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Adults should find out what their children really want
Last week, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States at a lavish ceremony in Washington DC, USA. The event was telecasted live throughout the world on TV. But when the cameras panned to Trump’s 10-year-old son, Barron Trump, the boy didn’t seem to be interested in what his father was talking about. Young Barron yawned several times, and could be seen trying to keep himself awake. Barack Obama’s younger daughter, Sasha Obama, was also photographed yawning at her father’s inauguration in 2013.
Barron and Sasha yawning at important events in their respective fathers’ lives isn’t a sign that the dos weren’t important to the children. It’s a sign that such events jdon’t interest kids in general. In fact, most children in such a situation would have behaved just like Barron and Sasha.
TAG ALONG
Adults like to take children along for parties, events or shopping without bothering to know if kids want to go or not. But clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany says, “Taking children to parties, events or for shopping helps them develop social skills, an opportunity to mingle with friends and family, which helps later in life. But, at times if your child doesn’t want to go, it’s okay to let go.”
But, Swati Popat Vats, president of Podar education network, says, “If a child is socially integrated at events, he or she will grow up with positive interpersonal skills. But winding up late at night may affect a child’s health.”
Hingorani says, “When we mould children a per our expectations, we stop their emotional and psychological growth. hey may not like to visit certain places. So, it’s ideal that you inform them where you are taking them and why.”
DECIDING ON YOUR OWN
Adults often sign their kids So up for extracurricular activities such as dancing, singing or music lessons to regardless of their wishes, . Popat Vats says, “While the concept of ‘enrichment classes’ is catching on in India, I don’t know if the term ‘enrichment’ describes it best. It is more of ‘keep them busy at any cost’ for some parents. For others, it is ‘I didn’t get a chance to learn this, so let my child do it’. ” She adds that children need and should be given free time and be allowed to get bored, as that’s how their creativity and reasoning skills develop.