As children grow, they interact in different cultural settings that determine the level to which they can participate in or observe the adult activity. In some communities, child segregation in middle-class backgrounds from mature activities is prevalent. Different cultural settings define how children adopt when exposed to adult activities raising the question of how dangerous is it to involve children or let them observe adult activity? There are circumstances where adults take advantage of children and exploit them for labor; however, it is essential to note that engaging children in a social activity tend to do more good than harm to the child's development.
In most communities, children accompany their parents to take part in social and economic activities during the day and even at night. Such participation, whether active or passive, is suitable for children, as they get to advance their social skills and attain some sort of apprenticeship from observing their older siblings and parents work. For example, in Central Africa, particularly in hunting-and-gathering communities, children accompany their parents to hunt for game meat and even observe as their parents engage in tailoring, and laboring in fields (Rogoff, 2003). Interestingly, these children have an idea of what their parents do and can state the particulars of their occupation, building on their developmental skills from a young age.
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Assuming that children do not understand the risks that come with taking part in adult activity is a stereotype that most children face worldwide. Children's organizations report that most working children, especially from Latin and African communities, identify themselves as independent and economically responsible for taking part and contributing to the growth of the society (Liebel, 2003). These children wish to be acknowledged and let to work under their own terms, without being forced to work or limited from socializing with their peers. Children's organizations in West Africa, Madagascar, Latin communities, and the Caribbean set conditions on how they would like to be treated as they engage in economic activity, showing how they want to share same economic space with their parents and elder siblings.
There is increased possibility of acknowledgement when children interact with their parents especially in the family business. Children feel respected and appreciated, primarily when tasked to engage in something that would be beneficial for the family (Liebel, 2003). Shirley Brice Heath noted that most parents fail to engage their children in their social activities, ignoring the virtue of social responsibility that such engagements instill in these children. In her statement she emphasizes that children are likely to participate in activities that are beneficial to them and are able to link their current events to future outcomes, preparing them for adulthood (Rogoff, 2003).
Economic participation is essential in every society, and the aspect of work is respected and valued globally. However, there have been reports of children engaging in adult activities that may be harmful to their development, especially in situations where they are exposed to forced labor and abuse (Nieuwenhuys, 2009). There are instances where children have been forced to drop out of school to work, often as a result of misuse of power by adults. Children feel compelled to listen to their parents and are often left with no choice but to comply to what they are told, as they spiral into a trance of survival. The dangers of associating children with adult activity include increasing their risk of abuse; either emotional or sexual, and child trafficking which is detrimental for the development of the child.
Children's organizations argue that some of the activities that children may be exposed to affect their moral values and insights on personal responsibility. Some activities, such as taking part in pornographic films, are harmful to a child's development, as some adults will take advantage of them (Nieuwenhuys, 2009). In most cases, these children are exploited for sex and engaged in other dangerous activity that risks their physical and mental health. Even as children claim to be independent, there are times that they do not know what is best for them, leaving them at risk of exploitation.
Some children are forced to work as a way of paying a debt owed by their parents to others. These children are often forced to work even though they do not want to, violating their rights. Forced labor does not necessarily stem from external forces but may also come from within the family, with parents being ignorant to the social responsibilities they are denying their children (Nieuwenhuys, 2009). Unfortunately, even with the intervention of children's organizations, it is challenging to pinpoint communities or families that subject their children to forced labor, as some children see it as a way of supporting their families.
References
Liebel, M. (2003). Working children as social subjects: The contribution of working children's organizations to social transformations. Childhood , 10(3), 265-285.
Nieuwenhuys, O. (2009). From child labor to working children's movements. In The Palgrave handbook of childhood studies (pp. 289-300). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Rogoff, B. (2003). Children's participation in or segregation from mature community activities, in The Cultural Nature of Human Development, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 133-141.
