The hottest Childhood Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Marshall McLuhan on Why Content Moderation is a Red Herring

After Babel • 2883 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media Childhood Content Moderation Online safety Tech Ethics
  1. Content moderation is essential, but focusing solely on it overlooks larger issues related to the harmful effects of platforms on kids
  2. The harmful impact of social media on children is not just about the content they consume, but also about the changes in childhood due to excessive screen time
  3. Implementing norms like delaying smartphones until high school could help in restoring a healthier, play-based childhood for kids

A Plea for a raise

Letters of Note • 1611 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📚 Literature Letters Childhood Money Lessons
  1. 10-year-old John F. Kennedy asked for a raise of 30 cents in a formal letter to his father.
  2. The letter explained his need for more money to buy scout items and be responsible with his spending.
  3. His father required a written request for the raise, teaching John a quick business lesson.
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The Anxious Generation is Almost Here

After Babel • 2390 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Parenting Book release Childhood Technology
  1. The book discusses the impact of overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world on children.
  2. The book suggests actions like making schools phone-free and holding social media companies accountable are needed for a healthier childhood.
  3. The book aims to empower teachers, parents, and Gen Z to understand the issues and work together to reclaim a more grounded, less digitally dependent life.

The English writer who colonized young Indian readers

The Global Jigsaw • 137 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Children's literature Cultural influence Childhood Globalization
  1. Enid Blyton's books were popular in India because they were easily available in English during a time when options were limited.
  2. Reading Blyton's stories allowed Indian children to imagine a different world and travel to distant places without leaving their homes.
  3. Younger generations today may not connect with Blyton's tales due to different experiences, preferences, and access to diverse reading materials.

The boy is father to the man

The Recovering Academic • 692 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
📚 Literature Memoir Fatherhood Childhood Family Dynamics
  1. The essay delves into the complexities of fatherhood, exploring how childhood experiences shape adult behaviors and beliefs about parenting.
  2. The author reflects on personal memories with his father, highlighting moments of intimacy and discomfort that have influenced his relationship with fatherhood.
  3. Inherited trauma is suggested as a possible explanation for certain behaviors exhibited by the author's father, prompting reflection on generational impacts on parenting.

Mississippi Mud

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 477 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Memoir Childhood
  1. Living near the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi wasn't what it seemed for a family struggling in the summer of 1980.
  2. Childhood creativity and imagination can serve as a powerful escape from hunger, boredom, and pain.
  3. Memories of making Mississippi mud pies symbolize resilience in the face of struggle and the ability to find joy in difficult circumstances.

In search of simplicity

The Recovering Academic • 494 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Simplicity Love Fatherhood Community Childhood
  1. Simplicity in life can bring greater joy and contentment, like the experience of a cool breeze on a perfect day.
  2. Consumerism and materialism often disguise themselves as gifts, leading to disappointment and a sense of lack.
  3. Guiding children towards simplicity while balancing the influences of a consumer-driven society is a challenging yet important task for parents.

Whence Fall Snowflakes

Bastiat's Window • 511 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Education Society History Childhood Urban planning
  1. Toxic fragility in universities may stem from lack of confrontation, mentorship, and intellectual exploration among students.
  2. Past educational practices like age-segregated schooling and urban designs have impacted critical thinking and creativity in children.
  3. Restrictions on children's time and space lead to a generation dependent on constant supervision, impacting their ability to explore and think independently.

Cockroaches

The Leftovers • 159 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Childhood Facts Memoir
  1. The author recalls childhood memories of cockroaches in Argentina, where they were a common presence and even seen as pets amongst kids due to a TV show.
  2. Cockroaches lost their charm for the author when a cholera epidemic hit in the early 90s, changing the perception of these insects.
  3. The post also includes five interesting facts about cockroaches that the author found online, highlighting their resilience and unique characteristics.

Memory Trains

lettersonbeing • 294 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Memory Childhood Nostalgia Music
  1. The author reminisces about childhood memories associated with the sounds of trains
  2. Solitude is embraced and valued by the author as a warm blanket of safety
  3. The sounds of passing trains were a comforting part of the author's childhood environment

What the “Casual Cruelty” of Dr. Paul Offit Reveals

Injecting Freedom • 137 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Vaccines Childhood Clinical Trials Safety Informed consent
  1. Dr. Paul Offit's article raises concerns about vaccine clinical trials and the lack of placebo controls.
  2. There is a debate about the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccines and the importance of proper clinical trials.
  3. The ethical considerations of vaccine trials and the need for valid safety profiles are highlighted.

Lincoln Green

Mister Slang • 78 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📚 Literature Memoir Books History Childhood
  1. The author reflects on their childhood in Lincolnshire in the 1950s, sharing memories of the county's unique features and their experiences growing up there.
  2. Growing up as one of the few Jewish families in Lincoln, the author reminisces about the challenges and adventures of maintaining their religious customs in a predominantly non-Jewish community.
  3. Despite the passage of time, revisiting one's childhood home can evoke a mix of nostalgia and reality, with familiar places often transformed or lost.