"Impossible" Children

After a discussion about recent research regarding psychopathy in children, we asked our students to tell us if there is such a thing as an “impossible” child.

Jeewon S., 13, HKIS

There is a wide boundary when it comes to labeling a child as “impossible.” Children all throw tantrums and make impulsive decisions at least once. There are, however, exceptions. To the most extreme point, an “impossible” child would be one who showcases no emotion to another’s pain or one who can’t control his or her temper.

        The classic problematic child horror movies are turning into reality. New research hasshow that children, especially those who have callous-emotional disorder, are more susceptible to becoming “psychopaths” if they already aren’t. Callous-emotional disorder results in people whose amygdalae (a part of the brain) don’t respond to other people’s emotions like misery, fear or happiness. Thus, the children commit violent actions and don’t care about the consequences or outcome.

        In the world, very few children can be categorized as “impossible”. A lot of parents don’t realize that they were once, too, headstrong children. They expect children to comprehend their high expectations and get mad if they fail to do so. More parents need to realize that there is no such thing as an angelic, perfect, cherub-like child, and lower their standards to have a better bond with their children.

        To understand a child, to truly form a genuine connection, parents need to observe and understand. And in the rarest cases of child psychopathy, parents should have as much patience and guidance and help them learn the consequences of their impulsive actions. But who knows: there is still hope and possibility for troublesome children to mature into well-behaved adults.

Secret Messages and Sorceresses

You are a military general living in the year 1850, back before the days of computers, email, instant messaging, TV, iPods, iPads, etc.

It is wartime, and you need to deliver an important message concerning a battle! How do you deliver the message?

Tiffany L., 7, CIS

        I use a special wooden pair of shoes, go on a horse and gallop to the sea. Then I use a clicking sound to get a trained dolphin from the sea and then I ride it to the other side. My horse gallops back to its stable. I get up on the other side, mount another horse and gallop on, carrying the letter all the way. I soon get to a forest and I take out my compass. I need to head east to get to the place I was supposed to deliver the letter to. I go as fast as I can, since the water is starting soon. We can’t afford to lose a heartbeat. I soon get out of the forest and then find a river. I back up my horse a pace or two and I make it leap across the river. This is what the letter said:

“Dear Eastern Army,

Please help us defeat the army of bandits. They outnumber us. If you help us, we will give you a reward.”

I return home safely with a lot of warriors and defeat the bandits.

Jasmine Y., 9, CDNIS

I live in a peaceful little cottage in the woods, far away from where the war is going to start. But while the war is going on I need to send a message to my pen pal. One day in the middle of the war I quickly think of a way to send a message to my pen pal. I write down the message I need to send:

Dear Liu Kai Lin,

I have something important to tell you. There is war and it is coming close to Beijing. Use the special lucky charm I gave you to keep you and your family safe. Bring everything you need and you may come to Hong Kong.

From, Yu Jia Min

After I write the message I quickly get the guest room ready. Then I fly back to Beijing on an airplane and take a secret passage to my pen pal’s home. Then I give her the message and after she reads it she and her family show me a shortcut through the war to Hong Kong without anyone getting hurt.

___

You are a good witch who must travel to the ends of the earth to rescue a friend who has been kidnapped by an evil sorceress!

Lauren M., 9, GSIS

The sorceress’s name is Wooloomooloo. She has pimples all over her face, black eyes, black fingernails, a black cloak and snakes in her hair. One time, she made people listen to her by casting a spell on everyone except me because she knew I would do this so I turned myself invisible.

        I went to the sorceress’s castle and saw my friend trapped there. Then, I saw the sorceress coming ready to do something bad to her. Just before she did something I got my invisibility cloak and told it to hold Wooloomooloo on the floor while I got my friend. After that I shared the cloak with my friend and flew off. She went with me to my home and ate the food that was from the magic gem to celebrate.

Hillary Y., 7, IMS

This all happened on a stormy summer night. The sky was dark and the birds stopped singing because a good witch was kidnapped. So, I was sent out to find her.

The prophecy says that the good witch is kept far to the east guarded by lots of monsters and fire. I searched for days to find the cave so I looked and looked for a long time until I heard a voice in the distance.

“Help. Help. Come to rescue me before I get fed to birds!”

The sorceress’s name was Erin. Her hair was blue. Her skin was red and she was awarded with “the most evil witch of the century.”

I ran to save my friend but first I cast a spell to make myself invisible and crept inside to save my friend. However, the sorceress was there so I crept behind her and I crept away with my friend.