Let children be children

Schools are closed! Now that I’m an adult, I only realise this phenomenon has happened when a) There is almost no traffic on the roads and b) I can hear the neighbours’ children screaming all over the place. (b) Usually comes as a surprise because these same children go to school so early I rarely manage to catch a glimpse of them.

But every silver lining has a dark cloud. And the dark cloud hovering over any holiday is holiday homework.

Oh the horror! Especially horrible is the knowledge that whatever you do during the holiday, you will have to turn in a dreary piece titled ‘How I spent my easter holiday’.

There is surely no worse punishment than trying to create a blockbuster movie out of your hum-drum life. Madam teacher, do you even read these compositions or do you just want to make sure your little charges can still read and write at the end of the holidays?

I especially pity today’s children, the ones who avoid sunlight as if they were vampires. I’m sure you’ve seen them around- those children who spend their entire childhood with their eyes glued on one screen or another.

If they’re not playing horrifically violent games on their parents’ phones or laptops, then they’re watching tv with the intensity of students sitting their final exams. What would such children have to say in their compositions? “I killed all my enemies in Death Ninja, Level 7,” I can imagine them writing.

If you have children, do them an immense favour this Easter. Take away their computers. Forbid them from using your phones (this is hoping that middle-class madness has not gripped you and led you to commit the sin of buying them their own phones, heaven forbid!)

Let them experience innocent delights like tying a string onto the leg of a ladybird and flying the poor creature like a kite. Let them get sun-burnt playing outside, or scrape their knees while learning how to ride a bike. Let this be the holiday you teach your son to cook a simple meal.
Let children be children this holiday. Happy Easter!