Frustration, desperation, loneliness, suppression are the words that comes to my mind when I hear of ‘juvenile delinquency’. Crime and children both start with the letter ‘C, yet they are worlds apart. Children are pure, innocent and ready to be moulded when they arrive in this world. Every step they take, every word they speak are influenced by their surroundings, mainly parents and caretakers.
The first lesson for a child begins at home. Peaceful, loving and caring parents can greatly influence a child to move ahead in life in a positive manner. If there is comfort, love and sharing within the home, a child will rarely drift towards committing a crime.
Schools can definitely influence a child but if the atmosphere at home is negative, the child will not be able to comprehend the value-based lessons taught in school. Values and morals are first taught at home. It is not just a verbal lecture and therefore, parents must show a perfect example to their children.
Parents play a major role in influencing a child and if they have been neglecting their ward, and the child has committed a crime, the parents are definitely responsible for the same. Parenting is not only about providing food, education and shelter. It is the most challenging role for a human as compared to the other roles he or she plays in his or her professional and social life.
Spreading awareness against bullying will not prevent children from committing crimes in self-defence. The child who commits a crime in self-defence is already hurt, whether physically, mentally or emotionally and might even have faced serious abuse. Therefore, the kind of environment that parents provide for their children directly influences them and it is based on that, that they act or rather react.
Lack of communication and loneliness are the main reasons for a child resorting to watching TV, playing video games, browsing the internet and endlessly chatting away on social networking sites. This is where parents need to step in and observe their child and his or her actions.
As adults, we need to take up the responsibility of our children, the youth of tomorrow and make them into successful individuals by supporting, guiding and spending quality time with them.
- The readers is an Indian novelist based in Bengaluru, India.
