(The Standard
P.7 5 Apr 2013) Some children as old as 12 are unable to
bathe and dress themselves, according to a recent survey of 500 parents.
It found that 76percent of kids between four
and 12, cannot change (更衣) themselves, and 61 percent are unable to bathe alone.
Furthermore, 57percent cannot tidy up their
rooms, 42percent are unable to eat without supervision (監督), and 35percent fail to do their homework
independently.
But while 13percent said their children are
relatively (相當) lazy when it comes
to housework, 10percent said it is because doing housework is relatively (相當) dangerous, and 9 percent said children should
focus on studying.
However, 35percent of parents agree that
doing housework may cultivate (培養) a
sense of responsibility in children, with 17percent saying it will enhance
concentration (提高專注) as well as help the youngsters learn to take
care of themselves.
To encourage children to do housework,
37percent of parents said they often use money as an incentive (獎勵).
Thirty-five percent buy gifts, and only
15percent issue instructions.
Nine percent share the housework with their
children, but only 6percent express their gratitude (感謝) for help received.
Gemini Cheung Ming-lai, a child and
educational psychologist (教育心理學家), said
children will become dependent on others and lack responsibility if they do not
do any housework.
"It will also adversely (不利地) affect their social lives (社交生活) in the future,
as other people may not take care of them," Cheung said.
She advises parents to change their
perceptions (觀念) and to
see doing the housework as important as studying for children.
She also warns (警告) parents against (不要) using monetary or materialistic rewards (金錢、物質的獎賞) to
encourage youngsters to do housework.
"It will not cultivate their sense of
responsibility," Cheung said.
Parents should set housework timetables
for their children, and praise (讚美) them
in order to build a sense of satisfaction (滿足感).
Separately (分別地), in Taiwan, an eight-year-old girl
complained to police that she was "abused"
(被虐待) by her father when he bought
her a cup noodle that she did not like from a local shop.
On April 1, the girl asked her father to
purchase a seafood cup noodle for dinner, but her father purchased a
mutton-flavored (羊肉味) product
instead.
When her father scolded (責罵) her,
she called the police, reporting that she was "abused" by her father.
Winnie Chong
A recent survey of children help to do the housework by Tai Po Mega Mall interviewed 500 parents. It showed that 76% of kids between four and 12, cannot change themselves, 61% are unable to bathe alone and 57% cannot tidy up their rooms. Moreover, 42% are unable to eat without supervision.
回覆刪除The survey showed those “Hong Kong kids” depending on their parents and helpers to take care of them. It reflects that those lack a sense of responsibility to face their daily living. It is worrying.
Some parents think it’s dangerous for their kids to do housework; some prefer their kids to focus on studying rather than on developing a sense of responsibility as well as learning how to take care of themselves; some give money as a reward for encouraging the latter to do housework. However, other parents do not think so. They share the housework with their kids. Some of them express their thanks for their children’s help.
We can find the root of problem of “Hong Kong kids” by the survey. If the parents do not change their minds to the matter, their children will not have chances to learn to take care of themselves and be better kids. Therefore, Parents should encourage their kids to help doing housework. It’s an opportunity for the former to train their kids to keep a sense of responsibility whatever they do. Also, parents should change their perceptions to their kids that they not only focus on their studying but also on their manners as well as behaviour.
To teach children with a positive attitude to their daily living as important as getting better results.
Fanny Wong