Right Approach

Many believe that targeting the children for achieving some social objectives is easier than going direct to the adult. It is always an uphill task for convincing the adult on some programmes even though they are convinced, they might be half heartedly to participate actively. Thereby, a lot of us believe that instead of going direct to the adult, let start with the children and let the children who are acquint with the programmes to show it to the adult the benefits acquired. It is a reverse pychology as children is having better bargaining power to compel the adult to do so, or at least for the sake to face saving --- lead by example.

We see the recycling campaign focusing on children in the school. Children who has been taught about the goodness of recycling, start practicing it and later become the norm of daily routine will then make every effort to showcase to their parent or immediate adult relatives of doing similar feet. Although this education process might take longer time than expected, it is better than never.

However, this is not the case in some instances especially if little information or knowledge about the programmes is acquired by the children or parent. For example, if the children has no idea about the programme, then it is difficult to move forward. Similarly if the parent are not convinced that the programme is good for the children, then they might not encourage the child to participate.

Petaling Jaya City Council set up the first Petaling Jaya Child Council in Malaysia. Everyone is so excited and the appointed child councillors are so enthutiasm of moving forward. But this can only be done so if support from the parent are forthcoming. For parent to come out and support it, they need to know what has been line up and expected from their child as they might have plan out the growth path for their children. Hence, keeping them update and bring them in the loop of information or knowledge sharing or even feedback on the programme or development should be done.

I presume no right or wrong strategy, but the most appropriate one taking into consideration of the local circumstances. Either we work with the children first with the hope of it filter down to the adult or the reverse, it should not a big problem as long as the outcome of achieving the objective is attainable.