We do live in an era of pressures of umpteen varieties in which peer-pressure is the first one to come and make a tie-up with us.  As it affects the child hood and adolescence, the most sensitive stage of life, and as no child is immune to peer-pressure, it has significant role in molding and defining the cultural and behavioral standards of a person. VISHAL. L. talks about the negative as well as positive aspects of peer pressure that plays a sink-or-swim proportion in a kid’s life.

A peer is an equal who is in one’s own age group. Pressure is that you experience when you are pushed towards making a certain choice that may be good or bad.

Peer pressure is what you experience when some one of your age is pushing you towards making a certain choice good or bad.

In other words peer pressure is experienced when friends persuade you to do something that you are not desirous to do. Peer pressure can be positive or negative. It comes into one’s life in various ways –- when friends forces us to take part in sports or some extra- curricular activities in school because they feel we have the ability for the same — when we get together for a community service or a religious gathering — when we help each other in studies and try some new hobbies because our friends insist us to do so.

However, negative peer pressure is more wide spread and forceful than positive peer pressure.  Peer pressure often prompts good children to make unwanted or bad choices. Studies say that over 87% of children all over the world give in to peer pressure one time or another!!

Among smaller children the influences are based on peer identification.  The things they carry to school, for instance, if almost having the particular ‘Scooby Day ‘ bag or ‘Popy’ umbrella, we want nothing else other than the mentioned brands. Advertisers and manufacturers seem to know and exploit this psychology too well and they cash in on the same. Peer pressure influences the food habits and even the ways of speech. At this juncture, the parents’ role is brawny. They should monitor their children’s habits and guide them properly at the right pitch and right time.

As children move into early adolescence, their peer relations expand and replace the family in occupying the pivotal role in their lives.  The peer group often becomes the platform for experimentations and discussions regarding their new identity.

This is the time they kick start their awful activities and behaviors like less respect for elders, parents and teachers – cutting classes and engage in ragging or bullying – trying a puff of cigarette or/and a peg of liquor and like..

Unfortunately some of the above mentioned deviations become a hard-core habit which thence forth leads their life forward.  Every child is susceptible to the phenomenon of peer pressure, but certain some are at higher risk for falling into it. They are the children with lack of self confidence and low self esteem. They won’t have a way or goal to strive for and this may lead them to a state of depression.

At this point, along with the parents, teachers also should play the role of a real guardian monitoring this ‘high-risk group’ and intervening into their goings at the right time.

Once the children give in to peer-pressure they experience a roller coaster ride of emotions ranging from guilt and anxiety to sadness.  This may even lead to suicidal tendencies. So we should find a way to get out of this snare of negative peer pressure by making use of all possible means.

At first parents and teachers should try to create an environment that motivates a child to communicate openly without fear when faced with a problem. Once a child approaches an elderly person whom he trusts, he can help him see the reality and focus what is right.  Children should be guided to make wise selection regarding their peer circle.

Parents can brief their children about the peer group with which they can be involved –

They can ask their children not to associate with the school-bullies under normal circumstances. They can make the kids realize the righteous and understanding ones as their best friends.

Choosing the right peer group is an important step in fighting the unwanted peer pressure.

So friends, we should realize that peer pressure works only if we allow it to get into us. When we refuse and assert ourselves it bosses power. You should remember that we have the innate power to keep the negative pressures away from us.

VISHAL.L.,  Class XI, Sri Satya Sai Higher Secondary School, Prasanthi Nilayam, Anantapur

No wonder that Tiger, the majestic beast be the National Animal of India. But what is amazing that we are unable to protect or preserve even these stately species under our canopy. We have been heard of it since our childhood, we have been adored it for all these years, we have been scared of it even if it is behind the bars. Here, Shruthi Parasuram, a tenth standard student from Kerala,highlights the distressing plight of this ‘royal ambush’, which is under the threats of ebb and ‘who cares’ attitude as to a back-end and left to survive only in the national parks .

Just 1411 left..

During the past few weeks, we’ve been coming across this title in most of the newspapers, magazines and posters. But I wonder, how many have taken this nudge seriously? .Right from my childhood, I’ve been taught by my parents and teachers that Tiger is the national animal of our country. I remember myself telling “wow!” staring at him from outside his cage at the zoo. The beauty of its lined body, the pride in its face, the words in the lexicon are scarce to explain all these. The animal truly deserves to be the national animal of a country like India which is known for its diversity.

Now, taking in view the present conditions, it’s very depressing to realize that the future generation will be able to see this beautiful creature only through pictures. Yes, as per the latest census reports, only 1411 tigers are left in India. Just imagine the situation when the national animal itself has become extinct. Ridiculous!

Besides several efforts to protect this species, the attitude of the countrymen has not changed as far as my observation is concerned. Most of the television channels have initiated programmes to create awareness amongst the people and to prevent unmindful poaching. I’ve seen my friends changing the channel once this comes on T.V. When once I asked why they were not interested in it, the answer I received was “who cares?” .But friends, we must care. If we the Indians don’t care for our own national animal, then who else will? There is no denying the fact that the Government has made concerted efforts to raise the tiger population. One of the most successful of these was “The Project Tiger” as all of us know. But without public support the Government cannot do anything.

So friends, please take this seriously and do all that you can, to preserve our national heritage. If humans have been able to invent wonders like computers and internet, is it this simple thing that we cannot do?

SHRUTHI PARASURAM, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kolazhi,Trichur

“Water is H2O, hydrogen two parts oxygen one, but there is also a third thing that makes water and nobody knows what THAT is”: D.H.Lawrence.

As we have stated already, children are more aware of the drastic situation we face and are going to face in a world which undergoes incessant urbanization and the so-called development processes. Go through the realities portrayed by a 14 year old boy here and find the fathoms of the eeriness we create and experience today.  Of course, you can also drift along the nostalgic dreams with which he ends and reminds. Dear children, you must understand the gravity of the  ‘war for water’ that is going on in the world in which we live. And try to understand the words of the renowned American writer, beyond your Chemistry periods inside the class rooms.

SAVE  EVERY  DROP  OF  WATER

By   VISHAL. L.

“Water Water every where and not a drop to drink”. You must have heard of it my friends, but it is soon g oing to change to’ No Water any where, not a drop to drink.’

Water is the elixir of life. All living things starting from the micro-organisms to human being require water for their metabolism and survival. Fresh water is essential to our existence – it allows us to produce food, manufacture goods and sustain health. It is also essential part of the natural environment which supports all human, plant and animal life.

Global water consumption has risen almost tenfold since 1900 and various parts of the world,including many areas of Australia are now reaching the limits of their supply. World population is expected to increase by 45% in the next thirty years and the run off fresh water is expected to increaseby 10%.

One third of the world’s population is already facing problems of both water shortage and poor drinking water availability, which includes massive outbreaks of disease, malnourishment, and crop failure.

Of all water in the world, only 3% is fresh. Less than one third of 1% of this fresh water is available for human use. To put into another way, if 100 liters represent the worlds water, about half a tablespoon of it is fresh water available for our use. The impact of urbanization and globalization encourage excessive consumption of water. There are many hidden effects of excessive water consumption. Let me just list them for you.

a) Building more dams have severe environmental effects as they increase wilderness, creation of green house gases from rotting vegetation, they also alter stream flows, and degrade ecological health.

b) Degradation of water bodies: many of our rivers, wet lands, and bays are degraded. This is partly due to high levels of water extracted and polluted surface run off and storm water fleshed into them.

c) Industrialization changed the face of the world but the toxic wastes released from industries led to polluting our water bodies in turn causing damage to flora and fauna in the region, thus making water unfit for drinking which causes dreadful and epidemic diseases.

It is all too easy to blame someone else for the water situation. We each share the responsibility to sustain and manage our water resources, which means use…. less water at home, in the work place, at school, on holidays, on the farm.

Everyone…..every where……every time.

It is never too late to start something new, and I would like to tell you my friends that there are a few measures that we can take to reassess our relationship with water and learn to use it more sparingly. It requires a behavioral change, thus giving water the value it truly deserves. Let us spread awareness among the common man, look to methods to harvest rainwater thus preserving it for future generation. Our governments should put their efforts to see that proper effluent treatment plants are built in industrial areas. Rivers are linked to one another, thus enabling everyone to his or her share of water equally.

So my friends, just imagine an era without water…..how would our earth be then? No green grass, no beautiful flowers, no fluttering butterflies, chirping birds, not even a single living being —-Our earth will just be a barren land.

VISHAL.L. STD X B, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kolazhi, Trichur.

“The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.” William Hazlitt.

Yes, we also are learning how to cope with set backs and endure what all come against. Eventually, children of this generation are also undergoing these ordeals in their daily life. But, it is something pleasant to hear some innocent but foreseeing thoughts of little ones while the freaks of Nature are at the best.

Old generation are seen always chant curses over the rampancy of undo s.Youngsters are on a hedonic gallop to set pace for the faddist style of living (a kind of enliving). Parents redound their children to hood-wink their lost dreams and wishes. Some ‘old fogies’ stick to the out dated traditions and brushed aside in the onrush of novelties. This is the new face of India, on the whole.

As we said in the last edition, some children still fondle an old world of grandma’s stories, inside. There they enjoy enough freedom from the drill of question-answers and find time to follow the butterflies and to be chorus with the cuckoo. Perhaps, they also would like ‘to be frightened’ to watch Harry Potter and such Hollywood panache and pizzazz. See, how they balance with these two extremities. Now, enjoy this poem and picture, another 9 year old girl sent to us. As promised, no editor’s chops. Take in the world inside. Doesn’t it differ from the one in which we live (survive)..?

Butterflies

(A poem by Meenakshi Madhu)

Butterflies, butterflies

All around my garden,

Flying with their beautiful wings

And sucking nectar

From the flowers,

If I try to catch them

They fly away

Oh, what a pity,

I couldn’t catch them

But, I like them

Very much, still.

Meenakshi Madhu, Std IV C, KMBVM, Pottor, Trichur                       A water color painting by Meenakshi Madhu

All About Kids

‘Children are innocent, loving and benevolent by nature. Evil comes in only when they become older” Mahatma Gandhi.

Today’s kids are not just kids. We are not kidding you. If you look around, whether in India, or in any other country, you can see that the arena is the same. Their plays and games are not kid’s plays. Their doubts and questions are often floorers, their acts, something fanning bewilderment. More often they flutter from their childhood itself towards the horizon where elders’ emotional and practical queries end. When coming to India,(we always love to talk about Indian scenario), the multi cultural and multi linguistic embarrassments prevalent here, makes the Indian kids more concerned about the contradictions of life around. Indians are more aware of the global citizen concept than Europeans and Americans. They read, write and speak English, revel in Hollywood movies, dress up, eat, drink and walk like Americans. Naturally, the kids follow the mannerisms of their elders. Scientists say that the kids born in this generation are of having well developed frontal brains that help them to follow the gimmicks of all that is related with the e-age. That is why a 5-year kid extends his support to us when our mobile phone happened to fall down. He can reassemble the parts within seconds to our amazement. We live in a society in which being the best, i.e. The richest, most attractive, most popular and like are at a premium. At school and at work, there is constant monitoring of performances and targets. And our kids become people-pleasing and result junkies. Still, we found out that, some of them nurture a different world of their own, in which they might have spun some beautiful pictures of butterflies and birds. Trailing off from the drill of questions and the strait-laced syllabi, they drift along their self-driven world, where they foresee the impending calamities, beyond the concocted bed time stories.

Here we publish a cute write up we got from a 9 year old girl from Kerala. We publish it as such without any editorial intervention to display the innocence and gravity of those scribbles. In fact, this very letter is the motivation behind “Kids Zone” in SCROLLINDIA.COM. So we welcome such write-ups (stories, articles, poems, or pictures) from kids. Let them do it their own. Parents please… do not intervene. It would probably kill its innocence.

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A foolishness

(An Article by Abhirami. R)

I like trees and all green fields. I like to see my earth always covered in green blankets. My parents told me that earth is not a simple place to live in, but it is our mother. So I love earth always and I hate those who make any harm to it. I have read in the news papers that certain schools are actively planting trees on roadsides and in their schools to protect the environment. I have seen such things when I go to school, especially in the first week of October. Thus a lot of saplings are being planted. But after just one week, I could see that these saplings are either being eaten by the cattle or destroyed by any other means. Nobody is there to water or care it properly. Hardly after one month the plant dies. Why it happens? Those who monitor the planting ceremony can do some follow ups also. Now, while I go to school I see the grave yards of theses little plants along the roadside. When I was in LKG, on the way to my school, there was a wide green paddy field and a lovely stream passing through its middle. We get cool breeze when our van reach that place. After some time, some foul smell began to disturb us when we reach there. When asked, our van driver told us that, waste materials from the chicken farms and the nearby apartments are dumped in that area. There is no one to see all these because they do this at night. Afterwards, before we reach the stream we all will take out our kerchiefs to close our nose. From last year onwards I see some Lorries come and dump red coloured soil upon the green fields. Our van driver told us that this red soil they get by destroying some beautiful hills nearby. I was sad to hear that because I love to see hills which are almost blue in color, as a beautiful margin to the green fields. To my sadness, they dumped and dumped the soil again and again until a big part of the green field disappeared. After 2 or 3 months a new school building appeared there. Then came a doctor’s house, and some more buildings. Day by day, my lovely fields disappeared and new big buildings appeared. My parents told me that there is nobody to work in the fields and so the land owners sell their fields to those who give them money. If things are going like this, there won’t be any more green fields on my way to school. We won’t get any good breeze, though foul smelling. If I had enough money I would have bought the whole fields and make them all the more green by sowing paddy seeds and planting new saplings along. When I told this idea to my parents they told me,” then everyone will call you a fool”. When I wept, they told me that they would never call me so.

ABHIRAMI.R. CLASS IV D, BHAVANS VIDYA MANDIR POTTOR, TRICHUR. KERALA.