What do you think of when you think of children? Games of tag, make believe, and hide-and-seek, perhaps? Or maybe kickball at recess? Whatever your preference is, it's bound to be innocent and a reflection about how you remember your childhood. What most of us imagine, however, is no longer reality.
I heard a story today that inspired me to write this entry. A woman I know substitute teaches for elementary schools in our area. Last friday she was teaching a class of second graders (approximately 7 years old) when she intercepted what appeared to be a typical note. As most teachers do, she scolded the child who attempted to pass it and brought it back to her desk. She opened it, curiously, to read "I really like you and I want to have sex with you." There were more details in the note, but they were inappropriate to post.
Suffice to say, the sub was shocked. She showed a teacher's aid and the aid's response was, "I believe it. She has older sisters." The sub, however, was nonplussed and disturbed that seven year olds were talking about this type of stuff. And I couldn't empathize with her more.
I have a younger sister who is only eleven years old. When I was eleven I didn't know what sex was besides what I learned in our "maturity unit". My classmates and I weren't concerned with things like that. All we cared about was recess and picking teams for football or kickball. Girls (for the most part) weren't worrying about being girls. We were all just kids having a fun time. Our biggest fear was getting cooties.
What happened to that? Why is it that when I go to an elementary school I see girls dressed in slutty outfits, straightened hair, and more make-up than I ever wear? Is it a result of the superficial pop culture? Is it because these kids are maturing at an even earlier age? Is it because kids are feeling the pressure to grow up too fast?
I think it's a combination of all these factors. I believe that we need to remind children to just be children. We need to stop forcing children to grow up so young. We need to stop having so many "safety rules" for recess. Dodgeball, along with parachute games, is prohibited in many schools because it is a safety hazard. Aren't we overdoing it a little bit?
Let the kids be kids. Let them play. Let them be innocent. Let them fear cooties. Let kissing be a giggle taboo. Let them live their childhood. After all, childhood is usually the part of life we all miss the most.
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Wow, that's a pretty scary story. I remember playing games, not wanting to have sex when I was in the second grade. Heck, I'd still choose tag over sex for a couple more years. (I'm a high school junior haha). But this story is just wow.
I know it is pretty crazy how these kids are acting. I agree, all of your examples are completely accurate. I help with the first and second grades at my school and it is completely absurd to think they they are having sex let alone know what it is.
For some reason i believe it's just a world swinging uncontrollably to the left. Yes, i'm politicizing the issue.
As teenagers we are role models for these children and as older sibling we play a particularly important role. They look up to us. They want to be us. Don't you remember when you were little, wanting to be the Football captain, or that really pretty teenage girl that went to your church, or wherever? I do. and kids are still that way. They want to be us, and they'll act like us. Be an example.
"Kids are little people that spread peanut butter, measles, and happiness."
Barbara Johnson
When I was that old, I wasn't worried about having sex with boys; we were playing tackle football with them instead, or hide-and-go-seek through out the entire neighborhood. Children need their innocence as long as they can keep it. My fiancee has two sisters that are eleven and nine but raised in different houses one with three older siblings and one with her nine year old twin brother. There is definitely a difference in maturity levels, what they find interesting to talk about, and the concepts in this world they understand.