Kids are people too!!
This has been a social concern forever as far as I’m aware, but the way a majority of adults (anyone 18 or older) treat anyone under 18 is horrible.
For context, I am 19, have gone through primary education and is currently in college for a career in which I work closely with people typically older than myself. When I was younger, say elementary school, was when I first properly acknowledged that adults weren’t really ever listening to me. I was a smart kid by academic standards and was confident enough in that, so I believed in my ability to think critically. I noticed whenever adults had issues, they simply didn’t care to give my solutions any thought. This played a part in defining my perception of adults and the world.
Fast forward to now, other adults will listen to me and treat me as a person. This change happened slowly between 16 & 17, became noticeable when I was 18 (as people realized I was an “adult” now), then finished into what it is now. I believe this is because I was growing closer towards this socially accepted benchmark that determines the requirement for adulthood, not that I was any smarter or more capable. 16-year-old me made mistakes that may very likely resurface through the mistakes of 40-year-old me.
Working with children has brought this back to the forefront for myself. Last summer I worked a summer camp for which I taught and led a group of middle schoolers. All of us college students who worked it had different strategies to how they would teach their groups and had different results, but I focused on creating an environment that allowed them to be respected. Despite the camp starting early in the morning and ending later than what most kids would be used to, my group was always happy which I think is telling. Who wouldn’t want to feel like they exist!
Although they don’t always make great choices or have the experience to put themselves in good situations, kids are no different than anyone else. It’s not evil to be aware that a child may not give the best advice, but treating them like their opinion matters may just start the ripple that creates a better society for young people!
As a community, how do the adults here go about treating young people, casually and professionally?