北京市东城区2016高考英语阅读理解学生联合自选（9）_高考复习指南

北京市东城区2016高考英语阅读理解学生联合自选（9）

　　The event has brought about a debate: Are Modern parents needlessly overprotective, or is the world a more dangerous place than it was when previous generations were allowed to wander about without being watched out?

　　From the “she’s an irresponsible mother” camp came: “Shame on you for being so careless about his safety,” “How would you have felt if he didn’t come home?” But Katharine got a lot of support, too. “It is not the right way to keep kids under careful watch. It’s weakening our children.” Katharine wrote in the Times.

　　So why are some parents so nervous about letting their children out of their sight? Are cities and towns less safe and kids more easily hurt than they were in previous generations?

　　Not exactly. According to Child Trends, a nonprofit research group, between 1986 and 2010 death rates in New York City dropped by 44 percent for children aged 5 to 14. Then are modern parents more watchful and nervous about safety than previous generations? Yes, some are. With Internet and TV news, every missing child case gets so much broadcast that it’s not surprising that even normal parental anxiety can be enlarged.

　　For those parents who wonder how and when they should start allowing their kids more freedom, there’s no clear-cut answer. Child experts disagree with a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. What’s right for Katharine’s nine-year-old could be inappropriate for another one. It all depends on developmental issue, maturity, and the psychological and emotional qualities of that child. Several factors must be taken into account, says Gallagher. “The ability to follow parent guidelines, the child’s level of comfort in handling such situations, and a child’s general judgment should be weighed.”