Bright Sparkes | Summer etiquette for children
Published:Thursday | July 28, 2016 | 12:00 AM
It's summertime and with that comes the young folks out and about doing their thing. I'm all for having fun and enjoying your summer, but what I'm not for is anyone participating in any behaviour that devalues them or their growth, not to mention that could lead to violence. Here are a few habits that I have noticed that young people engage in, and they intensify when the summertime hits. This is a short list. If you see young people engaging in there, feel free to tap them on the shoulder, especially if the young ones are your children.
HAVING YOUR YOUNG CHILD DRESSED LIKE A THUG
I hate to see toddlers and young boys walking around in the summertime with their pants sagging and no shirt on. Ensure that your little boys put a shirt on. It doesn't matter how hot it is. There is no need for a five- or six-year-old to be shirtless outside of his house. At this point you probably choose his clothing. He does not need to mimic the older boys in this fashion. The truth is many of the older boys who do dress in this way are not the best role models to mimic.
CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN THE HOUSE
At a certain time of night, there is no need for your child to be outside hanging out with you and your friends. This type of erratic schedule is what limits children and prevents them from being able to maintain a regular schedule when they are older. Or it prevents them from assimilating into a responsible member of society. They are unable to adjust to going to bed at a certain time and waking up in time to start their day because you never showed them how.
THE CORNER
Get your teenagers away from the corners of streets late at night. I repeat, please forbid your kids from hanging out at all hours of the night. Why? This is the time and place where foolish things happen. Sometimes that foolishness leads to fighting or even violence.
Summertime is the ultimate celebration for children. They want to soak up as much fun as possible. We should, however, make sure that our fun doesn't come at the expense of someone else's.
To keep your children focused during the summer, Bright Sparkes Summer Camp is fun, exciting, and educational. Contact us for further information.