more affected by.

I was watching a documentary series on the Edwardian period in England. They described children's' lives, and of course contrasted it with today. Society today (and for a while now) believes that children need to be carefully protected (coddled, some would call this), and if we force them to grow up 'too quickly', they lose out on their happy childhood.
In the Edwardian age, children were seen as more labourers, able to also contribute to the family. There was so little money and opportunity to go around, schooling wasn't seen as paramount of all that worthwhile. Children were better sent out to hustle for simple work, scraps of food, and beg for change.

I think I saw too much as a child, generally speaking (in my family.) And Watership Down, although animated, was not for children. I think certain things like this left an indelible image in my head of what life is truly like. But I never technically regretted that. I was happy to be quite the opposite of naive, about the ways of the world.
I don't think I needed these harsh realities and experiences I witnessed, in order to become a compassionate person. I think I was born this way. And the more I grew and aged, the more it all fit together, the interconnectedness of things.
I feel similarly about religion. I'm atheist, always have been (despite my sister and some others telling me I'm probably agnostic, as is more common), and I've never needed morality taught or placed on me, or read from a book, to feel or know the significance of it. It's insulting to me that some think it exists only for those indoctrinated into a religion.

Well, I guess I did have some thoughts on this, lol.

[crazyish]

I honestly think it should be a balance but one that leans towards the adversity side a little more. People need to learn to be independent. Because I agree that being born with a silver spoon in your mouth can make you an underachiever. They don't have that certain drive or determination because they never needed them. No reason to work for what they have.

But on the other hand, facing adversity at young age can cause problems later on in life. Well maybe it depends on how each person handled it. Can't say I did all that great in that aspect, considering my damaged self now😆

But overall I feel I can really empathize with the majority of people and it's made me appreciate life to become a better person.

[ShadezMcgee]

Yes, it is imperative to face adversity young. The earlier you learn to face challenges, opposition and failure the more you are able to become resilient and grow.

Do you really want to be a grown ass woman shaking like a leaf and breaking down at the smallest thing because you were sheltered and avoided the world?

[twis7]

adversity is healthy in general. we as humans cannot thrive if not in the face of adversity. without challenge, we are sedentary. Why rise up if nothing to rise against? obstacles are for our overcoming. we don't always succeed, but without failure being possible, why shatter the ceiling?

[Inexpensivefurniture]

Why are we so mad at younger people have an easier, better life than previous generations? Isn't that the goal of society? To make life less hard?

[exitseven]

I tried to make it better for my kids just as my father tried to make things better for me. I had struggles in adolescence and early adult hood and wanted to spare my kids all of that.
They are not underachievers but they are not as careful with a dollar as I had to be.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I definitely think people that have it harder or faced things in life definitely makes them stringer and teaches about coping and survival...

[AlexanderAnttila]

It can be. But oftentimes it's very dual as it also brings with it trauma and scars for life which decreases your social adaptability and aptitude for relationships.

[PaynefulPleasures]

Your children must realize you're not going to be there forever, so structured decipline goes along way ✌️

[BillHe1]

Yes, and I think more discipline would help, like going into the Military for a couple years.

[Browneye57]

Yes, of course. It builds character.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[msc545]

It depends on the nature and severity of the adversity. There are challenges, and there is adversity. They are different.

[Anonymous]

Some adversity provides focus and motivation.
To much or too little is likely to adversely affect most.

[OliviaOfTheScots]

Has its positives and negatives

[Gabbledegak]

Nothing strong has ever had it easy.

[etexbearkat]

I agree with @oliviaofthescots.

[jahaims]

Yep..