The article
that appeared in the Sunday Star on suicidal tendencies among young
children is quite an eye opener. The many problems mentioned faced by
children seem so ordinary that adults take it for granted it is part
of the growing up process. The adults will say that they went through
the same daunting period but survived it whole and intact. Times have
changed and the challenges are in a different guise. The article
emphasised that communication is the key factor.
Communication is a rare commodity in
many homes at present especially when both parents are working. The
parents want to give the best that money can buy and try as much as
possible to give their children a better stimulating growing up
experience. In the parents' eyes, money will be able to buy the
educational toys when the children are toddlers and help to give a
head start in the race to success. Money will also support music and
other extra lessons so as to equip the child to be an all-rounder.
The parents want the children to have all those advantages that they
did not have during their own growing-up years.
All these support and help to put the
child at the front line is of course done with good intentions.
Unfortunately, the child has not been asked his own opinion or likes
and dislikes. Music, ballet, swimming, taekwondo and other activities
are part of the children's every day lives in addition to the normal
school hours. The child's time has already been allocated to each
activity in such a way that there is no hours left for him to choose
and do what he really loves.
The other scenario would be those
families who could not afford all those extra activities for their
children and they are left to their own devices. In this case,
friends are always the greatest influence. When those of the same age
group spend most of their time just among themselves without the
adults involvement, they become more independent and form their own
opinions. Any issues at school or personal relationships are shared
among their peer group. Parents or adults are never around to be of
guidance.
In both scenarios, the communication is
missing. The adults would know their children are there at home after
school or at the dinner table. The hours together might be longer if
they watch the television together but many children would prefer to
be left alone in their own bedrooms. The escape into their own world
puts more distance between them and the adults.
Parents do not have the time and the
children are not waiting patiently for that golden moment to talk.
The children would decide on their own that they can solve their
problems without the adults' input. Therein lies the possibility of
another teenage suicide.
Image from naturalpatriot
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