Why We Should Let Children Carry Their Own Bag
Ever seen kids whose school bags are carried by someone else (parent / grandparent / helper / nanny / driver)?
I have.
Quite frequently actually.
I’ve seen an able-bodied teenage boy who walked ahead of an old woman who carried his big backpack for himErrrr … I have even seen TEENS whose school bags / sports bags are carried by a helper / driver / an old man (who looked like the grandpa! 😬)
(If they’re sick, or have just broken their arms, shoulders or legs, of course it’s fine to get some help. But I’ve seen an able-bodied teenage boy who walked ahead of an old woman who carried his big backpack for him!)
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Food for thoughts:
Children really do need to learn from the start what ‘responsibility’ means.
It starts from simple daily acts like, putting own shoes, carrying own bag, packing own school books, preparing own sports bag, etc.
(NO excuses like, ‘Oh I didn’t bring my homework because my mom/helper didn’t pack it for me last night!’)
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All these daily habits – whether they realise it or not – consequently teach them values like, admitting own mistakes and accepting consequences, as well as confidence to try something new eventhough they get no help from anyone.
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Many parents offer ‘regular help’ to their kids a LOT. Often because they ‘pity’ their children, or they simply just … ‘do it’.
‘Oh, let me tie your shoes.’
‘Come, let me carry your bag for you.’
‘Let the driver get your tennis bag from the trunk.’
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Many often don’t realise that by doing so, opportunities for their children to learn the value of ‘effort, hardwork, accountability and responsibility’ are taken away from them.
If I don’t bring what I should have brought, it’s someone else’s fault, NOT mineInstead, children learn that:
– I don’t have to work/plan/make any effort, because others will serve, help and provide for me
– If I don’t bring what I should have brought, it’s someone else’s fault, NOT mine
– I don’t need to be considerate / think of others just as long as I myself am convenient
(All the above teaches the child to put himself/herself as the focus)
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Habits we build since young will strongly influence the characters of our children as they grow up.
Habits we build since young will strongly influence the characters of our children as they grow up
And nurtured habits do stay … till our children become adults, … until they become someone else’s husband, wife, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, colleague, etc.
The question is:
Do we nurture habits today that will shape and help them become responsible, independent adults tomorrow?
Food for thought.
