See the world through the eyes of children

By Chan Li Lin

In the 80s and 90s, a special programme featuring a “child parliament” would run on national television on our Independence Day. I can still remember that a Malay comedian took the role of the “parliament” speaker while all the “MPs” were played by a group of children. Though all of them were perfectly dressed in formal attire, the programme was more like an entertaining comedy but lacking in substance.

Established by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), the children’s city council is the first of its kind and this is what will serve a useful purpose. 24 child councillors will hold a meeting every month to discuss about issues regarding public measures, livelihood issues and other matters raised by children in the community.

Some small matters overlooked by adults may appear “big” in the eyes of children. As such, MBPJ must see through the eyes of children if it were to establish a child-friendly city!

Many people wish to do something for children, just like parents hoping to provide children with an ideal environment to grow in. Adults generally believe that all their efforts will bring about satisfaction and happiness to children.

However, adults often see things only from their own perspective. They tend to forget that adults and children look at things differently.

When children are unhappy over the arrangements made by adults, the latter must not immediately dismiss the children as being disobedient. Instead, the adults should step into the shoes of children and look at things from their perspective. Only with this can they have a clear view of the children’s world.

In children’s world, they have their own set of methods in evaluating, understanding and analyzing issues, of which adults always tend to forget. With the thinking that “children know nothing”, they deny children of their very own approaches to seek identity or obtain pleasure.

Back to the children’s city council. One of their causes of concern is the conditions of children’s playgrounds in PJ. The most common problems are negligence in maintenance and badly damaged facilities. Besides restoring and maintaining the facilities, adults must also take into account whether the environment and designs of the playgrounds can generate interest among children for them to play in. If we simply find a plot of land and add some slides and swings to it, thinking that we have provided the necessary facilities, then we barely understand the needs of children!

The establishment of children’ playgrounds is aimed at enabling children to acquire new skills and expand their imaginations, besides allowing interactions and co-operation between them and adults. That said, providing them with a wonderful time of the game is of greater importance.

The same applies to the upbringing of children. We cannot arrange everything for our children but give them space to unleash their potential. Adults only need to play the supervisory role and provide guidance in order for children to grow up happily.