Are children today missing out on childhood? Some experts say the information age is teaching kids about the world too soon.

Family specialist Shelley Osterloh has the final segment of her series on Kids in the Know.

Kids need only watch t.v. or read a newspaper to hear about some of the scary people and things that happen.

Now experts say, it's not so bad that kids know something of the dangers of the world. But they may lack perpspective, context or experience, to judge just how vulnerable "they" might be.

And that affects how they view their own future. There is no question, what kids know today, colors how they see the future.

"I think a lot of things will be worse. Our children might me listening to horrible stuff and seeing more violence and stuff on t.v."

"You're going to get twice as much pollution."

"Like are we going to have to wear gas masks or something because its so polluted?"

"People won't have such a good living because they say lots of jobs will be replaced by machines."

"I think another World War would be life threatening to all of us, 'cause we have weapons that can blow up a whole country."

"I think the most critical part that we've got to do is prevent them from becoming hopeless and giving up," says pschycolgist Doug Goldsmith. He says children who live in fear... lose hope.... especially those who feel threatened by violence.

"If I don't think I'm going to live very long, why should I work hard in school? Why should I devote myself to a future if I truely don't believe there will be a future?" Goldsmith says.

Experts say in this complicated world where kids have access to so much information, adults need to help kids develop coping strategies. If something frightens them, help them think of several ways to handle it.

Children who feel empowered, have a more confident view of themselves and their world.

"It's just a matter of how you think. Be positive and you'll probably do really well."

"When I'm an adult, I think there will be better inventions, and things will be better quality."

"There's going to be technology and better stuff to help us."

"I think they won't have any more pollution. They'll figure out how to do it without polluting."

"When I look into the future, I like to see non violence. Not as many drugs sold on the streets."

"If we didn't fight a lot, the world would be a bettr place for people to live in.. and children wouldn't die. Everything would be perfect."

"I personally think we should start now, by making the world better in the future."

The message from experts is, help kids find ways to handle problems and worries.

If a child is worried about someone breaking in, show them how to lock the doors, check the windows, set up a plan on what they should do if they are alone and frightened.

If they're worried about gangs or bullies giving them a bad time, talk to them about avoiding them, running away, or apologizing, asking for help, not walking alone.

Whatever the problem, fear, or worry, help them come up with ways to handle it, so kids feel empowered instead of victimized by life.