My Views On Children Should Be Seen And Not Heard

Growing up in a time when the phrase ‘children should be seen and not heard’ was the norm of the day, really pains me. I am almost ashamed to admit that my parents would proudly declare that they could take me anywhere and I would stay put and not be a burden to anyone. My upbringing was very distant; I was not close to my parents and have been estranged from them for many years. This however has not been the path that I chose for my family; it has in fact compelled me to be the total opposite. I honestly believe that due to my upbringing, I use the term loosely here, that I found it so repulsive and hard to fathom that anyone could treat a child with such disdain that I vowed I would never repeat this behaviour. I was never valued, my opinions never taken seriously, well I was never asked, if I am totally honest. I was always told how to act, how to think and how I should behave. I was given no explanations, just do as I say and don’t ask questions, a very stiff upper lip British upbringing.
Seeing children as true citizens, who are entitled to the privileges of the country they are born into or reside, seems very natural to me now and why shouldn’t they be? Despite their age and inability to vote or discuss and understand the complexities of their society, children do have rights as true citizens. They do, after all have opinions, worries, hopes and dreams for their future. They may not express them in the way an adult might, however they do contribute to their community, family and educational settings through curriculums that encourage and support children’s agency (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) for the Council of Australian Governments, 2009). Growing up was not what I would cal...

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... of the vast diversity that families bring to a community; some may be in stark contrast to our own beliefs and practices. Allowing children to care for their siblings without adult supervision may seem abhorrent and tantamount to child abuse, however, we must be mindful that our views are just that, they are our own personal views. Personal prejudices and actions can greatly impact the learning and development of the children we educate and care for. This can be seen as being extremely ignorant and disrespectful to families and their communities (Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2011).
Children are active citizens and involved learners; it is my duty to continually support and respect all children and families regardless of their beliefs and personal circumstances. I need to continually reflect on my actions views and professional practices.