Lessons from the island (3) - play it out, rough it out
Lessons from the island (3) - play it out, rough it out
Children in less developed countries are just so different compared to children in the cities. I'm not referring to the intellectual aspect, but in their attitude towards play and having fun.
I'm sure you agree with me that children brought up in the cities are so well protected - with a slight bump on their head, they would cry their hearts out and parents would rush to hush them. When they want something, almost immediately, their parents would get it for them. When food accidentally dropped onto the floor (I mean, floor that are generally clean, possibly at home), even if the food is still in an edible state, it is thrown together with the trash. Even when these children play, their interaction seemed to be with the computer, Xbox, internet, play stations, or whatever else there is, otherwise, their lives will be packed with extra lessons of piano, ballet, swimming ... and the list goes on ...
Children in less developed countries are just so different in all these aspects. When they play, they really PLAY! and rough it out with one another. There's no worry that they will fall, bruise themselves, knock into a pillar, or get prick by a thorn, etc - their focus is just "PLAY!" and their motive is just simply to enjoy themselves, rough it out and have fun! That was so obvious during the children/youth program we planned for the kids during our mission trip. We were so worried that they will fall, knock into each other, go back home with big bumps on their bodies, etc - but they are not the least worried, and in fact, enjoyed all the games we planned for them so heartily.
Children in such countries also learnt to make do with simple props, satisfying themselves with whatever they can make out a balloon, rubber band, marbles, stones, etc - and creating (genius!) games from all these. Because these children are mostly from poor families, they learnt to appreciate whatever food they have been given, so even if some food gets dropped onto the floor, they will pick it up, blow the dust away, and put it into their mouth.
Well, the issue of hygiene and health aside - these kids compared to city kids are definitely more hardy, more able to manage the hard knocks of life, more contented, etc. Sometimes, I feel that our Singapore kids should just go on mission trips to countries that are not as advanced as ours, and see for themselves the simplicity of life, and the hardiness of their contemporaries. And I just hope that parents of our urbanized and modernized kids will not be so overly protective, and hence stiffling them in their growth process ...
Your thoughts?
Children in less developed countries are just so different compared to children in the cities. I'm not referring to the intellectual aspect, but in their attitude towards play and having fun.
I'm sure you agree with me that children brought up in the cities are so well protected - with a slight bump on their head, they would cry their hearts out and parents would rush to hush them. When they want something, almost immediately, their parents would get it for them. When food accidentally dropped onto the floor (I mean, floor that are generally clean, possibly at home), even if the food is still in an edible state, it is thrown together with the trash. Even when these children play, their interaction seemed to be with the computer, Xbox, internet, play stations, or whatever else there is, otherwise, their lives will be packed with extra lessons of piano, ballet, swimming ... and the list goes on ...
Children in less developed countries are just so different in all these aspects. When they play, they really PLAY! and rough it out with one another. There's no worry that they will fall, bruise themselves, knock into a pillar, or get prick by a thorn, etc - their focus is just "PLAY!" and their motive is just simply to enjoy themselves, rough it out and have fun! That was so obvious during the children/youth program we planned for the kids during our mission trip. We were so worried that they will fall, knock into each other, go back home with big bumps on their bodies, etc - but they are not the least worried, and in fact, enjoyed all the games we planned for them so heartily.
Children in such countries also learnt to make do with simple props, satisfying themselves with whatever they can make out a balloon, rubber band, marbles, stones, etc - and creating (genius!) games from all these. Because these children are mostly from poor families, they learnt to appreciate whatever food they have been given, so even if some food gets dropped onto the floor, they will pick it up, blow the dust away, and put it into their mouth.
Well, the issue of hygiene and health aside - these kids compared to city kids are definitely more hardy, more able to manage the hard knocks of life, more contented, etc. Sometimes, I feel that our Singapore kids should just go on mission trips to countries that are not as advanced as ours, and see for themselves the simplicity of life, and the hardiness of their contemporaries. And I just hope that parents of our urbanized and modernized kids will not be so overly protective, and hence stiffling them in their growth process ...
Your thoughts?
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