NOVEMBER is designated as The National Children's Month. It resulted from the adaption of the Convention on the Right of the Child (CBC) by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989.
According to the Unicef report, the state of the world's children is marked by vulnerabilities especially in poor countries riddled with conflicts and natural deaths. Some children show the deprivation they suffer to lose the joy of childhood with the brutal environs.
The example are the children involved in the Marawi City siege, they suffered the worst impact of displacements. Some separated from their families. This affects their health, education, their right to have fun and play as only children can.
The psycho-social effects on the children who witness the horrors of the conflicts are tremendous. Efforts have been exerted by the physiological and psychological experts' interventions in dealing with the children traumatized in the Marawi siege. They offered temporary school buildings to let the children resume their studies. They were given free time where they enjoy games and contests with prizes. Prizes were treasured, new friends were found.
After these activities the horrors and trauma of the bombings and fires, the dangerous escapes through peace corridors where they may be killed by misguided missiles were somehow assuaged.
The crowded evacuation centers offer little relief. Separation from loved ones is mind boggling. The crowded centers predisposed them to diseases, sanitation is found wanting. Medical attention was given but not enough. They lack doctors and medicines. They lack comfort rooms.
Another salient fact I want to tackle here is on the pros and cons of using electronic gadgets as tablets, IPads, internet connections, games and puzzles' boards. The children are getting addicted to these without knowing the ill effects of these to one's health. Do not sleep with your gadget near you. The electromagnetic waves continue to affect your brain. No children should be allowed liberal use of these gadgets. Educators prohibit use of these in the classroom.
I was alarmed when I heard the President wanting to give tablets to students instead of textbooks. My reaction was a big NO. Do not stunt the mind of a student by letting it stop thinking, reasoning to acquire new knowledge. I remember failing in a test in Biology using the internet. There were 10 questions and I did not get 100 percent. The gadget did not accept synonyms. You must think like it. The terms were sex cells and gametes. Both are correct but the gadget wants sex cells as answer so my gametes was marked wrong.
In Math your calculator answers for you so you will never learn your multiplication operations. The Department of Education (Deped) must have rulings on set age limits where the kids should not use gadgets.
Another important principle involving growing children is their health. I will expound on the problem of malnourished children, especially among the poor. It was found out that children in grades 1, 2, and 3 are grossly malnourished and this affects their learning. A study was conducted on a group of malnourished kids. Their weights were recorded as well as their standing in class. They were given a feeding program research. They were fed with noodles, egg, and a glass of milk for 120 days. After this they improved their weights and performed better in class. This led to the practice of feeding programs in schools for poor children.
With these facts concerning the proper care for our children, we have learned how to let our children grow in a wholesome, peaceful, healthy, caring and loving atmosphere. Family life is important.
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