Having been actively teaching and working with those below the age of 16 for the past 4 years, I just came to realise what a deprived childhood kids have nowadays. Listening to the tales of their lives though at first may surprise you, compared to my childhood it is very much mundane. Although I do have to say that everytime I talk about my experience with the children I have encountered, I never fail to be greeted with raised eyebrows and wide slightly (in some case wide) open.
Recently I was having a conversation with some collegues of mine and was sharing my experience with them . Their reaction was as I had expected. But they also said something particularly interesting. They were saying how these weird students that I have is due to the fact that I myself am weird in nature. Another friend of mine once suggested I should go and work with child criminals since I am constantly in contact with them. I do beg to differ. My students are not really criminals but they are just doing what some adults would do if given a chance, expect in a much smaller scale.
I mean I have handled students who have burnt down chicken farms, put firecrackers under girls' skirts, got involved with gang fights at the age of 9 and almost blinded a peer of theirs, future undeworld mafias, explored different religions, explored homosexual behaviours and to top it all one of my special student spends alot of time coming up with torture techniques for others. And she is only seven! Amazing isn't it? By the way this seven year old is my favourite of the lot.
Hard to believe eight? But being someone who is trained in sociology and have done an assignment on these kids. I began to see that these kids are trying to fill their life with different types of entertainment because they don't have an exciting childhood. Take a look at what kids do most of the time when they are free? They either glued to their computer games or out hanging out with friends. Of course we have some who are trying to become the next Mozart or the youngest Einstein to ever exist. But honestly if given the chance they would just go out and play. But that is just my opionion.
Take a look at the toys they play with for instance. I was recently shopping in Toy R'us and the toys I saw are so boring. Where are those toys where you can create something new? During my time I had seen toys whereby you can make your own edible ice cream and waffles. You can also sew your own costume. LEGO and PLAY DOH had so much varities compared to now. I use to also owe a whole load of remote control racing cars. Now its pathetic.
I sometimes wonder what childhood would mean in the near future. I think we are moving so fast that there is no such thing as being a child. It's like moving back to the middle ages, where a child is treated like a small adult. COme of think of it we are already in the middle ages, where some of the children are experimenting with sex at the age of nine (though its illegal) and before we know it, it will be drugs and alcohol. I mean now they are also going to be trained in weapons in some countries how long would it be before the trend hits Singapore. After all we already have a nine year old who is pregant.
Recently I was having a conversation with some collegues of mine and was sharing my experience with them . Their reaction was as I had expected. But they also said something particularly interesting. They were saying how these weird students that I have is due to the fact that I myself am weird in nature. Another friend of mine once suggested I should go and work with child criminals since I am constantly in contact with them. I do beg to differ. My students are not really criminals but they are just doing what some adults would do if given a chance, expect in a much smaller scale.
I mean I have handled students who have burnt down chicken farms, put firecrackers under girls' skirts, got involved with gang fights at the age of 9 and almost blinded a peer of theirs, future undeworld mafias, explored different religions, explored homosexual behaviours and to top it all one of my special student spends alot of time coming up with torture techniques for others. And she is only seven! Amazing isn't it? By the way this seven year old is my favourite of the lot.
Hard to believe eight? But being someone who is trained in sociology and have done an assignment on these kids. I began to see that these kids are trying to fill their life with different types of entertainment because they don't have an exciting childhood. Take a look at what kids do most of the time when they are free? They either glued to their computer games or out hanging out with friends. Of course we have some who are trying to become the next Mozart or the youngest Einstein to ever exist. But honestly if given the chance they would just go out and play. But that is just my opionion.
Take a look at the toys they play with for instance. I was recently shopping in Toy R'us and the toys I saw are so boring. Where are those toys where you can create something new? During my time I had seen toys whereby you can make your own edible ice cream and waffles. You can also sew your own costume. LEGO and PLAY DOH had so much varities compared to now. I use to also owe a whole load of remote control racing cars. Now its pathetic.
I sometimes wonder what childhood would mean in the near future. I think we are moving so fast that there is no such thing as being a child. It's like moving back to the middle ages, where a child is treated like a small adult. COme of think of it we are already in the middle ages, where some of the children are experimenting with sex at the age of nine (though its illegal) and before we know it, it will be drugs and alcohol. I mean now they are also going to be trained in weapons in some countries how long would it be before the trend hits Singapore. After all we already have a nine year old who is pregant.
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