撰文:教育專家朱活民

筆者在童年時偶然會見到秋雁,有時看到母親一邊數日曆一邊自言自語,又會聽到姐姐說,再過一個月爸爸就會回來過新年……生活總是充滿著期待與掛念。於是我們幾兄弟姊妹會努力做好功課,認真讀書,因為我們都希望到了臘月盡頭,可以讓回家的爸爸多一點安慰。

時移世易,通訊設備的高速發展令人與人之間溝通更方便,想聽到掛念的人的聲音,只需撥個電話,要不然來個短訊,甚至到某個群組互相交流。這一切都是科技發達帶給人們的方便,而謄寫家書似是遙不可及的事了。不過,筆者對童年時替媽媽寫信回鄉的回憶,至今仍歷歷在目,印象深刻。媽媽口述一句,我便下筆錄寫,有時看到媽媽因掛念鄉間的親人而流淚,我也會不期然地哽咽。寫家書的經歷,令我體會了親情寶貴,從中認知掛念和忍耐。

 

有人認為現今部分年青人不懂人情世故,而產生這些現象的其中一個原因,個人認為與通訊模式的改變有關。當你乘搭地鐵時,不妨留意一下用手機通訊的奇景,可能在你的前後左右,都是一個個低頭整理數據的人。一整天對著電腦或手機,無需要與人面對面溝通,自然難以改善處理人際關係的技巧。而急促的社會步伐,容易擠壓思考空間,生活沒有等待掛念的經歷,亦難以修養敦厚的品性。這些近年才衍生的兒童成長問題,是需要我們共同關注的。

Written by: Education expert, Chu Wud Man

As a child, I occasionally saw wild geese in autumn. I would sometimes see my mother counting the calendar and muttering to herself, and I would also hear my sister say that in another month, Dad would be coming back for the Lunar New Year… Life was always full of expectation and longing. So, my siblings and I would work hard on our schoolwork and study diligently, because we all hoped that by the end of the twelfth lunar month, we could bring a little more comfort to our returning father.

As time and the world change, the rapid development of communication devices has made communication between people more convenient. To hear the voice of a person you long for, you only need to make a phone call, send a text message, or even participate in a group discussion. All of this is the convenience brought about by technological advancement, and the handwriting of letters home has become a distant memory.

However, I still vividly remember the childhood memories of writing letters home for my mother. She would dictate a sentence, and I would write it down. Sometimes, I would see my mother tearing up as she longed for her relatives back home, and I would involuntarily choke up as well. The experience of writing letters home made me appreciate the preciousness of family bonds and understand the feelings of longing and patience.

 

Some people believe that some young people today lack social etiquette, and one of the reasons for this phenomenon is the change in communication patterns. When you ride the subway, you can’t help but notice the curious sight of people buried in their phones, sorting through data. Spending the whole day in front of a computer or phone, without the need for face-to-face communication, naturally makes it difficult to improve interpersonal skills. The fast pace of society also tends to squeeze out space for contemplation, and without the experience of waiting and longing, it is difficult to cultivate a sincere and upright character. These problems in the growth of children that have emerged in recent years are issues that we all need to pay attention to.

家長除了要關注孩子是否適當使用通訊器材,更要指導他們減少使用時間,避免「機不離手」。當一家人晚飯的時候,家長不妨向孩子們分享一些工作經歷或辛酸,讓他們從不同角度認知社會,了解父母的辛勞,啟發慎思。另外,對家裡即將安排的大事,父母也要讓他們表達意見,讓孩子們學習對日子有期待,對親人有掛念。在人與人之間的溝通裡認識人情世故,是很好的成長課。各位親愛的家長,當我們享受近代科技發達帶來的好處時,亦別忽略了科技發達對兒童心智成長的影響。

In addition to paying attention to whether children are using communication devices appropriately, parents should also guide them to reduce their usage time and avoid being “inseparable from the device.” During family dinners, parents can share their work experiences or hardships with their children, allowing them to understand society from different perspectives and appreciate the efforts of their parents, which can inspire them to think more carefully. Furthermore, when the family is about to arrange important events, parents should also let the children express their opinions, so that they can learn to look forward to their days and long for their family members. Learning about human relationships through communication between people is an excellent growth experience. Dear parents, as we enjoy the benefits brought by modern technological advancement, we should not overlook the impact of technological development on the mental growth of our children.