I agree that parents apply curfews simply because that is a traditional system they are familiar and comfortable with, and they know what will happen if they do so.
For example, in UAE society, if a child stays out late at night, that is presumed to mean that the child either has an issue with his family or his parents don’t care about him. Because of the traditional system, Emirati parents believe that if a child stays out late at night, he will be an absolutely lazy student.
I strongly agree with my parents when they used to tell me to be home when the clock turns 10 at night. I have a great reason to agree that curfews must be implemented on children. Until two years ago, my nine-year-old brother, who is now in grade three, used to play out in the street until midnight. He used to get home by about 12 or even 12.30am and went to bed by 2am. That’s really odd thing for a child at that age. As a result, he failed in his exams and had to repeat grade one. Because he was the youngest, my parents were not very strict with him.
I figured out what his problem is – I found out that I have to apply a curfew and force him to enter the house early. That led him to pass grade one with good marks, with an average of B grade. I am really proud of him now as I can see and feel the change that has been brought in him.
- The reader is an engineering student living in Abu Dhabi
