These days it is very common to see children in the age group of 12 to 15 driving vehicles. What was surprising was that some of them were driving big motorbikes.  When you think of the weight of a big motor bike and the age of the kid, that itself is scary feeling considering  the fact as to how a kid aged about 12 years can carry such a big bike. Some of the reasons why kids are given bikes at such a small age are:-

Over Possessive Parents:- Most parents want to give everything for their kids.  They are just waiting for their children to ask and they are more than willing to give.

Pride:- Many parents proudly tell their relatives and to their colleagues at their workplaces that their kids are smart and intelligent and already they are driving big vehicles.  It gives them a feeling of sense of achievement.  Another intention is to make other parents feel jealous that their kids are not capable enough.

Black Mailing:- Some children emotionally blackmail their parents and get whatever they want.  They cite their own classmates and friends having vehicles and therefore find it embarassing to talk to them or mingle with them at school.  Sometimes kids even refuse to take food as a protest and parents therefore succumb to kids protests.

Feeling of Guilt:- Some parents would have craved for lot of things during their childhood.  Since they did not get whatever they wanted due to financial constraints on strict discipline on part of their parents, they therefore take a lenient view for their kids.  These parents suffer from a feeling of guilt of suffering in childhood and therefore consider it is their duty to fulfill their children desires as they find themselves in a position to do so. They try to over compensate and there lies the problem.

While the above factors are responsible for allowing kids to own or drive vehicles very early in life, these parents are indirectly ruining the their lives and their childrens.  Should any anything unfortunate happen either to the kid who is driving the vehicle  or somebody else becomes a victim of kids negligient driving it causes severe damage which can never be undone.  The damages could be in the form of death of the person who is driving the vehicle or one who comes under it.  This is hard for the families of the victim and the loss of a life would haunt them for a life time.  Apart from these are  legal hassles.  It causes lot of suffering to all concerned, only the extent of suffering is not know.

Apart from this there is one more aspect which needs to be looked into.  Children who get everything very early in life tend to become too arrogant and impatient when they grow up.  This could lot of problems in future especially in their married lives which is one of the reasons for most relationships breaking up without any major reasons.

Children deserve love and affection from the patients, but more importantly parents should consider the long term interests of their children

Regards

Satish