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Parenting 101: Mastering the Challenge of the Elusive Genius Kid

Kid Hiding Pillow

Kids often enjoy the game of hide and seek, which involves hiding from others as a form of play. This simple game, beloved by children worldwide, encourages them to use their imagination and creativity to find new and inventive hiding spots. It also helps them develop problem-solving skills and understand the concept of object permanence. Moreover, hide and seek provides a safe way for children to explore their environment and learn about boundaries and spaces, all while having fun and engaging in physical activity. Photo by Pixabay

How many times you have heard this announcement?

“Dear valued shoppers, there is a kid here, wearing a red shirt and green pants, anyone have lost their kid, please come to the information counter to pick the kid up”

In the past, it was common to hear announcements in hypermarkets about lost children, which often led to frustration and confusion among shoppers. People would question how such a thing could happen. However, following the tragic case of Nurin, there has been a noticeable decrease in these announcements. This indicates that parents are now more vigilant and attentive towards their kids while shopping.

Previously, there was a tendency to blame the parents for negligence, but personal experiences, like the one with my son, have shown that children can wander off on their own despite careful supervision. This has shifted the perspective, emphasizing that losing sight of a child can happen to anyone and both parents and communities need to work together to ensure children’s safety.

Lately, my son has taken to jogging at a leisurely pace whenever we’re out and about in malls and large stores. It only takes a few moments before he’s several meters ahead, prompting us to pick up our pace to a jog just to keep up with him. As long as he remains within our view, it’s not an issue; we can easily track his whereabouts. However, the challenge arises when he swiftly darts left or right out of sight.

By the time we reach the spot where we last saw him, he’s nowhere to be found, as if he’s disappeared into thin air. This has become a common occurrence, and each time it happens, a mix of concern and amazement washes over us as we wonder how quickly he can vanish from our sight.

We’ve learned to anticipate his sudden sprints and are getting better at predicting his next move, yet he still manages to surprise us with his agility and speed. It’s a playful reminder of his growing independence and our need to stay alert. While it’s a bit of a workout for us, it’s reassuring to see his confidence and sense of adventure as he explores the world around him. Nevertheless, we’re considering setting some ground rules to ensure his safety, such as not straying too far or always responding when we call. It’s a delicate balance between giving him the freedom to roam and ensuring he doesn’t get lost in the crowd.

My wife and I will then form a quick “search and rescue team” to locate this witty, fast guy. Thankfully all the time, we can “locate” this guy in seconds for he always gets distracted by something nearby and he does not get far.

The problem however is compounded if I am alone with my son – I just have to do extra work to look for him. Often we can grab him but soon after he will wriggle himself from our hands and starts his “slow jog” again. If all things fail, the last option that we have is to grab him and carry him with him protesting aggressively. Once he is inside the car, things are deemed as “eagle is in the nest” and we can then breathe easily.

It is a good workout for me but the worry of missing kids is always in our mind when my son starts his “slow jogs”. We don’t mind his walks but certainly not over the issue of safety. We are waiting for the captor tracking system for kids, sigh.

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2 thoughts on “Parenting 101: Mastering the Challenge of the Elusive Genius Kid”

  1. hhmm..Judging from the looks of things, both of you are having quite a work out keeping up with the little one. Good exercise indeed with the jogs 🙂

    Cheers!!! 😀

    PS>> Cool new layout, like it!

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