Fun

by Kelly Knowlden

I love to “have fun.” So do children. Can I bring a distinction to you that will help your children as you discuss this with them?

There is a type of behavior that would be perfectly okay in your backyard but which is never appropriate at school—both inside the building and at after-school events. The friendly tussling that may be okay at home, should not take place here. Here is the distinction that you will want to make sure your children understand. Hitting, pinching, punching, and kicking are never appropriate—even for fun. Slapping someone on the back (always harder than friendship would merit) with a “How are you?” is not appropriate. Pinching someone’s cheeks with a playful pretense of being Grandma “Oh, you’re so cute!” is not appropriate. Pummeling another is never appropriate. Why?

God has called us to remember the inherent image of God borne by all people. This demands us to respect the person and their property. Familiarity with one another's bodies breeds disrespect that allows the mind to have NO stopping point in behavior towards one another. I have had children stomp on my toe, kick me in the shins, and have not hesitation to come and take a pen from my pocket... all for fun!

Because we need to continually hold out a high standard of behavior, we will be continually holding out the awareness of this to students. Wrestling, tussling, punching, hitting (even with lunch boxes) is inappropriate - EVEN WHEN IT IS DONE AS A MATTER OF TEASING OR FOR FUN!
This is true regardless of age. We want our young men and women to not mimic the casual attitudes toward other’s person or their things. Please keep your eyes open for how this looks at home... not the tussling, but the inappropriate handling of one another.