Studying the history of childhood is instructive when trying to understand the world of children today. From close-knit work units of ancient days when families toiled together to survive, family groups today enjoy more leisure and affluence than ever before.

Tightness among relatives has relaxed, with distance, activities and personal agendas casting family members in many directions. Strapped into their car seats for long rides to and from daycare, school, sports activities and music lessons, many children find a family vehicle more familiar than their own bedroom.

That this is good or bad is not the question. That it has changed our children gets a resounding yes from the experts.

Kate Cole worked in the public schools for 33 years, half of those as a principal, and for the past two years has been principal at Cathedral Elementary School.

Her perspective on the past three decades and the way educators have adapted to the changing world provides clarity but throws no stones at today’s different lifestyles.

Answering questions about whether more children today appear to be hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive, Cole was careful to put those kinds of problems into context.

Yes, children are different. Classrooms have adapted to the differences. Even normal children today are more active in the classroom. Teachers make accommodations for the new generation of children as they always have.

&8220;When we were in school, we sat at our desks. We did not get up and walk around,&8221; Cole said. &8220;Today there is more freedom in the classroom, more hands-on activities, learning centers in the rooms.&8221;

The new styles in classrooms offer more opportunity for children to learn at their own paces, she said. Still, she pointed out that for every classroom teacher there has to be some structured time when the little students must be reined in and quiet. The children who cannot respect the quiet time are the ones who cause concern.

In general, children today would have a hard time in totally passive learning situations. &8220;They are so busy,&8221; Cole said. &8220;They go to soccer today, basketball tomorrow, and all kinds of other things. And they can’t depend on their legs the way we did when we were children. They don’t have that freedom.&8221;

Also, whether it is the influence of more extracurricular activities, video games or emphasis on sports on television, she said, children are more competitive today than even 10 years ago.

Today’s lifestyles probably have an effect on how children behave today, Cole said. &8220;But no one needs to feel guilty about it. Our lifestyles are just different.&8221;

In many households, both parents work. The child goes to daycare early in life. There is not as much &8220;learning at the mother’s knee&8221; as once was the case. Youngsters often have to fight for attention.

However, identifying children whose problems may be out of control can be difficult and, in fact, should be carried out by experts.

&8220;If a child is identified as finding it really hard to concentrate or constantly up and down, we like to discuss that with the parents and come up with a solution,&8221; Cole said.

Sometimes the answer lies in poor vision or hearing or some other problem that a physical examination can identify.

Survival still goes to the heart of how families cope with curves life throws them. Caring for children in the hectic pace of modern America challenges the best of parents and grows more complex for the most experienced educators.

Joan Gandy

is community editor of The Democrat. She can be reached at (601) 445-3549.