IELTS TASK 2: Are children enjoying too much freedom?

Some believe that children nowadays have too much freedom. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Instilling in children a sense of independence has been every parent’s priority in this day and age. Yet, many hold the view that today’s youngsters are allowed too much autonomy, and that there is an insufficient amount of supervision to ensure their safety. Personally, I am in complete disagreement with this due to children’s lack of free time as well as their parents being overprotective.

First and foremost, youngsters nowadays suffer from a dearth of leisure because of their overpacked schedule. More precisely, their timetable is full of afterschool courses and extracurricular activities which eat into their otherwise free time. This may stem from the fact that their parents compel them to partake in those programs so as to enhance their prospects of entering a select university. This is especially true in Vietnam where it is not unusual for children and adolescents alike to spend an inordinate amount of time studying with their tutors or in private institutions well after school time is over. It is no wonder why private tutoring has been one of the burgeoning industries in Vietnam and Asia at large.

Secondly, youngsters may be subject to close supervision from their parents, and hence have their freedom restricted. In many households, parents often exert control and influence over their children by scrutinizing their every move. This is obviously not because of animosity or ill will, but because they are anxious about their children’s safety and, in turn, are overprotective of them. For instance, almost all Vietnamese families have installed some kind of tracking device or gadget meant to govern the house. When asked why they do this, they often attribute it to the children’s security and protection. Even though that is undoubtedly a well-intentioned motive, the parents inadvertently limit their children’s opportunities to learn and develop into independent and self-sufficient individuals.

To recapitulate, although there is a somewhat widespread belief that modern-day children enjoy too much autonomy from their parents, I still firmly believe that youngsters’ freedom is being severely curtailed because of the hectic schedule and parents’ constant supervision. That being said, parents should strike a balance between retaining some control over their children and not being overly strict with them.