{"id":1396,"date":"2010-03-15T14:47:59","date_gmt":"2010-03-15T12:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=1396"},"modified":"2022-06-23T11:21:21","modified_gmt":"2022-06-23T09:21:21","slug":"children-innately-grasp-what-their-rights-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/childrens-rights\/children-innately-grasp-what-their-rights-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Children innately grasp what their “Rights” are"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been thinking about how I could teach my toddler a moral lesson or two in the build up to Human Rights Day.\u00a0 On reflection I think he has already grasped the principle rather well.<\/p>\n

You see, where adults tainted by years of existence and trying to remind themselves of, and regain, what they are due \u2013 children have a polar opposite approach and first claim what they think is rightfully theirs and the job is left to parents and caregivers to pry back what they can.\u00a0 Kids expect to have a roof over their heads, food when they\u2019re hungry, refreshment when they\u2019re thirsty and the means to purchase whatever is required. A very \u2018can-do\u2019 attitude. Good for them – lifetime of management for us.<\/p>\n

We are hardly allowed to say \u2018bad words\u2019 to our son never mind threaten him with his life (\u201cMom, only bad people say those words\u201d). A friend of mine has a 6 year old who actually told her mom that she would be depriving her of an education if she didn\u2019t allow her to go to school even if she has a cough!<\/p>\n

When our 4 year old asks \u201cdo you love me?\u201d we\u2019ve also learnt that while replying with an affirmative \u2018yes\u2019\u00a0 or \u2018of course\u2019 is not only short sighted on our part but also showing lack of insight gained in our nearly 5 years of parenting.\u00a0 You see, when Michael does this he has generally been up to some sort of mischief or devil-may-care \u2013 and he knows it (the joys of being raised with a Catholic conscience)!<\/p>\n

There was an incident when his dad threatened him with the wrath of mom for spraying pool water into the lounge. From behind the bedroom curtain there came a voice \u201cmom, do you love me?\u201d\u00a0 to which I devotedly replied \u201cyes, I love you very much\u201d.\u00a0 There was an audible sigh before he came happily traipsing through my room to his dad as if he was wearing an invisible force shield.<\/p>\n

He has this innate sense that \u2018someone\u2019 should be looking out for him and that he is protected by some fundamental privileges. He is right. Isn\u2019t that the premise of the declaration of human rights?<\/p>\n

In our experience the article most requiring some effort to entrench would be the first one; it says that \u201call human beings are born with equal rights and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood\u201d; you try explaining that to a toddler on a playground\u2026<\/p>\n

Happy Human Rights Day everyone!<\/p>\n

Note: If you enjoyed this article, and would like to stay updated with more, you can:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n