Question: Some people think that children should obey rules or do what their parents and teachers want them to do, but others think that children controlled too much cannot deal with problems well by themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion?
Band 8+ Sample Answer:
(Intro) Nowadays, people have different opinions about whether children should follow the advice of their teachers or parents. While this may be beneficial to children’s safety, I feel allowing them to develop their independent problem solving skills is more significant.
(Body 1) On the one hand, the shortage of practical experience suggests that children should comply with these instructions. Firstly, young children are not sufficiently mentally and physically developed, meaning that letting them do things without supervision could be dangerous. For example, kids may practice cooking after watching a cookery show TV without understanding the danger of using knives or fire. In this case, parents’ restrictions on using kitchen appliances are vital as these may help their offspring avoid injuries. A further example of children’s inability to take care of themselves is the point that many are addicted to video games and choose to play games endlessly rather than study or do exercise. This requires careful control from parents and in extreme cases counselling is needed to help these children to escape their addiction.
(Body 2) On the other hand, children working out issues by themselves would be overwhelmingly helpful concerning their ability to solve problems, critical-thinking. Primarily, relying on those closest to them may discourage a child’s ability to cope with issues by themselves. For instance, if children are taught at school in an overly strict and controlling way, they may satisfy their teachers but this can destroy their potential to think ‘out of the box’ and come up with creative solutions. In addition, without the right to act freely, children may lack interpersonal skills essential for their future career. In fact, Asian couples tend to ban kids’ participation in social activities such as garbage pickups for fear of injuries. Therefore, these children cannot have a chance to collaborate with their young peers to tackle unexpected problems such as interpersonal conflicts or unforeseen obstacles, which could be a huge disadvantage when applying for jobs in the future.
(Conclusion) In conclusion, children’s welfare is the main reason why teachers and parents often control a child’s behaviors. However, plenty of evidence has shown that enabling kids to do things with a suitable degree of control may help them become outstanding young adults who can think critically and handle problems effectively. The government should educate parents and teachers about the dangers of being overly controlling. (387 words)
Words: Student essay, corrected & upgraded by Nick Kemp, former IELTS examiner.
Image: 5540867 / Pixabay.