Value-based education
In my view ineffective parenting is one of the major factors of juvenile delinquency. Some parents are just too busy with their own lives, to spend quality time with their children. Other than ineffective parenting, peer pressure is also a contributory factor to juvenile crimes. Just to be part of their so called “gang” they are willing to be part of gang fights or even try substance abuse. Media, cinema, television and obscene literature, has also added to the magnitude of delinquency. They feel like heroes when they display violent behaviour that they absorb from everywhere around them, computer games, movies and even real life.
As a teacher, I strongly feel that value based education is the only solution to teach children that criminal behaviour is not tolerable. When we are educating students for values we are enabling them to think, to reason, to question and reflect, to care, feel concerned and to act accordingly. Children are envoys of the future. So for a brighter tomorrow we need children to be disciplined and be aware of what is right and wrong. Values cannot be taught as a subject, Values are learnt as we learn habits in the process of growing up. In school teachers are the role models and they have to teach, love, respect, discipline and empathy by showing these values in their own behaviour.
Regular prayers, meditation and assemblies have a calming effect on children. They can help others in community service programs. Love and compassion learnt at this stage will definitely pave the way for a better tomorrow.
From Ms. Promila Mehta
Teacher based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Need to talk
Violence is the extreme end of aggression. Remember that not all children who are aggressive become violent. Parents are not teaching violence but they are unable to teach children some simple rules in life. Sometimes children and teenagers use violence to get what they want. What actually happens is that the child gets frustrated and angry and hasn’t learnt any other way to deal with these feeling. They try to distract themselves with games, cartoons and social media. Some children take the help of the internet to solve the problems in their life.
As a parent, we have to teach our children the skills to solve or face a problem, so that they have an alternative way of dealing with these situations and feelings. Parents need to be role models. If parents hurt each other, children mimic that. Children who are treated violently often grow up to be violent adults. If parents find themselves crossing the line, that’s a sure sign they need outside help.
Violence in today’s world in the media, in our neighbourhoods and even in our schools can make our children feel frightened and unsafe. Every day in TV, in newspaper, children are witnessing what is happening around the world, sometimes they may feel insecure from some incidents. Children also learn violence from movies, games, even from cartoons. All human beings have a tendency to learn or copy bad things first.
It is important that we must talk to our children openly and honestly. Use encouragement, support and positive reinforcement so our children know that they can ask any question, on any topic, freely and without fear of consequence. And remember that it often takes more than a single talk for children to grasp all they need to know. So talk, talk and talk again.
Children feel better when they talk about their feelings. Sometimes we need to step in their shoes and think for them, to find ways to handle their situations. We should not use violence to settle arguments. If parents are angry, if we yell or use physical force, aggression turns into violence. If we want our child to avoid violence, model the right behaviour for them. We should teach our child that real guns and knives are very dangerous, and they can hurt and kill people. They need to understand that real life is not like video games, in which characters are always shooting each other but never get hurt or die. They just pop up again later like nothing ever happened. But in real life, someone who gets shot will be seriously hurt or might lose their life.
From Ms. Archana Sen
A homemaker based in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Wise choices are needed
Today’s youth are increasingly led to believe that their failures are not their fault. My sister and I had a difficult childhood, yet I always excelled, while she was always in trouble.
We had the same home environment, but completely different experiences. Furthermore, if two sets of parents make the same parenting mistakes, but the children in one family do better than the other family, is it fair to hold one set of parents accountable for their child’s actions, when their parenting mistakes alone are not the cause? What happened to personal responsibility?
Today’s youth are increasingly led to believe that their failures are not their fault, that they are owed things without having to earn them, and even that taking what others have, is easier than earning it themselves.
I believe this growing attitude of entitlement is another contributing factor to the increase in juvenile crimes.
To have an impact, it is important for parents and law enforcement to work together in encouraging our youth to make wise choices.
An example of one such program in the US is Drug Abuse Resistance Training (Dare). Through Dare, law enforcement officials educate young children at the elementary level about the harmful effects of drugs, peer pressure, and violence. Through this program, children learn to better respond to negative influences all around them. Children need to know that they are in control of their choices and that they can choose to rise above.
From Ms. Shannon Thomas
Mother, business manager, and libertarian activist based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
More supervision in schools
Parental negligence and other factors might be instrumental in pushing children to resort to crime. However, a lesser known factor is bullying.
Bullying in schools has become an important social concern that needs to be addressed. The more commonly known consequences of being bullied are victims experiencing loneliness, depression, insecurity, and a loss of self esteem. Conversely, some victims may also develop a desire to physically hurt the person bullying them, to avoid having to go through the humiliation on a daily basis. This can make them turn to violent solutions to a problem that can be solved by talking to teachers or parents.
On the other hand, children who display bullying behaviour may also develop other antisocial behaviours such as vandalism, shoplifting, dropping out of school, fighting, and the use of drugs and alcohol.
Bullies and victims both can display criminal behaviour later in life. Teachers should survey students anonymously to determine the prevalence of bullying in the school, increase supervision of students during lunch and other breaks, and conduct school wide assemblies to discuss the issue.
Teachers should also enforce classroom rules against bullying, hold regular classroom meetings with students to discuss bullying and its impact, and meet with parents to encourage their participation. Another step to make sure that the bullying stops is to counsel students identified as bullies and victims. Awareness against bullying will definitely reduce the rate of crimes among school children.
From Ms Farah Badawi
Interior Designer based in Dubai, UAE
Video games
Gaming usually has negative connotations and is blamed for inciting violent behaviour in young people, but this is a perception usually of non-gamers. I have been playing video games ever since I was 10 and despite what my father says, I think it’s been a beneficial experience. Some video games require strong focus and concentration, which could be a good workout for the brain. These kinds of games usually require players to use problem-solving skills and think of strategies to play successfully.
Gaming can also improve your reflexes. You have to think on your feet when facing enemies in the shadows, or when racing against time in a typical car racing arcade game. Multiplayer online battle arena (Moba) games, also known as real-time action strategy games, are ones in which there are usually two teams and the player’s mission is to destroy the opponent – like in chess. Such games need focus, planning, tactics and visualisation. So why is it such a terrible idea for teenagers to play League of Legends, for instance, which holds our interest and creates a great, imaginative realm, instead of two-dimensional chess? I think we are responsible enough to differentiate between violence in games and violence in real life. Just because a young person enjoys playing games, one should not presume that he is inclined to committing violent crimes.
Another point people raise is social isolation when children play video games. However, electronic sports (or E-sports) has become a significant part of the gaming industry, where tournaments are held annually between professionals, as they try to beat each other at their chosen video games. Thousands of people watch the League of Legends E-sports tournament, and the event receives sponsorships and backing from business leaders. Some people even play games to make a living and they are good people. So, I think it’s unfair to think that gaming incites violence.
From Mr Rayaan Meeran
Grade 11 student at The International School of Choueifat, Sharjah, UAE