Kids not dolls to play with, need utmost care

A 2-year-old toddler was made to drink alcohol by some fun-seeking friends of his father at a banquet in Panzihua city, Sichuan province, on April 10. The child slipped into coma and died two days later. Three perpetrators were arrested, Chinese media reported on May 16.

A similar child-teasing incident was reported recently from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, where another 2-year-old boy was given a cup of homemade spirit by his unwitting uncle. As a result, the small child became a mental wreck for a few hours.

Few people would be amused after reading such reports. But equally few people will, perhaps, stop poking fun at children. In a country where teasing children is almost second nature, it is time we reviewed and regulated the way we play with or make fun of youngsters. Parents and relatives and their friends must be aware that their one-off jokes or fun-poking behaviors could cause serious consequences that a child has to deal with for a long time, perhaps even after growing up.