Letter: Walk through any neighborhood today and you’ll see something that was rare just a few years ago: children flying down the street on electric bikes, often without ever turning a pedal.
Technology has brought convenience to nearly every aspect of life, but it also raises an important question. Are we removing too much effort from childhood?
For generations, a bicycle represented freedom. Kids rode for miles with friends, explored their neighborhoods, and spent hours outdoors. But the ride itself was part of the experience. The exercise, the challenge of climbing hills, the feeling of accomplishment after a long trip, and even arriving home exhausted were all benefits, not inconveniences.
Today, many children can travel farther and faster than ever before, but they may be missing something valuable in the process. Physical activity among young people continues to decline, while concerns about obesity, poor fitness, excessive screen time, and sedentary lifestyles continue to grow.
Childhood was never meant to be effortless. Running, climbing, biking, and playing outside help build strength, confidence, independence, and resilience. Learning to work for something, whether it is making it up a steep hill on a bicycle or spending an afternoon outdoors instead of in front of a screen, teaches lessons that cannot be powered by a battery.
This is not an argument against technology. Electric bikes can serve a purpose for longer commutes, adults, and individuals with physical limitations. But when healthy children are given motorized transportation for trips they could easily pedal themselves, it is worth asking what is being gained and what is being lost.
The goal of a childhood bicycle was never simply getting from one place to another. It was about movement. It was about adventure. It was about being outside and learning what your body is capable of doing.
As communities continue to debate the role of electric bikes among young riders, perhaps the conversation should extend beyond safety and regulations. It should also focus on whether convenience is replacing experiences that helped previous generations grow stronger, healthier, and more independent.
Sometimes, the best ride is the one powered by nothing more than two legs and a little determination.
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At the same time every aspect of life is becoming easier in a sense due to automation. So why work them hard for a life that doesn’t require hard work anymore. (Of course this is antithetical to learning torah which requires ameilus to understand but it’s the direction the world is going.)
Right, so as a frum yid, are you pro-Amielus or anti?
When parents are busy hovering over their children, so they face the least discomfort possible in life this is just the tip of the iceberg
how often parents of this generation look back and they want to give their kids everything and that I have to rough it to be uncomfortable at all
But they don’t realize that’s what made them successful was that they were able to survive the hardships and it wasn’t always easy Street
Who said those of us that survived childhood are successful?
I did not read the whole article, but before everything the driving here is far more worse Than electric scooters first focus on motor vehicle Which means four wheel cars etc And after that, you can focus on scooters
How could you comment on an article that you didn’t even bother to read? I read your whole comment and your comment has no relevance to the article…
Yeah, you missed the point. You probably should read the article before commenting, no?
It’s your choice. I didn’t buy my kids electric bikes (or electric scooters). They all learned how to ride a pedal bike when they became of age.
Agree: Kids need exercise too.
However: what about the danger! I buy or order my grandchildren any toy they ask me for, but never even a 2 wheel pedal bike or even a tricycle, a non illuminated scooter at the most. If we would really care about our children and grandchildren on erev Pesach we would take those electric scooters and bikes remove the battery and throw them into the fire.
If you through the batteries in the fire you will have an exploitation that will hurt people
Yes, good point, but for adults too!:)
(as you said, as possible)
You are the parent with control to say no to ebikes and scooters. You control what your child can read or watch until they are 18yrs old. That is good parenting.
if you think you have control over your kids before they turn 18 you’re living in a dreamworld….
I am living in reality. I have 2 highly respectful daughters, one is 25yrs old and the other is 35yrs old.
Yes, we don’t even have to edit our own writing. we just plug it into chatgpt and it will polish it up for us
Like this very article, obvious
5th Grade Teacher Orders His Class to Write the Sentence “Are We Making Childhood Too Easy?” 1000 Times
5th grade teacher, Oscar Shvitzburg, ordered his class to write the sentence, “Are we making childhood too easy?” 1000 times on a clean sheet of paper as part of Wednesday night’s homework assignment.
“I want to instill in my students a passion for hard work,” Mr. Shvitzburg told Scholastic Magazine on Wednesday. “Hopefully the students aren’t going to make too many spelling mistakes tonight otherwise they’ll have to rewrite the same sentence 2000 times tommorow night.”
However, the father of Aryeh Skipfeld, one of Mr. Shvitzburg’s students, told reporters late Wednesday that his son has been taking this latest childhood homework assignment “way too easy.”
“I looked over my son’s homework just now,” Mr. Skipfeld said, “and I noticed that he wrote the sentence ‘Are we making childhood too easy?’ only 975 times instead of 1000 times.”
“Aryeh tried to shortchange his homework assignment,” Mr. Skipfeld said, “but I’m not gonna let that happen again. In fact, I’m gonna inform Mr. Shvitzburg about this latest infraction because I don’t want my son’s childhood years becoming too easy for him.”
Practice what you preach – are you getting into the car to drive 2 blocks, or do you grab the opportunity for some good old fashioned walking?
My Bubby & Zaidy said the same thing when they saw we don’t walk to school 5 miles each way (both ways uphill) in -30°F through 3 feet of snow barefoot because the family only had 1 pair of shoes to share amongst all of them.