When adults inuto a child at ages 3–8, they are essentially programming a narrative that didn’t exist. The child may later struggle to distinguish between genuine affection and coerced performance. In a well-documented incident from a Manila elementary school, a teacher "inuto" two Grade 2 students (both age 7) into acting out a wedding ceremony for a Buwan ng Wika program. The teacher wrote a script where the boy proposed marriage, the girl accepted, and they exchanged plastic rings. Parents applauded and took videos.
A child who is never "inuto" will grow into a teenager who knows how to say, "I like you because I truly feel it – not because an adult told me to." A child who is never forced into a romantic storyline will become an adult who can distinguish performance from genuine intimacy.
By: Maria Cristina D. Reyes, Child Psychology Advocate Introduction: When "Cute" Becomes Cruel In Filipino culture, it is a common sight at family reunions, town fiestas, and even school plays: adults teasing two children about being "magkasintahan" (sweethearts). The act is often dismissed as innocent fun. The keyword "inuto ang batang relationships and romantic storylines" speaks to a troubling practice – the deliberate fooling, teasing, or manipulation of a child’s perception of love, romance, and relationships.
Let us retire the culture of teasing. Let us rewrite the scripts. And most importantly, let us listen to children when they say, "I don't want to play that game."
Because love, even childlike love, should never be a fool’s game. Maria Cristina D. Reyes is a child development advocate and former preschool teacher with 15 years of experience in the Philippine educational system. She specializes in age-appropriate social-emotional learning and the prevention of childhood sexualization through media and family dynamics.
When adults inuto a child at ages 3–8, they are essentially programming a narrative that didn’t exist. The child may later struggle to distinguish between genuine affection and coerced performance. In a well-documented incident from a Manila elementary school, a teacher "inuto" two Grade 2 students (both age 7) into acting out a wedding ceremony for a Buwan ng Wika program. The teacher wrote a script where the boy proposed marriage, the girl accepted, and they exchanged plastic rings. Parents applauded and took videos.
A child who is never "inuto" will grow into a teenager who knows how to say, "I like you because I truly feel it – not because an adult told me to." A child who is never forced into a romantic storyline will become an adult who can distinguish performance from genuine intimacy. inuto ang batang pinsan sex scandal pinoy3gp
By: Maria Cristina D. Reyes, Child Psychology Advocate Introduction: When "Cute" Becomes Cruel In Filipino culture, it is a common sight at family reunions, town fiestas, and even school plays: adults teasing two children about being "magkasintahan" (sweethearts). The act is often dismissed as innocent fun. The keyword "inuto ang batang relationships and romantic storylines" speaks to a troubling practice – the deliberate fooling, teasing, or manipulation of a child’s perception of love, romance, and relationships. When adults inuto a child at ages 3–8,
Let us retire the culture of teasing. Let us rewrite the scripts. And most importantly, let us listen to children when they say, "I don't want to play that game." The teacher wrote a script where the boy
Because love, even childlike love, should never be a fool’s game. Maria Cristina D. Reyes is a child development advocate and former preschool teacher with 15 years of experience in the Philippine educational system. She specializes in age-appropriate social-emotional learning and the prevention of childhood sexualization through media and family dynamics.
