Do Kids Understand the Finality of Death ?

Tubelight · Jan 21, 2010

Hi everyone.

Have you noticed a distressing trend in recent times ? Kids are committing suicide increasingly.
One little girl hangs herself because she was not allowed to dance !
One boy slashed his wrists because his TV time was cut short.
Another one consumes poison because his parents did not get him something he wanted.

Whats wrong with the little folk ? Do they understand at all what they are doing ? At age 8 or 9 what does one know about the finality of death ? And from where do they learn about noose knots and deadly poisons ?

The only thought that must have crossed their minds was to somehow cause pain to the parents for refusing something. "Let them suffer, let them cry ! I will show them !"

Or, are they being influenced by some crooked notion of heroism and fame ? They think they will be on TV like Ruchika today, little realising that once they have taken that extreme step, no fame or glory would ever bring them back to enjoy the spot light !

Something must be lacking in moral education at home and in school, if young kids are working up such deadly frenzy at the drop of a hat.

Oh god, Sab ko sanmathi de, Bhagwan !

kiranmadhu · Jan 22, 2010

Kids are exposed to too many things that are not really required at that age. Even in cartoons, we see lot of violence and romance. Kids from the age of 2 years are watching these.
They see one character hitting the other and the other one dies. You end up explaining that the one who died was bad and hence the good one killed it. When this is the case with smaller ones, imagine the ones who are a little older but not yet into adolescence. They are exposed to much more than what their young minds can comprehend.
And another one could be because parents are more pushy than previous generations. So the child starts thinking that winning in shows is everything. I don't think they exactly understand the finality of death. They are being exposed and pushed too much to commit such a thing as suicide at a stage earlier than even teens.

Tubelight · Jan 22, 2010

True, Kiranmadhu, too much is being rammed down the little throats. It is really agonising to think that childhood, which is supposed to be carefree and happy, has become so full of cares and depression.
A thought about the TV shows meant for kids : More than the little ones, its the parents who get all worked up , so we can imagine what they would be subjecting their kids to at home, just to win some stupid trophy and 15 mins, of fame ! Parents need education. Its criminal to be allowed to have kids if one cannot give them real childhood.

Thanks for writing in.

skchivukula · Jan 26, 2010

Hi Tubelight
I think this is the impact of media on the young minds. Added to that in this generation the families have become child-centred. And parents have to listen to their kids not like olden youngsters obeying n respecting the elders - I think - 'gone are those days'
But anyway I personally feel that love, care, concern, compassion and affection can bring about a change in this generation kids.

Tubelight · Jan 30, 2010

Hi Skchivukula
Thank you for the response and sorry for delay in acknowledging your kind post.
What you say is absolutely true. Prents are giving in too much to tantrums of kids in order to earn the name "good parents" ! How wrong they are !

Whatever the corrupting influences of the outside world are, its of utmost importance for Parents to create and nourish a close, friendly, trusting relationship with children. We parents cannot shift blame on media and bad company. Responsible parenting and firm guidance have no substitute.