Let Kids be Kids

On the merits of little tots dancing to item numbers like Sheila ki Jawani

Indian children OF today are more confident than their prequels. They do not have inhibitions. What stopped us from singing at college annual days or expressing feelings to girls is absent in them. This is a good thing, but has some annoying consequences. Chief among these is the trend of underage children dancing to item numbers.

Earlier, one suffered this mostly on television, which is run by glorified, gutka-chewing pimps. However, it was not long before it started to happen at your nephew’s birthday party. Parents usually react to such cases in two ways. Some feel a bizarre pride as their eight-year-old gyrates to Munni Badnaam Hui. They even bought her a short satin dress and heels, you see. Then there are parents who claim helplessness.

“You too will realise that you cannot do much when your daughter grows,” a parent said while one shook one’s head as a girl of about eight danced to Sheila ki Jawaani. This was at a small birthday party on a terrace in a middle-class residential area of Mumbai.

The classical singer Kishori Amonkar, commenting on the nature of children’s talent shows on television, has said, “These are children who do not yet know the anatomical difference between a male and a female.”

Tough as it is, parents must minimise their children’s exposure to spurious television. If it means changing their own television habits, so be it. Cable television allows you to choose channels. A boycott of all the offending channels would be the ideal solution. Don’t expect the channels to change. They will trot out the same, convenient ‘but the remote is in your hands’ argument. If they are in the narcotics trade, these ‘executives’ would say, “We will push drugs, but you can always decline.”

The second thing parents must do is stop buying those hideous satin gowns, heels and similar tarty attire for daughters not yet 10 years old. Three, if dancing is what kids want, ensure that the songs are suitable. Just leave out Munni… or Sheila… while burning the CD.

For grown-ups, most children’s parties are formulaic. Wish birthday child in excited high-pitched voice.  Compliment child on birthday costume (which will be of Ben 10 or Hannah Montana theme). Suffer through the games, some of which will be for adults. Then eat oily catered food in plastic plates with one square tissue paper. But without inappropriate songs and dances, the parties were at least inoffensive. It is time we let kids be kids again.

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Akshay Sawai