The document features a compilation of students' reflections on the importance of adult understanding in fostering children's development, emphasizing the need for communication, empathy, and a supportive environment. Children express a desire for adults to listen without judgment, encourage creativity, and validate their feelings to help them thrive academically and emotionally. A call to action is made for adults to bridge the gap in understanding, which would lead to improved relationships and a more compassionate society.

1. A
s a teen myself, I have had countless
experiences with my parents when I
really wanted something, but they
simply refused. What if you wanted it for
something important, something they didn't
understand the purpose of? For example, you
might have had an exam that you performed
poorly on; most parents motivate you and make
you perform better next time, but very few adults
do not see the cause of the poor performance and
punish their children. Let's move on. As most of us know, one
of the most prestigious jobs was working as a doctor or as an
engineer, and this skyrocketed in popularity during the
2000s. Millions of students aspired to work
as doctors or engineers, but even more
PARENTS wanted their children to pur-
sue these careers. This placed a burden on most students who
did not have ideas of ever working in the field of medicine or
engineering. The idea of pursuing a career that the society
thought was good suppressed the passion for other careers in stu-
dents. What if adults REALLY understood children? How different would
that be? First of all, there would be a variety of careers fueled by many
students' passions that adults might have usually refused to. There
would be fewer misunderstandings between children and adults.
Parents who understand their children's situations can aid or counsel
them to improve their children's performance or behavior. Just some words
of encouragement from understanding parents can allow children to excel academi-
cally and become better individuals in the future. If adults and children strengthen
their understanding, the future will be brighter than ever!
Happy Children's Day!
K. P.SREERAM, Class IX, The Indian Public School, Cambridge- Erode
K
ids are the foundation of our society’s future. They
depend on adults for guidance, care and support. Even
though they are small, they have their own emotions.
The kids should be free to share their thoughts and emo-
tions with the adults. Adults should establish an atmos-
phere of trust among kids. They should spend quality
time with the kids so that they can strengthen their
bonds. Healthy relationship promotes emotional stabili-
ty. Adults should focus on teaching the kids who made
any mistakes rather than punishing them. Adults should lis-
ten to the kids whenever they share something with them.
When the adults start listening to them, the kids feel free to talk to them without any
hesitation. The kids not only need food, shelter and education from adults but also
the care, good behaviour and proper guidance. They should encourage the kids’ crea-
tivity and thinking skills. They are naturally curious and their ques-
tions may be annoying but it is their attempt to understand the world.
The children who receive positive behaviour and support develop bet-
ter skills and academic performance. By this, the kids could develop
their confidence, creativity and strengthen relationships with adults.
JANANI V , CLASS XII, ELGI SCHOOL , VELLALORE
W
e may not always have the right words, but in our
silence, countless questions wait to be under-
stood. Behind every smile, tantrum, and tear, if
you listen closely, lies the story of our world. Take a
moment to see things from our point of view. Talk to us in
a way that ensures our attention. Make eye contact and
speak in a clear, calm tone. Speaking loudly often feels
authoritative and its easy for us to feel overwhelmed by
’can’t’ , ‘don’t’ , or ‘no’. We may act without fully under-
standing why, and constant questioning can make us shut
down. We perform best when we feel in control. Rather
than directing us, stay by our side and guide us—we
won’t let you down. Please don’t keep repeating the
rules; we will remember. When you do, we lose
focus. Explain why something matters to keep us
engaged. We look to you as a role model and a
listener, so make your interac-
tions with us approachable and
understanding. We mirror your
actions, not just your words.
ADITHYA V, Class XI
Yuvabharathi Public School
A
dults understanding kids! Wouldn’t that be nice?
As kids, we all long for understanding from our
parents or grownups in general, just somebody
who listens and understands.I personally think adults
don’t fully understand the complex minds of children.
Instead all that we want them to do is to try. Being a kid
is hard, especially with parents who do not ‘understand’
On the other hand, being an adult is not very easy
either. Adults often think they can read the minds of
children since they were once us, but that’s not really
the case. Every child is different, with different needs
and various expectations. In my opinion, a kid just wants
adults to be there for them and have their backs. The
extremes are never good. Being a very strict or control-
ling adult or being ‘such an easy- going careless adult is
not what we expect. Basically to avoid both the
extremes and being a very level headed, balanced adult
is, in my opinion, the best way to try and understand
children. Instead of drowning kids in their own expecta-
tions and suffocating young minds, adults need to know
when to let go, so their kids can rise to the top and
shine brighter than ever expected. On the other hand,
not believing in your child is somewhat
worse. In a nutshell, communicate with
your off springs, love them uncondition-
ally and try to be understanding. That’s
all kids ever want.
LAKSHITHA VENTHAN I ,
Class IX ,
Suguna PIP School
Volume 14, Issue 271 Regn No: TNENG/2011/39712 Published by R. J. Prakashan on behalf of Bennet, Coleman Co.Ltd., Kochar Tower, 19, Venkatnarayana Road, Theagaraya Nagar, Chennai 600017, and Printed by him at Colour Graphics Pvt. Ltd., SF 514/1 Seerapalayam Village, Echanari Post, Karpagam Circle,
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It’s not just a place where you get to learn Einstein’s Theory
of Relativity. It’s also a place where you can think beyond
the classroom. Hence we say, SCHOOL IS COOL
SCHOOL IS COOL
03
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024
I
f adults truly understood what it’s like to be a
kid today, I think they’d realize that we need
more than just rules and expectations. We
need them to see that life can feel overwhelm-
ing with school, activities, and all the changes
we go through. Sometimes, we just need a
little more freedom to be ourselves and to
make mistakes without judgment.I wish
adults understood how important it is for
us to feel heard. It’s not always easy to
put our thoughts into words, but having
someone listen patiently makes a huge dif-
ference. If adults took time to understand
our feelings, maybe they’d realize that.
ASHWATH . P , Class IX, PSG Sarvajana HSS
I
n an ideal world, adults would truly understand
children—how they think, feel,
and experience the world.
While adults often strive to
guide, protect, and teach, they
sometimes fail to see things
from a child's perspective.
Children live in a world of emo-
tions, rapid growth, and constant
learning. If adults could fully understand them, it could
create a more compassionate, supportive, and effective
environment for their development.One of the key rea-
sons adults often struggle to under- stand kids is
the difference in life experience. Adults
have lived longer, seen more of the
world, and developed more
sophisticated ways of
thinking. Children, on the
other hand, are just begin- ning
to understand themselves and their
place in the world. A child's feel- ings and
thoughts can be intense and confus- ing, often misun-
derstood as irrational or impulsive by adults. If
adults were able to empathize with the emotional com-
plexity of childhood, they might be better equipped to
guide children through these intense moments. For
instance, children often experience emotions in a raw
and unfiltered way. A minor issue, like losing a toy or
facing a difficult school assignment, might seem
trivial to an adult, but it can feel like the
end of the world for a child. If adults
understood this, they would respond
with more patience and care, validating
the child’s emotions rather than dis-
missing them. They could offer reassur-
ance, help them process their feelings, and
teach them emotional resilience. Communication would
also be much clearer. When adults understand the way
children express themselves—whether through
words, behavior, or actions—they can
better respond in ways that
encourage healthy dialogue.
Children may not always
have the
vocabulary to articulate their feelings, but they
express a lot through their actions. Adults
who pay attention to these subtle cues
would be able to respond more effectively
and avoid misunderstandings. Moreover,
adults’ expectations of children would be
more realistic. Children are constantly
learning and growing, and their development
is not linear. They make mistakes, they test
boundaries, and they need time and guidance to learn
what is right. If adults understood that mistakes are an
important part of this process, they would be less likely to
react with frustration or punishment. Instead, they could
offer constructive feedback, understanding that growth
often comes through trial and error. Lastly, if adults could
understand children better, they might become
better advocates for them. Whether in the class-
room, at home, or in the community, adults who
truly understand children’s needs and challeng-
es can work to create better spaces for
them to thrive. They would be able to
make deci- sions that support chil-
dren’s emo- tional, social, and aca-
demic development, rather
than solely focusing on rules and
compliance. In conclusion, if adults
could truly understand kids, the
world would be a better place for children to
grow up in. They would feel heard, valued, and sup-
ported in their development. Adults, in turn, would have the
opportunity to guide children in a way that fosters a deeper
connection and prepares them for the challenges
of adulthood. By bridging the gap between child-
hood and adulthood through understanding, we
can build a stronger, more empathetic society
for everyone.
THARAN , Class XI ,
Sri Vinayaga Vidyalaya Sr. Sec. School
RESPECT
US FOR
WHO WE ARE
L
ife is different for everyone.
Our maturation differs from
that of others, as does the
way we live. The one thing we all
have in common is that we are all
born into the world and getting old
is inevitable. We must eventually
accept the harsh and bitter reality,
no matter how delusional we are.
We become adults not only by age,
but also by how we spent our form-
ative years. Every adult looks at
this world with their own perspec-
tive. Experiences from our child-
hood, especially traumatic ones,
shape our perspective. Adults only
want to break the cursed chain of
trauma by raising and nurturing
their next generation in a safe and
reliable environment, with their
own perspective and dreams of
parenting and guiding. However,
what adults frequently fail to real-
ize is that the upcoming genera-
tion is very different, both mental-
ly and emotionally. Even if they live
in a safe and nurtured environment
at home, they experience how the
world truly works when they step
outside, like at school. Some of
these experiences can be traumat-
ic. The next generation should feel
secure enough to open up, and
adults should create not only a
safe and reliable environment, but
also a judgment free one. Adults
have their own perspectives and
understandings of life, built
through years of experience.
However, it is equally important
for adults to be open to learning
from the experiences of the next
generation as well. "Understanding
and Not Judging" must be a core
principle for the adults of this gen-
eration if they want to
help the next genera-
tion make the world a
better place to live in.
J MANO JOEL SHELTON ,
Class XI
ELGI School
eration if they want to
help the next genera-
tion make the world a
better place to live in.
J MANO JOEL SHELTON
Class XI
ELGI School
RESPECT
US FOR
WHO WE ARE
children express themselves—whether through
words, behavior, or actions—they can hood and adulthood through understanding, we
can build a stronger, more empathetic society
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
IF ADULTS REALLY
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
UNDERSTOOD KIDS
This Children’s Day students from across the city share their
thoughts about what they need the most from grown ups and
their expectations from the adults. Read on to find out…
I
t is not easy to praise young children’s
words. When adults listen to children
they often use strategies based on their
expectations and previous experiences.
Understanding children can be challenging
for adults for several reasons like, children
and adults often perceive the world differ-
ently. Children are still developing cognitive
and emotional skills, which means they may
express thoughts and feelings in ways that
seem illogical or simplistic to adults.
Children go through various developmental
stages, each with distinct ways of thinking
and behaving. Adults may struggle to adapt
their expectations and responses to these
changing behaviour as children grow. To
bridge this gap, adults can work on active
listening, being open to a child’s perspec-
tive, and fostering an environment where
children feel safe to express themselves.
Engaging in play, asking open-ended
questions, and practicing empathy can
also enhance understanding. Often we the
children will hear “you’ll understand
when you’re older” by adults. Children
are like helpless passengers riding on a
confusing world. They must trust the
adults know what they’re doing. You
don’t need to pretend you know what
you’re doing, but at least present a
calm confidence that you can
figure it out. By framing it
this way, adults and chil-
dren, both
can under-
stand each other.
G. SHANJANAA SHREE ,
Class IX – D
VENKATALAKSHMI
MATRIC. HR. SEC. SCHOOL
I
f every adult truly understood us kids,
they would listen without judgment and
encourage creativity. Adults would set
realistic goals, fostering success and confi-
dence. They would explain rules, ensuring
kids’ safety and understanding.When adults
genuinely hear and value kids, we become:
- Confident and fulfilled
- Happy and supported
- Understood and valued
We,as kids, crave love, affection, and sup-
port from adults. We would want adults in
our lives to actively involve themselves and
engage with us kids, showing interest in
our lives. They should encourage expres-
sion and listen attentively to us. We would
love to get hugs and smiles from them
every now and then and so their gentle
touch. They should praise our efforts and
accomplishments. We should not be pun-
ished.Instead,we should be given construc-
tive guidance. And we should be taught
self-awareness, empathy.
IN THIS WAY:
- emotional growth is fostered
- trust and rapport is built
- creativity and exploration is encouraged
- And resilience and confidence is built up
in us kids
We humbly suggest to all the
adults in our lives that they
create a supportive, loving
environment where
we kids can thrive.
SUDHEEKSHA,
Class VII ,
Green Field
International School,
Dharapuram
BE NON JUDGEMENTAL LISTEN TO US……
CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR US
BRIDGE THE GENERATION GAP
STAND BY OUR SIDE
AND GUIDE US
ENCOURAGE US TO
ENCOURAGE US TO
ENCOURAGE US TO
ENCOURAGE US TO
ENCOURAGE US TO
ENCOURAGE US TO
TAKE THE PATH
TAKE THE PATH
TAKE THE PATH
LESS TRAVELLED
LESS TRAVELLED
LESS TRAVELLED
LESS TRAVELLED
LESS TRAVELLED
LESS TRAVELLED
KEEP COMMUNICATION
KEEP COMMUNICATION
KEEP COMMUNICATION
KEEP COMMUNICATION
KEEP COMMUNICATION
KEEP COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS OPEN
CHANNELS OPEN
CHANNELS OPEN
CHANNELS OPEN
CHANNELS OPEN
CHANNELS OPEN
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC
BE MORE EMPATHETIC