In addition to overprotective parents and screens, there’s the fact that there’s just fewer kids today, reducing the chances that any kid has a critical mass of similar age neighbors to play with. The percentage of the population that’s under 18 peaked at 36% in 1960, and is down to 22% now.
And that understates the perceived decline, because most children are now born to minority families. Only 18% of the non-Hispanic white population is children. So if you’re the kind of person writing about these issues—probably a college-educated, non-immigrant white living among other similar people—the percentage of your local community that’s kids is even less.
And that understates the perceived decline, because most children are now born to minority families. Only 18% of the non-Hispanic white population is children. So if you’re the kind of person writing about these issues—probably a college-educated, non-immigrant white living among other similar people—the percentage of your local community that’s kids is even less.