Kids hardly spend 1 hour with their parents: ALL LADIES LEAGUE
Over 65% of students between the age of 8-24 spend less than 1 hours with their parents due to working absent parents, busy with household chores which could severely tend to aloof, introvert, impatient and intolerant, according to a study brought out under the auspices of ALL.
Releasing ALL report on “Rising Youth Intolerance?,??? jointly by Dr. Harbeen Arora, Chairperson, ALL LADIES LEAGUE , Ms. Yashodhra Raje Scindia, MPs, Dr. Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, Ms. Urvashi Butalia, Director & Co-founder , Kali for Woman, Dr. Kavita A. Sharma, Director, India International Centre elaborated the factors behind the increasing evidence of youth intolerance and violence in daily life and also highlighted the consequences.
While addressing the conference in New Delhi on May 7, 2013, Dr. Harbeen Arora, Global Chairperson, ALL, said, “Since violence and abuse emerge from complex causes, we require participation of multiple stakeholders in addressing the issue.??? She further added, “The practices of responding to complaints and victims must become more sensitive and supportive, and civil society is ready to help in such endeavors.???
Among the respondents to the study, a maximum number of them agreed that they spend less than one hour with their parents, reason being, that both their parents are either working or busy with household chores. Children who spend less time with their parents tend to be aloof, are introvert and have less social skills which in turn make them impatient and intolerant, add the study.
Its serious findings are mind boggling as majority of working couple said “today’s working pressures have intensified so much that they have to stay back in their respective offices for more than 2 hours to finish off their daily and routine assignments.???
Hon’ble MP, Smt. Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that the police should involve NGOs, civil society, experts in medicine, and psychiatrist at the complaint stage to provide physical, emotional and financial support to victims. She said, “Civil society can come forward and support the police by volunteering expert services like that of doctors, psychiatrists and counselors for a more caring involvement with community.???
This amounts to reaching home much late in the evening and leaving home much earlier for office and its consequences have reflection only on children as with growing number of nuclear families, there is none to look after the children in their absence, adds the Assocham study.
“The study also found that when parents are out, children are more prone to turn on their electronic gadgets such as TV, mobile phones, i-Pad, computer games, DVD etc which can keep them mentally agile,??? adds Dr. Arora.
The study highlighted the fact that majority of youth spend less time in and with their families resulting in estranged relationships. Most of the respondents rarely shared any problems with their parents. Thus, problems of communication, inadequate expression and lack of parental support, have been identified as relevant factors associated with behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Youngsters who don’t discuss important matters at home are often misguided by outsiders, which, adds to severity of the problem rather than resolving it.
Among the respondents to the study, 41% had a sibling, while 32% were the only kids of their parents. The survey has shown that children who are brought up with their siblings have good communication and social skills apart from that they also develop feelings of sharing and caring and are more tolerant towards others.
“Abuse and violence in families not only affects the psyche of a child but also hinders growth and development. Children from homes where domestic violence is occurring are also more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and tend to be intolerant and impatient???, adds the Assocham study.
Nearly 72% of kids aged 8 to 14 have some kind of electronic device, especially among metropolitan which can lead to negative outcomes, reveals the Assocham survey. The post effects such as social isolation, insomnia, depression, anxiety, obesity and it also affects mental health of an individual.
An aspect which emerged out of this survey is that children of working parents are found to be more technology addictive in the absence of parental supervision, as compared to those whose single parent is engaged in employment. This trend is abundant in metros where normally both the parents are employed, reveals the survey.
Easy availability of technology with lack of parental supervision is a significant reason for this ever-increasing menace of technology addiction, highlights the survey.
Youngsters need to be informed of the negative effects of excessive technology use on their sleep-wake patterns, attention and cognitive problems and the associated serious health risks.
The report recommends that youth in schools and colleges should be engaged in community development work, as it will sensitize them to the great diversity of society and develop compassionate attitudes towards women and children.
Ms. Urvashi Butalia said, “Rape and sexual assault are not merely ‘women’s issues,’ they are a symbol of the deep-seated violence that women and other marginalized people experience every day in our society. So a mindset change is required and there’s a need for inculcating values for respecting women in our education and culture???
Dr. Kavita Sharma emphasized the need for a specialized program at primary school level to provide training in safe behavior and skills to children so that they can report any sexual advances by the perpetrator. She further added, “We need to educate our young children to be aware of their sexuality so that they will have the courage to deter those with negative intentions. Most of children do not know about this.???
Dr. Pinky Anand suggested for setting up a dedicated NGO of legal experts and psychiatrists to provide free legal and support services to the victims of sexual assaults, and those who are experiencing any other kind of violence.