The television show ‘Old Enaf’ caused a great deal of controversy in Japan, where it was broadcast. The inspiration for the program was the story book about the adventures of a boy named Mickey, written by Yoriko Tsutsui in 1977. The history of the program goes back 30 years. Some of the parents of the episodes shown in Japan this year were past child participants. A similar version of this format is currently being developed in the UK.
The importance of giving age-appropriate responsibilities to children of different ages is a situation suggested by experts. But what if we give more responsibility than we should? Children have played a major role in a program called ‘Old Enough’ that has been aired on Japanese television for over 30 years. 20 children between the ages of 2 and 6 are trying to get things done. So much so that even kids are trying to fulfill the tasks given to them. These children go to the grocery store on their own, take orders from their mother, return home by bus, or bring lunch for their father. They cross the road alone in fast-moving traffic and do whatever is requested.
The competition, which has aired for many years and has a large audience in Japan, has been criticized in the United States and Europe. In the first episode, a little boy about 3 years old, who is still using diapers, goes to a market within a 20 minute walk and buys 3 things that his mother likes. With a yellow flag in his hand, the boy seeks a road in heavy traffic, crosses the road and goes to the market. She finds the two products her mother wants and pays her and when she leaves to go home, she remembers that she forgot the third ingredient and returned to the market. He goes home with everything his mother wants.
High viewing rate
In the Singapore version of the program, another 5-year-old boy boarded the train alone and traveled about 35 minutes. Following the announcements, he finds a descent stop and does his duty. People who ensure the safety of children without being seen during the shooting of the show. However, those who interpret it as an artificial security perception. A visitor who expressed concern about the safety of children, “It’s not clear how much the production team helped the little boy. Sometimes the commenter seems to be mocking the child’s work. “ Comments The show airs twice a year in Japan as a special 3-hour episode. It has become a phenomenon that it has an incredible 25 percent viewer rate
Starting at the age of 6 in Japan
Some viewers also think that such responsibility is not very much in Japan. It is not uncommon to see elementary school-age children walking to school without any adult supervision or getting on public transport on their own or in small groups. This is due to the fact that families give children a sense of independence and responsibility from an early age. Children start cleaning their own school from the age of 6, take turns serving lunch to their classmates and carrying heavy utensils and utensils in their classroom. At that age, they can carry heavy bags on their way to school and go to places with heavy vehicles without their parents.
Australian educator Liz Westroop cites the sending of a 2-year-old child to market as an extreme example:
“The mental ability to choose the right path in a situation where something goes wrong is absolutely impossible for a child of that age.”
Some experts say that when this kind of work is done with care, it is one of the first lessons of a child. Experts say that it is a matter of great pride for children of primary school age to go to the market or school on their own. “The more skilled the children, the harder the task will be. Parents match their assignments to the child’s skills and size, and each new assignment confirms and inspires the child’s growing skills. “ Said
Explain at what age and how children should be given responsibilities Nurdan Vayuk, Psychologist, Pediatric and Adolescent TherapistNoting that the time for each child and family to be ready and enthusiastic varies, he said:
“At 6 months of age, when babies switch to solid foods, they are ready to eat on their own. This is their first responsibility. A child can collect their own toys at 1 year old, or it can be 3 years old. They are ready to take on responsibilities. They can start by collecting their own toys. Later, they may be involved in everyday activities such as dressing, packing their own things, doing dirty work, unloading washing machines, bringing plates to the table. “
‘Psychological violence for a child of this age’
Büyükak, for broadcast programs, “I don’t think it’s right to take on such a responsibility at such a young age. Just as a child who does not take on responsibilities grows up without many skills, children who take on extra responsibilities grow at a similar rate. In one part of the program, the child does not want to do the work, cries and says that he does not want to go without his mother. On the other hand, the mother said in a serious tone that she has to do it, she needs it. He persuaded the boy. A 3 year old little girl is going shopping far away from her home. For a child of this age, it is emotional violence.“ Comments
The children in the program are not alone in doing these things. He is surrounded by 5-6 cameramen who record everything. Psychologist Nurdan Byoukak, who said that this is actually a situation that confuses viewers, ‘My Child Can Do It’ He stressed that they can send their children alone and this is a very dangerous situation.
‘There is a 7-8 year old child who still can’t eat his own food’
Bucak also spoke about whether there was a problem with the transfer of responsibilities by the Turkish family structure, saying, “It is not appropriate to generalize. However, when I look at the majority, I notice a family structure that gives her child very little responsibility. So much so that 7-8 year olds still can’t eat their own food. They can’t make and clean their toilets. These are habits that should be acquired at that age, ”he said.
Based on the families in the program and the way they raise their children, “We can say that no parent would raise their child this way.” Büyükak said, “Of course there are cultural differences, but child development works the same for children everywhere. A 3-year-old child cannot protect himself from potential harm with his mental and physical skills. ”