Let kids be kids

I am finding this video and others popping up all over the place the last few weeks. And there have been some full on comments about how the parents aren't fit to be parents, or they should be jailed. More than anything, personally I don't think kids should be encouraged to do this. Jail is a bit harsh, but the parents are more idiots than 'not fit to be parents'.

Kids mimic things all the time, which is why parents need to be so careful about what their kids are exposed to. In this case the kids are mimicking adults 'dancing', and if you turn on any music video show, generally this is the 'dancing' you will see to most club tunes. Ask a kid why they are doing it and the answer would probably be 'I am dancing like the singers on TV'.

But the 'singers' are not to blame for the kids dancing like this. In fact, in context, they are doing nothing wrong. They understand why you move like that, and what you want the results to be. Kids don't get why just that you do (or they have seen that is what you do). They don't understand the adult implications of the movements, and this is where the problem is. As adults we know, but they don't have the understanding, and they aren't really in the 'sex scene' yet so why would they. They are just having fun.

The whole reason behind these moves is for sexual arousal- do we really want our kids simulating this at their age? Of course, the reaction from the dancing partner isn't sexual arousal, they just think it is dancing. But you are still exposing them to a whole new world that they will have plenty of time to explore, and understand, later in life.

I think it comes down to the parents being responsible about what they expose their kids to. Kids don't have the capability to make important decisions for themselves yet, as they don't understand most reasons behind things. If you let a kid make all their decisions, you would find them eating a jar of peanut butter for dinner, not showering and not going to school. I think it is up to the parents to be the parents, and actually discern what they should and should not be doing. And really, dirty dancing is not really one of them.

I have been to parties where I have seen a 4 year old do this. Her mother was so embarrassed. Chatting to her, she was saying that she has been doing this for a few weeks, and since then she hasn't allowed her to watch video hits, and the Mum now doesn't watch it with her kids around. She had tried to explain why she wasn't allowed to do it, that it is something that adults do, that kids shouldn't be doing. The kid didn't understand and replied with "but mummy I'm only dancing like on TV".

This is becoming a common thing among kids, as they are being exposed more and more to 'adult things' when they should still be 'being a kid'. Their innocence in the matter only adds to the reason why I think they shouldn't be exposed. They don't understand the implications, and frankly shouldn't be doing it because of the reasons behind the actions.

It really comes down to parents, remembering they are the parent, and being responsible. Let kids be kids. They only have a few years of childhood before they get into the real world. So they will get there when they get there. Don't put them on the express train, let them wander at their own pace.