If you were born in the 2000s, you are called the “oh-ohs”. The 21st century makes you young and of course smart. Maybe good-looking, too. Right? But what do people think of your generation (一代)?

Some people worry that you’re more interested in the screen than the world around. They think of you as the “face-down generation” because you use your phone so much. They wonder how you will do with school, friends, and family, And today’s teenagers are too busy texting (发信息) and taking selfies (自拍) to be successful in real life.

Others worry that you are too spoilt (溺爱) to face the difficulties. Many children born in the 2000s were raised (养育) by “helicopter parents”. They always guide their children with a busy life filled with homework and after-school activities. With parents who do everything for them, today’s youth seem to live like teenagers even when they are in their 20s or 30s.

Does the face-down generation have no goals? Well, probably not. The fact is that many of today’s teenagers can do better in many things than past generations. They seem to be willing to be leaders. More young people volunteer to help their communities (社区) than ever. There are also great young people such as Malala Yousafeai, the teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for pushing girls’ rights (权利) to go to school.

So if you’re one of the oh- ohs, there’s reason to be hopeful about the future. Things are looking up for the face-down generation.

Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. Their school days are busy enough. However, after school Cathy takes the two boys from football to basketball. Then she has to take her daughter to piano lessons. The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and then it’s time for homework.

The Taylors are like many American and British parents. They take their children from activity to activity. Doctors say many children are under too much pressure. Teachers complain about teaching tired kids in the classroom.

Most children take part in after-school clubs. Activities include sports, language learning, music, and math classes. Now parents seem to push their children a lot more. They see other children doing a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same.

Linda Miller, a mother of three in London, knows all about such pressure. “In some families, competition starts from a very young age,” She says. “ Mothers send their kids to all kinds of classes when they are very young. And they are always comparing them with other children. It’s crazy. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.

Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older. “ Parents are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them. When these kids are adults, they might find it difficult to plan things for themselves.” Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves. On the one hand, children need organized activities. On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.