It's no child play!!!

We all associate childhood with stress free life, playing, notorious activities and beautiful days of school life. But today when I switched on the T.V I was shocked to see a little girl, nine or ten years of age , pouting and thrusting like a Bollywood star and the worst was to see judges and audience laugh indulgently and applauding her act. Her heavy make-up, clothes and her gestures were far beyond her age but no one seems to find this bizarre.

NOWADAYS, on almost every TV channels there's a plethora of such shows which have kids singing, dancing, preening and primping. Often pushed by ambitious parents, worked to the bone by channels and sometimes subjected to unkind remarks by judges, it's not an ideal life; neither is the overdose of glamour and public exposure healthy for such young minds.

Fatal Consequences

Children who seems to be prefect on these shows have a hidden dark reality behind them. There is endless amount of practice they are required to do which leaves them physically tired. There have been instances of adults collapsing on the sets because of exhaustion, so we can imagine the plight of kids.

The time spent while rehearsing for reality shows is a lot. Studies are the most affected area of these kids life. Many a time these children have to compromise on their homework or preparation of exams because of these reality shoots. They spend long hours of precious time waiting and waiting for their turn in front of the camera.

There have been number of cases which throw a light on reality of these reality shows.

· A young girl who was a reality show participant suffered a paralytic attack reportedly because of the harsh comments of the judges on her performance in a reality show.

· An 11 year old allegedly committed suicide because her parents barred her from participating more in a dance reality show.

We object child labour and we are not encouraging children to do jobs in other fields. But when the children below the age of 12 participate in a reality show, it may attract the eyes of many people and the program may become super hit. Is this not against law? Is this not a form of child labour?

Who is responsible for this?

In my opinion parents emerge as culprits. There expectation are too high from their children in any competition, may be in school, class or any other extra-curricular activities. They want their kid to be master of all trades, they don’t seem to care about the interest, capabilities of their child. They don’t seem to be bothered that whether their wards can bear the tenacity and shock of their failure to be a topper or not. There are a very few parents who try to feel, understand and perceive their children’s inner voice.

Sometimes the reason for pressurizing their kids to participate in the reality shows is the allurement of the big amount of prize money. Sometimes, the children are not talented enough or passionate enough but still the parents push them to participate in these shows because of attractive amounts of money which they hope to win. And with images of gold in their eyes they become blind to the dark future of their own little ones.

Questions to be answered?

What kind of future are these children going to have?

Do parents perceive their kids as money making machines?

What’s sooo good about children oriented reality shows that every channel has one?

And many more….

But it’s not the first time the first time that somebody is talking about this immoral act and neither it’s a issue which we are encountering today. This has been in debate since long time but still shows are going on and as they say “The show must go on.” Sadly, the show does go on.

Should it really go on???? You decide and share it with me!!!!