This toy shelf and the aquarium have been in my consultation room for children at ASHIRVAD Chennai, CMC Vellore, PIMS Pondicherrry and now at MOSC, Kolenchery.
Only one thing has changed in my observation over these years. Yesterday, only one child out of twelve children who visited me explored the toys in the shelf. In the earlier years, almost every child except infants would have directly reached the shelf as soon as they came into the room. Yesterday, some children played with their parent's mobile phone, and others sat bored in the chair. The parents would have liked them to watch TV or play computer games during that time.
One child accompanied by grand parents who went on to play with the toys, mentioned that they do not have much toys at home.
I am aware that children's habit, their environment and parenting style have changed. I feel it is a disadvantage for children.
One parent helped me to understand this complex situation to some extent. How can children stay away from the TV or the computer or the mobile phone when parents spend hours using them! We did not have them till twenty years back. The adult behaviour has changed and so the children's behaviour! In most homes the TV is on most of the day and part of the night.
I pursued conversation with one family about taking time to converse with children about their daily events and happenings at school. They confessed that there is constraint of time.
Our modern rhythm of living needs revision. We need to create time for the most important link in our lives-communication. Talking is common, but listening is uncommon in family conversations.
Let me not suggest that we live in the past glorifying it; however let us redefine how we help our children live with good childhood attitudes and practices!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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