Monday, December 16, 2013

Please Put It Down

Parents, please pay attention to your kids and take away whatever electronic gadgets  they have in their hands.

The irony is we want our children to catch up with technology but we revert them to their own little caves totally ignorant of their surroundings.

Children are supposed to explore, run, be curious, enjoy the outdoors.
Children should open up books and let imagination take hold.
Children should socialize with other kids, play and muck about like children they are.
Children should be able to tell you about their day and how awesome everything went.

Not sit around, engrossed with whatever it is on the iPad. For hours on end.
Be it, at a restaurant.
Near a beautiful beach or pool.
At their kampungs.
In a family function.
When people come over.
At a mall.
During a vacation.
In a family roadtrip.
Or even at home.

Don't let a gadget raise your children.
Your kid runs a tantrum and you hand him an iPad.
Your kid behaves and you hand him a tablet
Your kid is fidgety and you hand him your smartphone
Your kid can't socialize and you hand him his PSP.

A gadget is not a pacifier.
It is not a babysitter.
It can not, should not substitute you.

Whatever you teach your kid, would be more valuable that what you claim your tablet is able to teach your child.

Please don't say my kids can't survive a day without their electronic thingamajigs.
Not in a proud tone.
Not even in an apolegetic tone.

We grew up fine without.

Kids are getting angrier.
Impatient.
Spoiled.
Stuck up.

Parents, get a grip.
Look at what you've turned your child into.
Take away the electronics.
Demand more respect.
Give them books.
Encourage them to look up and explore the world.
Help them make friends.
Teach them.
Play with them.
Talk to them.

I'm not being houlier than thou.
I'm not saying my children are better off.
But let's do this together.

Our children deserve more from us. From themselves.

We talk about making the world a better place for our children.
Why not make our children better people for the world.


6 comments:

  1. About time. We went through school break with experiments and it struck us with the same discovery. It was gadget ground zero for my kids for the last 2 weeks. And we took the chance hauling books at Big Bad Wolf Sale. And playing outside in the evening with neighbours is mandatory for them (making full use of dad's abundance bikes). Malam pi surau.

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    Replies
    1. Argh, we missed Big Bad Wolf. Tapi come to think of it, itu adelah rancangan yang disengajakan.
      Orang ramai merenyut oi,naik pusing kapla.


      About your zero gadget cuti sekolah policy, carry on, sir.
      I wish you the best.

      Delete
  2. Well said.

    But bcos mak bapak anak I ada attachment to gadgets, it's a balancing act of gadgets, outdoor play, books and simple conversation. *feeling apologetic*

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    Replies
    1. Lina, you don't count because we all know you involve Raimi in almost everything you do.
      And he looks like such a wholesome boy.

      I'm talking about parents who in a way neglect their kids by freely giving them these gadgets.
      It gets so melampau that some parents even allow their kids bawak ipad ke tadika/taska when they're supposed to learn.

      Delete
  3. I very the like the very the last statement about making our children better people for the world.
    Very the true...
    And very the happy new year to you and to Lieutenant Colonel (B).. hihihi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hai hai,
      sorry late reply . Mmg lama tak menjengah sini. hihi
      Happy new year to you too Nik. And expect myself to be inserted dalam pertandingan Dailymile of yours. (ayat perasan)

      Delete