Could Western children learn a thing or two from Gambian children?

[Marky_P88]

Children here in the Western world tend to be little brats, running around with their new blackberry or smartphone. And when they break a phone or video game, the parents go out and buy them a brand new one! I saw a kid on the train, no older than probably 10 years, and he's with his school friends showing them his smart phone. The kid had a better phone than me! It's mainly the material things that are the problem with western kids. But also, the kids in the west aren't shown many manners either. So when they receive a gift from a person, they just accept it as if they're obliged to be given that present. When you see the kids in Gambia with pretty much nothing, helping out with family, selling goods on the beach to support their families etc, does it make you think that our Children could learn a lot from the kids in The Gambia?

[cumupence1]

depends on the chidrens parents how the kids behave.. the elder children generally look after the younger ones. i had one small gambian boy shove his hand in my hand bag, they taught to surround you with the toubab thing until an adult intervenes.... my kid was bought up with manners. i can'speak for for everyone though like all kids from a country are not all behaved are they

[s_sweet_c]

I agree it's the way the parents raise their children, not the child.

[Janena]

Generally speaking african children are taught to respect elders and their parents more than european kids. Ive seen my husbands nieces bring water to their dad and bow for him, etc... Something you dont see over here, lol.
They are also less lazy than 'our' kids i guess.

On the other hand i witnessed kids in Senegal (which i assume is similar to Gambia) chase up chickens, beating dogs with sticks, harass toubabs and following our car to the point where it got real dangerous and my husband had to tell the mothers to watch them.

It would be good for spoilt european kids to see how hard the african kids have to work at times and relise how good their life here is....But i dont think the kids in africa have a better upbringing than our kids here. They just have to work harder coz of poverty and the traditions are more visible there.

[s_sweet_c]

Janena wrote:

Generally speaking african children are taught to respect elders and their parents more than european kids. Ive seen my husbands nieces bring water to their dad and bow for him, etc... Something you dont see over here, lol.
They are also less lazy than 'our' kids i guess.

On the other hand i witnessed kids in Senegal (which i assume is similar to Gambia) chase up chickens, beating dogs with sticks, harass toubabs and following our car to the point where it got real dangerous and my husband had to tell the mothers to watch them.

It would be good for spoilt european kids to see how hard the african kids have to work at times and relise how good their life here is....But i dont think the kids in africa have a better upbringing than our kids here. They just have to work harder coz of poverty and the traditions are more visible there.

I agree, but no way I go as far as bowing down to my parents, I wouldn't even bow before the queen

[cumupence1]

our children are bought up to call people by name ect wether mum,aunty ect ... we are not bought up to cal people by colour. gambians are bought up that white or tourist is toubab...... names dont matter.

[Lisa]

cumupence1 wrote:

our children are bought up to call people by name ect wether mum,aunty ect ... we are not bought up to cal people by colour. gambians are bought up that white or tourist is toubab...... names dont matter.

I agree, and that child grows up to be a bumster who follows 'toubabs' and hassles them and drives them to such a state of agitation and exasperation that they never return. So ultimately they are contributing to destroying their own economy.

It's not the term 'Toubab' which is nasty, it's the conotation behind it, that you are akin to a mug with an endless flow of money to dole out, which is really offensive.

[s_sweet_c]

Lisa wrote:

<quoted text>I agree, and that child grows up to be a bumster who follows 'toubabs' and hassles them and drives them to such a state of agitation and exasperation that they never return. So ultimately they are contributing to destroying their own economy.

It's not the term 'Toubab' which is nasty, it's the conotation behind it, that you are akin to a mug with an endless flow of money to dole out, which is really offensive.

Lisa there's hardly any work for the them to do, some the "bumsters" are educated its just there's nothing to do. They only going by what they see, any 3rd world obviously going to think anyone who come off a plane has money.

Don't forget they don't get to see foreigners often.

Was you hurt by a Gambian by any chance?

[ALLEGRIA]

european children have to learn from african children the sense of respect for elderly persons, to help in the house, out, the value of things, thinking they deserve anything...etc.

[interested]

NOT ALL EURO CHILDREN ARE BOUGHT UP THE way you describe... was yours ????? mine most certainly was not..

[ALLEGRIA]

i educated very well my daughter and i am proud of her. i didnt spoil her. i was mother and father.

[cumupence1]

there are many good children all over but unfotunately there are many bad parents who dont bother with what their children are doing

[ALLEGRIA]

exactly!