We all are children at heart, Never grow-up...
Keep doing things that you like most and give you happiness.
How I yearn to be a child again...
Missing childhood & being a child.
Children and their needs are commonly not taken seriously. The actions are termed either as childish, immature or kiddish. The actions and initiative of children also get restricted often with the excuse that "Do it when you grow-up" or "Your time has not come" and mostly "Stop! Don't do it", the children are not slaves they also deserve an explanation and reason for each command and direction of elders. No Nation can develop in an all round manner by neglecting the needs of children. The Human Development Index often covers only the measurable and tangible 'statistical facts' missing a lot of intangible things that go in making a child turn into a better human. Even the most learned and educated parents too try to rub on a child their experience and essence of life as understood by them.
There is no denying the fact that the foundations laid in the childhood will see the child in good stead in the life ahead, but foundations at the cost of losing the 'Joy of Growing-up', stifling the child with only academic skills and not aiming at all round development is highly criminal. A typical high school child's day starts with interrupted sleep to prepare to attend the school early in the morning to continued classes and tuition in the late evening, thus leaving no time to play and pursue other activities. The plight of the child in grades appearing a Year-end Public Exam and boarders is further worrisome. No wonder the stress levels and poor-result oriented suicides are on a rise. The eagerness of parents to provide the best of education to their children and lack of sincere and quality Government schools have lead to unprecedented mushrooming of a variety of schools....Premium Pre-school, Play School, Private School, Chain Public School, Charity Institutes, International School, Gurukul, Madrasa, Autonomous University, Deemed University...(Gender Specific Schools)...what not and what may!
The availability of a wide variety of educational institutes would've been good if they all showed some sincerity and maintained standards rather than aiming to make money. Most schools across all sections and varieties only barring a handful don't have adequate amenities like...clean toilets, safe drinking water, play grounds, gymnasium, swimming pool, laboratories, libraries, medical emergency handling equipment, planed fire escapes with equipment and trained qualified dedicated professionals among the least and last requirements. Most schools are run in hired residential complexes converted into classrooms. The list of under prepared schools is surprisingly exhaustive with a licensing system in place. The system as usual and as ever has been hood-winked by the influential businessmen seeking school permits.
Government schools are mostly an apology to the schooling system and the situation is more grave than it is thought to be with most of the children having access to the education only by means of a Government school. The RTE Bill (Right to Education part of 'Sarva Siksha Abyan') passed without improving the capability and capacity is doing no good than adding to already confused state of affairs. The menace of teacher absenteeism in all Government schools mostly in remote areas is counter-productive all the good the Government wants to do in the education sector as reforms.
The scholastic way of preparing children for life is the most skewed approach of all methods of preparing a child for greater responsibilities in life. The whole environment from parents, family to the society is only giving importance and recognition to the marks or grades obtained in the formal education. Emphasis on scores leads to immoral activities and practices at a very tender age. The other options for taking-up a different and alternate career other than the popular trio of 'Doctor-Engineer-Government Employee' are still at a nascent stage having less acceptability as a viable livelihood means. The few options available in Vocational and alternate occupations are still looked down upon fearing societal scrutiny and peer pressure. Parents can't be totally blamed for pushing their children through the beaten path as there are inevitable comparisons drawn measuring the success based on pay packets, Government job, software job and the associated status of the post in the society. The degree attained or obtained also becomes a benchmark in demanding and denying dowry. Girls do higher studies to find a prospective groom with heavy pay packet or foreign job. In the bargain there remains no difference in 'Studying and Education'.
All the above situations kill the independent thought process in the children of taking up different options available to pursue a career. Here it is pertinent to mention that a mid-career shift and change of career is seen as a taboo in India, most young men take up the most convenient career and settle in that career for life, even if they realise at a later stage that it is no longer enjoyable to continue. The system as a whole doesn't allow a child to evolve into a thinking human being, he remains just a contributor to the GDP and does no value addition to the society and country. The induced and infused orthodox approach and thinking towards a career options is evident in the research capabilities of our universities and lack of real scientific temperament in the society. The same set of individuals perform and achieve splendid results under a different system and set of conditions in many foreign countries. I have less exposure to other systems of education but strongly feel that something is still not right and much needs to be done in our scheme of things for children to make them understand life in the right perspective.
Talking of other aspects in growing-up of a child apart from education are many more issues routinely ignored by all. Parents should not pamper their children or be overbearingly protective in bringing them up. Parents don't prepare children for the uncertainties of life, they hide bitter facts about the complex journey of life and relationships leading to children becoming weak individuals seeking support in terms of unreliable friends, falling prey to bad habits, early psychological break-downs and making them meek individuals. The over protective attitude coupled with confusion due to exposure various elements through social media contacts may either lead a child to adopting radical ideas or falling prey to unsocial elements and their activities. Parents must always ensure that their wards are aware of the right path of doing things, be present as guide and correct when necessary.
I must also mention the other enemies of childhood here, Child Labour, Abusive Parents, Sexual Abuse (sexual awareness is still an untouchable aspect with most boys and girls approaching puberty and young people their acts of promiscuity with out having proper understanding). Trying to create 'Child Prodigy' of 'One Act Wonder Kids' had almost taken an alarming situation in the recent past. Fashion Industry is another culprit in inducing children especially young girls to the odds and adult things early in life.
Most of us don't take the responsibility of parent as an important aspect of life than treat it as mere accident or vocational hazard of being married. Parents must plan and produce children when they are ready for it and just not for the heck of it or fun of it. Indian parents spend family holidays and free time either sleeping, watching TV or visiting relatives and roaming around religious places. The same amount of family holiday time could be well spent in introducing children to the aspects of life not taught as part of curriculum in schools. visiting museums, historical places, industrial trips, village communities, adventure activities and eco-tourism are just few among the suggested activities.
An important aspect of humans as per my understanding is pertinent to understand and follow in this perspective.
"A human seldom changes after 13 years of age...change he will only for a short duration under influence of either or OR combined effect of
1. Death of a near and dear one,
2. Under financial burden and
3. Ill-health".
It is needless to say that a child has to be moulded and prepared for life much before we all think and allow him or her enjoy childhood before that... A DELICATE BALANCE TO ACHIEVE THOUGH!
