What Is A Child?

What is a child? It’s hard to say
For concepts and beliefs
Vary so much from here to there
In time span and relief

A “social actor” some may say
With ideas of their own
Or maybe childhood simply is
A construct all alone

A definition of the young
That’s made to represent
The way non-adults operate
And their development

Development that wax and wanes
With patterns that reveal
A change towards more organised
Not just the way they feel

Debated through biology
And the environment
Traced back to the great minds of old
Philosophy’s intent

And so what is a child you ask?
A question that implores
The quest to look at social traits
Genes, culture and much more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference: Woodhead, M. (2005). ‘Children and Development’ in Oates, J. Wood, C. Grayson, A. (eds) Psychological Development and Early Childhood, Milton Keynes: Open University

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A Biased Coup

I woke this morning and measured
Whether, I am a child
For yesterday when shopping out
VAT on my bill was filed
Yes filed, I say, on school clothes
Those things we have to wear
In compulsory education
For ‘children’ everywhere!

And yet I’m not an adult
Til 18 years are reached
Or is that so, for I have heard
By 16 rules are breached
And adult rates are then charged
On buses and much more
And sex is legal so I’m told
But not voting says the law

So now at fourteen years of age
Confusion is quite rife
For I’m an adult in my clothes
But don’t get the adult life!
And then by sixteen they’ll charge me
The adult fare – it’s true
Yet I won’t be an adult then –
Well ain’t that a biased coup!

To put this in context, I have just found out that value added tax, which is supposed to be zero on children’s clothes, is actually charged at the full 20% on all school uniform (and other clothes) for children over the age of 13 in the UK which effectively renders school uniform for key stage 4 as adult clothes!!!

English: British school children in London, England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Think Before You Speak

My Mum said “Hey the sky is blue”
My Dad “The grass is green”
And Gran said “Look there sits a cat”
And Teacher “That’s the Queen”
And Mrs Smith just down the road
Said “What a horrid day”
And each one always tells the truth
They mean just what they say

Then to me Mum said “How stupid”
And Dad said “Hey, silly”
And Gran said “Be good for your Mum”
And Teacher “So naughty”
And Mrs Smith just down the road
Said “What an ugly view”
So if they all tell me the truth
They must mean me not you!

For as we know the sky is blue
The grass is always green
And I know Gran did see that cat
My teacher saw the queen
So I guess I must be stupid
And silly or not good
And naughty or just plain ugly
For the truth is understood!

An icon illustrating a parent and child (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Childlike Eyes

Let’s look and see with childlike eyes
Regard for one more time
And view the world the way we once
Saw everything sublime
When all was bright and brilliant
And everything was new
The simplest thing gave such delight
Enchanted senses too

The joy of seeing snowflakes fall
Or robins in the tree
The love of getting our first glimpse
Of waves down by the sea
The wildest buzz and marvel of
Clouds flying in the blue
The kick of visions wonderful
Where webs were laced in dew

Let’s gaze upon the butterfly
Emerging from cocoon
Or lightning bolt streak cross the sky
See changing shape of moon
Light up our faces one more time
Like young eyes shine brightly
Lest else the mist of time obscures
Visual acuity

Adolescence

If you ask a teenager anything
There’s one thing they will agree
That the older generation
Don’t have sex but just drink tea
For they think they’re really all too old
And only dare partake
In cordial conversation or
At most a small hand shake

And as for these adolescents’ parents
Well heaven must forbid
The thought of their mums and dads at parties
Come on! Their oldies surely never lived!
And when it comes to sporting prowess,
The games and medals won
The muffin tops and double chins
Suggest those times are now long gone!

Whilst the stories from the old days
Get taken with a pinch of salt
Any idea that a parent comprehends
Is “totes weird” as a default!
And forget empathy and understanding
When parents want the best
For a teen perception takes this to mean
We’ll hound you like a pest

So to all parents rearing teenagers
If you want to still relate
Look at their now and future
For your past is out of date
And smile just oh so quietly
Cos there’s one thing to admit
That years ago you said the same
When you were young and fit!

 

Audio visual:  Please click here http://youtu.be/H33mB-CDAi8