Give children the space to play and they will not be delinquent

Playing children

 
Palestinian children play at a beach in Gaza City, on November 18, 2020.

Photo credit: Mohamed Abed | AFP

What you need to know:

  • But the delinquent teenagers are hosted and given food, drugs and alcohol by adults.
  • The thousands of pregnant teens were defiled by adults.

Every time teenagers trend in this country, it is for one wrong reason or another. The most recent one has been teenagers disappearing, only to be found partying. Some are never found.

And in all the cases, we wonder what's wrong with this generation. Have parents become softer? Is it the absence from school that is causing this indiscipline?

As we try to get to the bottom of it, what is the society's role in a child's life? The community one grows up in plays a big role in the kind of adult they become. It influences the values they hold dear, the hopes and dreams they carry and their attitude towards others. Yet we all leave parents and teachers to work on it alone.

But the delinquent teenagers are hosted and given food, drugs and alcohol by adults. The thousands of pregnant teens were defiled by adults. It is high time, instead of beating 15-year-olds for thinking and behaving 15, and instead face the 30-year-olds luring them into vices.

Energy and curiosity

It is normal for a teenager to have energy and curiosity that cannot be exhausted by household chores. But where are the avenues in our communities for them to use the extra energy? Where are the libraries, playing fields, free computer cafes?

Where can they sing, dance, compose and act plays and movies? Where in our villages and towns can teens go to express their creativity when not in school?

It is time we stopped viewing teenagers as problems that need to be solved. Look where that has landed us. Teenage is a stage of development that we need to prepare for as a society.

Parents and teachers alone won't hack that. So the next time your ward rep or MP comes around, consider asking for social amenities for these energetic teenagers, and see their behaviour improve drastically.