Children being disciplined end up committing suicide, administrators and teaching staff being arrested and put behind bars. It’s a sad development yet I couldn’t stop thinking of my days when I went to school. Children those days weren’t brought up like the one’s today. Almost most of us used to walk or cycle ourselves to school, few of them used to commute by public transport. Yet a very few of them had the privilege of coming by cars or school vans that used to be a rarity. In the process we learnt to keep up time in spite of hardships meant. If you turn up late to school you were made to stand out for an hour. If repeated you were canned. If you had to go tell your parents about it, they would say what the school did was right. The same was applicable to studies where if you didn’t do your homework or if you aren’t the smartest of students you could very well end up being canned. I’m emphasizing canning so many times for the simple reason that it was the highest punishment that a teacher could deploy. Teachers were never seen by students or parents of being guilty of their act.
Children of today are raised with lot of expectations at relatively young age they take on the pressure of the parents who want to inculcate whatever they missed during their childhood. They want the kid to be a show piece amongst their friends and relatives and take the pride of making them to be one instead of understanding the child needs. Now that children live in high rise apartments and with dearth of playing space children hardly go out and play which used to be otherwise a outlet of expressing their emotions. They hardly get along with other children where by the loose the ability of sharing ideas opinions and interaction amongst themselves. Parents ensure that they send their kids to almost everything possible that is taught around from handwriting classes, arts and painting classes, swimming classes, music classes and to enroll them to sports classes they are making a machine out of children, In this space parents and the society tends to forget the fact the child has simple pleasure which has to be accepted or acknowledged by parents. Acceptance when denied the child is left to its own self of being insecure, insensitive and develops cold traits.
As a part of today’s education children are exposed to computers much earlier in life. The Pros and Cons of getting in computers is something that none can deny. It has to be noted here that anyone less than 12 yrs is not going to make constructive use of the computer except for the fact that he learns to use it earlier. I have seen a few parents who are happier to get their children Xbox or WII by that the child doesn’t have to go out and play rather ensuring it keeps them occupied indoors. Interaction with machines instead of Interaction with human is by no means a compensation. The more you interact with machines you tend to be insensitive cos you always want your machine to work. If you play a game you need to take breaks you need to recoup your energy. If you are playing a team game you would have to consider the same for rest of your players which would be completely missing when you are playing against a machine that exactly why children sit long hours before videogames.
Days have gone when parents used to spend time with their children listening to their achievements, petty fights, ego’s, interest and likes and dislike. In the days I grew dinner was always with dad and mom every Sunday used to be extended lunch with the family together. Those days we were benefited by power cut and lack of television channels cos we had nothing to do but sit and chat. These days how many parents have time to listen to their children needs. They are career oriented and off course they need to manage finances and family well to secure their children’s future. Yet let them not deprive the child of its simple pleasures of being heard.
Setting expectations or lack of setting expectations by itself is another major factor that lets the child go of its hook. Parents on one hand want them to be achievers on the other hand there are parents who hardly bother about forcing the kids as to what they should be doing, either way the child is going to be spoilt. Set expectations that are genuinely achievable for the kids, never compare children as it could lead to insecurity at the same time also do not acknowledge their underperformance. Set realistic expectations and help them to achieve the same. Give them a sense of fullfiment that you’re there to help them achieve set goals.
By doing all this you help them grow as sociable human beings rather as performing humanoids. It is not for children to acquire multiple skills and be intelligent but it would be a greater call of the parents to ensure that the child is emotionally well adjusted to the bullying of the society at large… A emotionally, mentally and physically stable child is one that could face difficulties much better. Help them grow to be one…..
