Kids, A Mix of Softness and Storm

I’ve been sharing some beautiful interactions I’ve had with kids in my last few blogs, and this one is going to be another episode.

A child’s innocence and uncorrupted self make them pure and unique from grown-ups. But is it always that softer side? Is it always easy to manage kids? And do children really show only their gentle side?

Though they are tiny, they are human beings at the end of the day. They have their own strengths and flaws.

At times, they become stubborn to get things done. Their little minds don’t always realise the impact or consequences of their actions. No child is silent and soft all the time. They do naughty things that sometimes amaze us and, at other times, irritate us.

But how we deal with it matters.

Simply scolding them for their mistakes won’t always make them understand. Sometimes, it might even trigger them further. Patience, along with sensitivity, becomes important.

Today, among ten kids, almost seven were extremely active and loud. It became very difficult to manage them. I tried my best to keep a smile on my face, but only up to a certain point. Eventually, I raised my voice. A few obeyed, while a few others heard me but pretended not to.

Then I planned some games to engage them and distracted them with dance. Their entire mischievous energy slowly shifted into that. It was quite a task, though.

But after some time, the same chaos continued.

This time, I asked them to come sit near me and told them, “I’m going to turn on a timer. Once it stops, it will make a different sound. If you want to hear that sound, and if you want playtime, keep quiet.”

Even I wasn’t ready for what happened next.

Everyone literally kept their fingers on their lips and sat silently for almost three minutes. Honestly, I needed those three minutes too — to recharge myself and feel calm.

Once the three minutes were over, a staff member asked, “Shall we try once again?”

Suddenly, one little kid stood up from her place and said, “Ma’am, please… it’s very difficult to be silent for this much time. My mouth is paining.”

What an irony — her mouth hurt because she wasn’t talking!

After hearing that comment, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at their adorable little minds.

That reaction itself gave me calmness.

Another kid had been scared when I raised my voice, but he also used that moment to hide his mistake. Somehow, we managed to make him say sorry and at least try to help him understand what he had done wrong.

Teaching kids and raising them isn’t always about seeing only the good in them. It’s a mixture of everything. A very quiet child can suddenly turn aggressive. A naughty child can suddenly show incredible kindness.

What they need, I believe, is proper attention, guidance, and emotional regulation.

Yes, it is difficult.

It does make us tired, saturated. I did feel low.

Even after raising our voice, we feel bad, because a sense of guilt arises within us. But yes, though it might sound harsh, at times it becomes important. Not to hurt them, but to make them reflect, realise, and slowly become better.

Because teaching or raising kids isn’t always about being soft and seeing only their innocent side. Sometimes, it is also about setting boundaries, correcting them, and guiding them with care.

And honestly, adults are learning too, alongside kids.