Encouraging them to talk

Last week I was invited to be part of the jury for a poetry alliteration at my children's school. This was a first time for me, and my own kids are younger than the six- and seven-year-olds who were participating. So I really had no idea what to expect.

But as the event unfolded, I was amazed by the remarkable show of confidence on display. Most of them were not this generation's Shakespeares-in-the-making. But they certainly knew how to express themselves without worrying about how many people were watching them. And that, perhaps, is the most important thing today.

For parents who are bringing up children in today's world, these are indeed dangerous times. And teachers who have a hefty share of responsibility in the task, are in for even tougher times.

People often worry about the influence that this globally ‘open' media policy is having on teenage minds, which can be so easily manipulated.

But as a mother of much younger children, I worry even more, for little minds are even more impressionable. Although we can filter out the absolute trash that cartoon channels and the gaming industry are hauling out in the name of child entertainment, there are some restrictions that are impossible to implement — especially when we seek to raise our children as confident boys and girls.

And while we are on the topic of cartoons, please tell me why just about every child's ‘favourite' cartoon has to be ugly (read monstrous) characters, who are always fighting other evil monsters. Whatever happened to the wonderful Smurfs, Care bears, and even Inspector Gadget? I have managed to shun cartoon channels that show too much violence, using animated films that usually have a better message and very little violence added to fill that gap. But I am not sure everyone can do that, especially when older children in the same household are avid watchers of the Ben Ten variety of cartoons.

And even if we can rid our households of gory cartoon characters, children are still not protected enough, for the lurking dangers are not just about cartoons. Can we tell them to close their eyes or ears when we are at a mall, or ask them to speak to no one at school, or not trust the watchman, delivery boy or bus conductor?

Power of speaking

Now please don't get me wrong. I have nothing against these noble souls, and especially the watchman who obliges tenants to the extent of coming home to change a bulb. Anyone who lives in Dubai knows fully well that that is certainly not part of a watchman's job description.

But nonetheless incidents happen everywhere, some reported, others hidden, and yet others ignored altogether.

And as parents and teachers, the only way that we can prepare children for the outside world is to harness their power of speaking. They must be good communicators, no matter how tedious a task it seems to listen to carefully to all that they say, because boy, can children talk!

My son loves to talk. It's a habit I have encouraged at home, by asking him what he does in school on the way back every day, and also each night while tucking him in bed.

I went to my son's PTA yesterday, bracing myself for complaints about his talkative nature. Instead, the teacher appreciated my son's ability to share information. If a child shares his experiences with us at school and with you at home, a child cannot go wrong, she said. Right on, she is.

Rabia Alavi is a Dubai-based writer. You can follow her at www.twitter.com/RabiaAlavi