INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY

DISCOVERY CLUB

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY

Do you think that it is so important to have such a holiday (International Children's Day)? Do African children and children from Europe have the same problems?

ACTIVITY 1.

Use the following questions to begin a conversation with your partner.

1. Write a list of words which you associate with the word 'childhood'. For example: parents, toys, school … Compare your list with your partner.
2. What is your earliest memory? How old were you at the time?
3. Were you naughty as a child? What's the naughtiest thing you did?

ACTIVITY 2.

Topic: CHILDHOOD (International Day of CHILDREN'S DEFENCE).

• Do you think that childhood is shorter these days than it was in the past?
• Do children grow up too fast nowadays? What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?
• In the book by J.M. Barrie, the character Peter Pan never grew up. Do you think there is a part in all of us whichnever grows up or doesn't want to grow up? What are the advantages and disadvantages being 'young at heart'?
• Do you agree that 'children should be seen and not heard'?

How important is it for families to have regular get-togethers? Do you enjoy family get-togethers?

• Is divorce permitted in your culture? How much does divorce affect the different members of a family?
• What difficulties do you think single parents face? What, if anything, should society do to help single parents?
• In your opinion what are the most difficult things parents have to do? What are the worst mistakes parents can make?

ACTIVITY 3.

Discuss with your partner what the word 'miss' (or 'missing') means in following phrases.

To miss a goal               to miss somebody              Miss Smith               to miss the bus

to miss what somebody said

the missing link missing in action

1. When you were a child, did you ever get separated from your parents in a public place? What happened? How long did it take your parents to find you?
2. What happens in your country when a child goes missing?
3. Do you think child kidnapping/abduction happens more or less than in the past? Are children more at risk than they used to be?
4. What can be done to reduce the risk of a child going missing, being abducted or being kidnapped?
5. If you decided to disappear for a while, where would you go? Why would you choose to go to that place in particular? How long would you stay?