The purpose of this thesis is to explore the existence of a new childhood experience. The childhood that many children experience today is very different from that which adults remember. Statistics are, given to show the extreme nature of some childhood problems. Viewpoints of childhood are also discussed to explain how some of today's perceptions came to exist.Explorations are made into the effects of media on a child's innocence. Also explored are the changes in society's expectations and how these expectations effect the family unit. Following these discussions, the results of such changes are examined. Medical implications and stress factors are shown.