Malaysian vs. Taiwanese = Abang-adik

The NST have a special report yesterday entitled "Are You Robbing your Kids of Their Future?" which reminded me the very hot yet old issue we're facing here in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Engineering class. Yoga. Golf. Go-karting. Scuba-diving. Video animation.

These are normal activities for adults. But they are also being pursued by urban children, some as young as 4.

Many parents are sending their children for these activities during weekends and school holidays. Some want to give the young ones a chance to master new skills and others, obviously to keep up with the Joneses.

And they are willing to fork out between RM100 and RM500 a month for the privilege.

Nowadays, it is rare to see children spending time at home, watching television or catching tadpoles with the neighbourhood kids on a typical weekend.

Gone, too, are the days when the typical extra-curricular activities actually referred to piano lessons, dance recitals, art or swimming classes.

Almost on the same issue, the CommonWealth magazine in Taiwan also did a special report on Taiwan's Helicopter Parent which sounded like this :

Taiwan's six million “helicopter parents” are hovering, their noses in everything involving their kids. And while their influence is expanding, their impact may not be for the better.

And Heart2Heart says there are no difference between Malaysian and Taiwanese parents, they are ABANG-ADIK LAH: Killing their Kids slowly...

the experts said:

in NST:

1. "With heavy competition among parents and children today, parents are fast-tracking their children into entering a competitive environment, thus risking their kids losing their childhood in the process,"
2. By burdening their children with such activities, children might become stressed out and turn into "zombies".

3. Marriage and family therapist Datuk Dr Mat Saat Baki said many parents thought they were giving their kids a head start in life by enrolling them in all kinds of unconventional activities. "However, it could be dangerous because the child may not get to experience childhood. Their lives are so programmed and, worst of all, they have no choice but to follow their parents’ wishes," he said. He attributed the trend to parents living off their unfulfilled dreams on their children and the trend of upmanship or kiasuism.

AaaaaaaaaaaaaH! this KIASUNISM thing, never ending lah!!

Look at how "kiasu" they are in Taiwan:

In the past, educational excursions abroad began in high school. Today, many cram schools and private schools are organizing all kinds of such overseas study tours during summer and winter vacations. One well known private school has even organized science tours to NASA. Consultants have also sprung up who perform aptitude analysis of babies' fingerprints to determine whether they are artists, leaders, etc.

NASA Tour! Don't play-play, a visit to NASA!!!

I don't know leh! Me and my wife are considering sending Lucas for "tuition" in order to improve his study :-( But this report here said 與其費盡心力緊盯孩子的功課、拚命補習，還不如激發小朋友的學習熱情。So, How ah??

But whatever it is, one thing we always remember in raising our kids is like what the Proverbs 22: 6 says 'Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Also we will guide them to guard their heart because it's the well spring of life! (Proverb 4:23)

What do you think of sending the kids to tuition?
(I can hear my wife whispering at my ear: Don't become helicopter parent leh! Aiyoyooo! Abang-adik!)

Read here for a special report on

1. 8 要訣輕鬆提升學習力
2. 讓孩子學會活在當下的快樂
3. 贏家小孩在我家