The
recent concerns voiced about the attendance of young children at music concerts is an extremely worrying issue and one which asks questions of the laws in this country, the enforcement of those laws and perhaps more worryingly the mentality of some parents or guardians.
Firstly, taking a child to a concert with such sizable crowds and at such a late hour of the night should already be cause for concern. Without casting aspersions on the practices of individuals en masse, there was a certainty of people being under the influence of alcohol and a probability of illegal drug use which increases the potential for violence, putting physical wellbeing under a real and immediate threat; not a suitable place for a minor.
Secondly, the concert in question had already raised controversy over the perceived content, lyrics, and tone of the artiste. If there was already dispute about the show being appropriate for the wider audience, how on earth could an adult think it appropriate to take pre-teens and youngsters to such a show?
The answer lies in the unfortunate fact that so many of our young people are regularly neglected; listening to this adult content music without any restrictions or guidance from their elders. In fact, there is very little done to discourage this within homes.
Being complacent about what our young people are listening to is a dangerous practice when we consider the power music and lyrics have on a young impressionable, susceptible mind. Studies show that music has a huge impact on adolescents. They can become obsessive and entranced in music and it can impact on their emotional moods.
This can work in a positive manner depending on the choice of music, but if a child is repeatedly listening to lyrics with unfavourable content it can become part of their outlook and feel like part of their reality.
The glamorisation of these artistes and their superstar lifestyle can provide negative role models if the focus of their music is aggressive, criminal and abusive. If there is minimal guidance in other areas of the young person’s lives, this can become the most significant message they are receiving and being guided by.
If as adults, we fail to challenge the appropriateness we are in effect condoning it and in turn allowing a desensitisation of young people to these inappropriate messages.
How can we expect our children to have the childhood they deserve while being exposed at every turn to adult content, conversation and behaviour? There seems to be very little that is sacred these days. There should be little surprise then when we hear the conversations many of our youngsters are having or the crimes that are being committed, the way they view women and their behaviour towards them.
The behaviour of some young girls and the lack of respect they have for themselves, the low self-worth and acceptance of abusive behaviour is also part of the fallout of this premature loss of youth.
Child protection laws are put in place to regulate and protect but are in a constant state of revision and always in need of further application. They can never be maintained to the necessary standards if the parents themselves are overlooking the boundaries that should be set.
In fact the culture may be at a critical stage. Generations before who did not separate children from adult conversation and viewing were dealing with a much more obedient and demure generation and as the practice continues children are being exposed to additional influences; more television, the internet, more aggressive music.
A serious revision of the management of appropriate pastimes for young people is needed and the enforcement should be a priority, but as with most issues pertaining to the family and its members, the morality of the parents is what will pass down to the children and until the generation of parents are called upon to modify their attitudes to what constitutes child protection, change will not come and things will get progressively worse.
It is time child protection was the main focus in every household, every institution and every constitution, time each of us made it our responsibility and stopped allowing our young people to be left to be educated by mass media’s skewed view of a glamorous, immoral and sensational presentation of life.
Having polices and laws written into revised Acts is not enough, every effort needs to be made to actively implement and re-educate.
