A Cat's Cradle Solution
I read something the other day in an on line newspaper. It was an article about a group of school children being forced to play with another child.
Apparently, this child, was upset because she wasn't allowed to join the other group of girls playing on the school yard. Her parents became involved, as did the school principal. It was decided that the group of girls had to allow this girl to join them while they played at school. The principal, and parents sited the group of girls were discriminating against the single child.
My eyes almost bulged out of my head when I read the principal mandated this. But then again, decisions made these days, with ridiculous arguments to support them don't.
I think this was a horrible decision. We are living in a world of oxymoron's. We are not allowed to bully anyone, so now our children are growing up with no coping skills. I don't agree with hurting anyone, however, experiencing teasing, name calling, or even a few physical altercations in life, enables us with invaluable life skills. I endured all of that, as did my brothers and friends and my own children. It's a rite of passage. These childhood experiences, unpleasant as they may have been, were merely a warm up for real life. Co-workers, bosses, bad neighbours, in-laws, everyone we may encounter everyday, we need to sublimate our actions to do what we should do, not what we want to do. This is a life skill
It is no longer taught in schools. Instead, it's all about "I care" words.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not encouraging people to be unkind towards each other, only learning how to cope when it happens...and it will happen. These days, teenagers need hours of therapy because someone called them stupid, fat, or ugly. Newsflash, there is always someone smarter, thinner and prettier than you, so you better accept it. We are raising our children to be a bunch of self absorbed whiners, who, when they can't get their own way, they don't know how to act.
Children aren't expected to stimulate their own imagination any more. Just look at today's technology, smart phones, fidget spinners, they get bored without something in their hands. When I was a kid, a piece of string with another kid gave us hours of entertainment, it was called Cats Cradle. Or we would skip, ride our bikes, play hide and seek, or even lay on our backs and see pictures in the clouds. We didn't need outside stimulation to have fun.
Children are born naturally curious, with a good imagination. We need to nurture it, along with good behaviour, respect for others, and problem solving skills.
As far as forcing children to play with another child, well that's a recipe for disaster. Maybe the kids are discriminating, maybe they're not. Maybe they just don't care for that child. By forcing this new kid into the group, they are causing more harm. They are saying to these children, your rights and wants don't matter, but the right of one child does. We're teaching these children to not trust their own judgement of character. I don't like everyone, and everyone doesn't like me. That's real life, or working. These kids will never understand the value of a true friend if they aren't allowed to pick their own.
With all of the advances in technology, we have moved back to the dark ages as far as personal relationships.
I say throw away the tablets, smart phones, and fidget spinners. Find your own friend, cut a long piece of string, tie it together and actually talk to each other and find a solution...together.
Apparently, this child, was upset because she wasn't allowed to join the other group of girls playing on the school yard. Her parents became involved, as did the school principal. It was decided that the group of girls had to allow this girl to join them while they played at school. The principal, and parents sited the group of girls were discriminating against the single child.
My eyes almost bulged out of my head when I read the principal mandated this. But then again, decisions made these days, with ridiculous arguments to support them don't.
I think this was a horrible decision. We are living in a world of oxymoron's. We are not allowed to bully anyone, so now our children are growing up with no coping skills. I don't agree with hurting anyone, however, experiencing teasing, name calling, or even a few physical altercations in life, enables us with invaluable life skills. I endured all of that, as did my brothers and friends and my own children. It's a rite of passage. These childhood experiences, unpleasant as they may have been, were merely a warm up for real life. Co-workers, bosses, bad neighbours, in-laws, everyone we may encounter everyday, we need to sublimate our actions to do what we should do, not what we want to do. This is a life skill
It is no longer taught in schools. Instead, it's all about "I care" words.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not encouraging people to be unkind towards each other, only learning how to cope when it happens...and it will happen. These days, teenagers need hours of therapy because someone called them stupid, fat, or ugly. Newsflash, there is always someone smarter, thinner and prettier than you, so you better accept it. We are raising our children to be a bunch of self absorbed whiners, who, when they can't get their own way, they don't know how to act.
Children aren't expected to stimulate their own imagination any more. Just look at today's technology, smart phones, fidget spinners, they get bored without something in their hands. When I was a kid, a piece of string with another kid gave us hours of entertainment, it was called Cats Cradle. Or we would skip, ride our bikes, play hide and seek, or even lay on our backs and see pictures in the clouds. We didn't need outside stimulation to have fun.
Children are born naturally curious, with a good imagination. We need to nurture it, along with good behaviour, respect for others, and problem solving skills.
As far as forcing children to play with another child, well that's a recipe for disaster. Maybe the kids are discriminating, maybe they're not. Maybe they just don't care for that child. By forcing this new kid into the group, they are causing more harm. They are saying to these children, your rights and wants don't matter, but the right of one child does. We're teaching these children to not trust their own judgement of character. I don't like everyone, and everyone doesn't like me. That's real life, or working. These kids will never understand the value of a true friend if they aren't allowed to pick their own.
With all of the advances in technology, we have moved back to the dark ages as far as personal relationships.
I say throw away the tablets, smart phones, and fidget spinners. Find your own friend, cut a long piece of string, tie it together and actually talk to each other and find a solution...together.
Wow awesome 💯 percent right
ReplyDelete