the value of resourcefulness

Throughout the book, Unequal Childhoods, by Lareau, there is a consistent theme of middle class children and entitlement. Middle class children are brought up with an emerging sense of entitlement as opposed to working class or poor children who are raised with an emerging sense of constraint. This sense of entitlement allows middle class children to learn how to get what they want from people in authority and institutions. On the contrary, children from poor and working class families tend to use the natural growth method in raising their children. These children may not grow up with a sense of entitlement, but they do possess a heightened sense of resourcefulness, which is very important. Entitlement is important in learning how to manipulate the system but resourcefulness also has its advantages.

In poor and working class families, children have much more free time than children in middle class families. These children often make up games, play with children of various ages, and provide their own form of entertainment free from adult control. This internal lotus of control provides these children with a sense of autonomy over their lives. Middle class children participate in many adult-run organized activities. Their free time is limited, leading them feeling bored when they do not have an activity scheduled for that day.

Although there are many benefits for middle class children raised with an emerging sense of entitlement, I believe there is a important flaw in this approach. Simply put, growing up with an emerging sense of entitlement encourages middle class children to does not give them much practice in dealing with thier peers without an adult in control. Although, they gain valuable experience in dealing with adults, authority figures, and institutions; they have an external lotus of control. Having their activities planned for them daily leaves them little time to figure things out for themselves.

The ability to entertain themselves and figure things out for themselves enables these children to become resourceful. Poor and working class children learn to figure things out for themselves because they often spend their spare time free from adults and with peers.Personally, I know that when I figure something out for myself, it has a greater affect and impact on my life than if someone just gives me the answer. Being resourceful can lead to a sense of accomplishment and may also aid in achieving greater successes later in life.

There is something to be said for being resourceful as opposed to expecting others to provide/do things for you. I don't think Lareau talks about this enough and I would be interested to see how this lack of autonomy/resourcefulness impacts middle class children. Lareau focues on entitlement and its benefits, yet doesn't examine the weight of a comment from Garrett Taligner's about how he doesn't know what to do when he doesn't have an organized activity and believes his life is boring without them.