Missing Out on Childhood

After reading the article, "School can wait, childhood cannot", I agree fully with the journalist's views. Indeed, as we grow older each year, we find ourselves being less able to do the things that we truly love(e.g. lying on the grass watching the clouds or the world goes by). Every year we grow, the amount of homework given to us also increases significantly. When I was four years old, my mother had already forced me to memorise my times table. Whenever I faltered while reading out my times table to her, she would give me a taste of her cane . Not only that, she sent me to many different courses, from abacus to Chinese drama. She had this vision of moulding me into a perfect child, an all rounder. Alas, I failed her. But who could blame me? I was only four years old then. Fortunately, after hearing a colleague lamented about how she had missed out on her childhood, my mother finally relented. She realized that there was no point in forcing me do the things I disliked. Instead, she decided to leave me to my own devices and let me discover the joy of having a childhood. Imagine the joy I felt when I was finally able to participate in the games that I had been longing for, from hopscotch to hide-and-seek! The decision my mother made 11 years ago was indeed a wise and wonderful one. Not only was I able to perform better in my schoolwork, I also stopped dreading going for the courses my mother signed me up for because I was allowed to play as long as I understood my priorities.

Being a strong advocate that children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood, I believe that parents should not be so afraid of their child losing out to their peers. Every child has his or her own potential and talent. Trying to cultivate a talent in their child in a certain subject will only backfire because the child will be not be able to absorb anything from the courses that he or she is forced to go. Parents should instead allow their children to experience the fun of discovering the true meaning of their one and only childhood.

To reiterate my point, let me quote a saying, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

Yan Leng:D