Child Supervision

The world is changing so fast that in such a state of flux, the time of innocence comes for just a fraction. The exposure the children get through media and the peer group is really an infromation overload which is not censored. Worse, they have to survive believing in their own legend. This leads to widespread experimenting with everything drugs, sex and indulgence of every fantasy. Most serials I see the kids watching have one kiss in one minute and reinforce couple behavior whether it is the Tom and Jery carton or any of the new serial on television.

Attitudes are changing and sexuality is no longer taboo, but there is a new catch phase. Girls like campliments, like, you are sexy rather than, you are pretty. Take an innocent food like icecream. The very strap line of an icecream brand is, 'pleasure up' and it's being touted sexually.

Psychiatrists insist that all parties, even an innocent 13-14 year-old's brithday party, must have adult supervision. That's the only way parents can guide them in a world of changing multiple attarations. "Sensitive, frank communication is the key to healthy relationships where childeren learn the difference of what is cool and what is not. Early sex educatioin reduces sexual activity and encourages those who have indulged in early sexual activity towards safer sex. Howerver, most parents think it is the job of the school and ofter believe that their kids know more than he or she should, through constant media exposure. This is really a myth. No amount of titilation provided in the media can bridge the old fashioned talks parents need to have with their children about their bodies and sexuality".

Psychiatrists admit that exposure to media images adds to titillating immagination, leading to experimentation of all sorts. What make matters worse is parental attitude. Very offen. parents think and say, "My kid will never do drings, drugs or experiment sexually." Such an attitude leads to a lot of hidden experimenting and internal frustration. More importantly, in the fast-changing world, parents are at sea on how to deal with their growing childeren who have moved away for the benchmark that the parents had as kids."

If we look at what is now being touted on television as entertainment, the message is clear. Music videos tout bodily expressiion. Then there is fashion, beauty contest and reality television and a whole gamut of entertainment that exist with a large does of violence and the supernatural.

The main challenge now is to fashion a high decibel campaign that brings about 'intelligent persuasion,'censorship regulation and community participation. Till such a regulation emerges, the' spring reaction' of the new-found sexual fredom touted in the media is bound to stretch and cover grounds that till now have been able to retain themselves as conventional. Not instilling maturity and sensitivisty towards their sexuality, psychologists say, "will be like giving the emerging young generation their own car sans brakes and traffic rules."