Aadrita Chatterji

When we were youngsters, we looked and behaved like them.

Has anyone noticed that children are much more ‘mature’ these days? When we were young and carefree, our worlds revolved around school and homework, the dog house with a piggy bank, the choice between Barbie and Betty dolls, and what we wanted to eat for dinner. We didn’t understand fashion brands, who was dating whom and what it meant to have everything at home. Those were simple and happy times for many of us, knowing that we had what we needed: food and water, shelter, clothing and education. Today’s children are exposed to a different reality altogether.

On Raising Smart, Confident And Socially-Aware Children

Millennial parents were raised on the necessities, but they also grew up during a time of social and technological change. They learnt how to navigate the internet at school, started dating more openly, lived independently and started questioning their inherited beliefs. When they became parents, they wanted to extend the same luxury to their children without the struggles. That’s why we have children today who have never known the simple joy of being children, but are frequently praised as ‘grown-up’ little people. They are not grown-up, they are growing.

With smaller families in most households, parents devote all their time and attention to their children. They want them to be sure of what they want, to express themselves clearly and to be alert about their surroundings. The ongoing safety concerns, the awareness of social and family boundaries and the courage to stand for the right thing have made it necessary for children to grow up earlier than they need to. The fine balance between teaching themselves how the world works and being a child continues to blur, unsure of where one ends and where one begins.

It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.

Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker

The Curious Case Of ‘Kids Getting Older Younger’

When we were growing up, many of us didn’t know what a boyfriend meant at the age of ten. Today, children speak of heartbreak songs when they are twelve years old. Having crushes and secret admirers at that age is a part of growing up, but the language and expectations today are entirely different. That makes us question: what are these children being exposed to every day? It’s not harmless when they get bored with age-appropriate entertainment and look for mature themes in their cartoon shows and video games. Their innocence is eroded every day, while we adults choose to look the other way, or even encourage it.

Adultified children are more exposed to clothing, entertainment and lifestyle choices. Of course, brands target young girls as their target audience. Tight-fitting, uncomfortable and skin-showing garments restrict their movement and make them feel self-conscious about their developing bodies. Preteens and young teenagers deal with enough physical, mental and emotional challenges as they grow up; we do not need them to perform as adults. There is a reason why child reality shows, family vlogging channels, and parents’ desire for overachievement remain controversial.

They are not grown-up, they are growing.

Aadrita Chatterji

We Need To Raise Children, Not Adultified Minors

Apart from children being raised on the internet, many modern-day parents have ensured that their children live overscheduled lives with little time and energy for imagination and free play. Competition and comparison become their early friends to prepare them for the rat race ahead in life, a theme explored in Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary’s Taare Zameen Par (2007). Though digitalisation wasn’t common when this movie was made, children are not allowed to be bored today. They are not allowed to be ordinary, to make mistakes and to act like a child.

Another movie, Partho Gupte’s Stanley ka Dabba (2011), explores a different side of childhood – the need for safety, love and protection when raising a young human. They do not need much, only their necessities to be fulfilled, families who love them, friends who support them, and memories that they will cherish as adults. They have the right to grow up without constant pressure, with privacy and dignity, and with wonder and imagination. Children have their entire lives to achieve their dreams; thus, let us let them retain their innocence for one more year.

Childhood is a phase when young humans continue to explore themselves and their surroundings, and we must guide them with love, patience and understanding. They will continue to throw tantrums, make a mess and refuse to listen to us. Children have their own way of seeing the world, with their own instincts and values. Their development doesn’t have to be accelerated, but must be savoured before the responsibilities of adulthood arrive. In the meantime, let them enjoy their puzzle games, climbing trees and sneaking fruit from the kitchen.

After all, these simple days can never be replaced.