It is not a pretty picture. Our children are scared to love in the face of AIDS, scared to trust in this violent society, scared to dream in the decreasing job market and scared to breathe inside a dying ozone. At age three, kids are watching cartoons with children singing "Say No To Drugs" in commercial breaks. It is a different world than the one we grew up in.

We race around with our hectic schedules, squeezing in the time to read this article. Our main concern as parents is to give our child the best edge in this ever competitive world. We put emphasis on grades, learning and sports. Do we really have children or just short adults? What is happening to our world?

Learning to Listen

The first thing parents need to do is stay in touch with their children's world. The sooner you get started the easier it is to follow their generation in both its triumphs and trials.

Here are some ways you can keep in touch:

• Read their magazines and books to learn the issues and concerns of their age group.
• Watch television programs and movies with them to see what they are learning from TV.
• Listen to their music. Do the lyrics coincide with the morals you are teaching?
• Develop common interests. Try out a Nintendo game or CD ROM, this will open up things to talk about and show your kids that you can relate on their level.
• Talk to teachers and guidance counselors at parent conferences. They deal with kids five days a week and can tell you the concerns of today's youth.
• Get to know your child's friends and their parents when they visit. This will give you another view of children your child's age.

The communication lines also need to stay open. Two keys roles in communicating are educating your child and learning to listen.