When I think about my childhood, which was the optimal one growing up in the countryside, going to a countryside school with my neighbour friends, living with both my parents and our pets, I just get joyful and I don’t think it is because of the romance in the countryside picture. I had the best parents, a good schooling, many friends and hobbies. Those along with what I believe are the main reason that made me a happy kid: I was allowed to be a child.
Some times it feels like we are back with the Greek and early psychologist and their ideas about that children are just small adults, like miniatures. That they don’t need the special stimulation to actually one day become an adult. It is more important how they dress, what kind of music they are listening to, that they been to Thailand at least once and that they are owners of several different videogames which they are incapable to play. If we ever allow them to be children it is in the adult world on our conditions and on our demands. What happened to being outside just playing, imagining, making up the plot and being allowed to be a child in a child’s world?
I am not saying that it is easy being a parent, I can’t judge because I don’t have the experience. Parents want what is best for their children, everyone knows that. I just don’t see why parents and the society are so eager to make the children adults. There are too few years of childhood as it is, and when they are over you have to be an adult for a very long time; the rest of your life. I don’t have the perfect solution, I don’t even know if there is a way back or if we are stuck in this behaviour. My belief is that childhood should be free of pressure and demands, at least the once encouraging the child to be something else than a child. Let’s just help them not to worry about what to wear or what to own to be popular. Let’s instead encourage them to imagine, play, have fun and explore their own little world.
Some times it feels like we are back with the Greek and early psychologist and their ideas about that children are just small adults, like miniatures. That they don’t need the special stimulation to actually one day become an adult. It is more important how they dress, what kind of music they are listening to, that they been to Thailand at least once and that they are owners of several different videogames which they are incapable to play. If we ever allow them to be children it is in the adult world on our conditions and on our demands. What happened to being outside just playing, imagining, making up the plot and being allowed to be a child in a child’s world?
I am not saying that it is easy being a parent, I can’t judge because I don’t have the experience. Parents want what is best for their children, everyone knows that. I just don’t see why parents and the society are so eager to make the children adults. There are too few years of childhood as it is, and when they are over you have to be an adult for a very long time; the rest of your life. I don’t have the perfect solution, I don’t even know if there is a way back or if we are stuck in this behaviour. My belief is that childhood should be free of pressure and demands, at least the once encouraging the child to be something else than a child. Let’s just help them not to worry about what to wear or what to own to be popular. Let’s instead encourage them to imagine, play, have fun and explore their own little world.
