Contents Page Community & School ……………………………………. 2

Opinions & Insights ………………………………………. 3

Reviews ………………………………………………….. 7

Etc. ……………………………………………………….. 8

Advice …………………………………………………........

Fun & Games ……………………………………………….

10

11

OH, CHILDREN... HOW SILLY YOU ARE

2

The Truth about Hallowe’en By: Jessica Crawford-Brown

To many, Hallowe‟en is a simple holiday

where people dress up in silly costumes. It‟s an

excuse to throw parties and eat candy until your

heart‟s content. What most people don‟t know is the

complicated history behind the holiday. This is the

truth about Hallowe‟en.

Hallowe‟en was originally a combination of

two holidays. All Saints‟ Day is a

Christian holiday created to

celebrate all recognized and

unrecognized saints. The

celebration was originally held

on May 13th, but it was moved

to November 1st by Pope George

II and Pope George III. All

Saints‟ Day is also known as All

Hallows‟ Day, meaning that the

night before was called All

Hallows‟ Evening or All

Hallows‟ Eve. This was then

shortened to Hallowe‟en through many steps, and

that is how the holiday acquired its name.

Samhain (pronounced, “sow-an”, meaning

“summer‟s end”) is also a factor in the modern

definition of Hallowe‟en. The Samhain festival is a

Celtic holiday that celebrates the end of the harvest

season. It also celebrates the change from the “light”

half of the year (spring and summer) to the “dark”

half (fall and winter). This holiday occurs on

October 31st and is also considered the Celtic New

Year. The ancient Celts believed that this was the

day when the border between the two worlds

thinned, allowing spirits to pass through. They

believed that on this day, the spirits would pull

pranks on the humans; and so, to avoid being

pranked, the Celts dressed up in costumes, tricking

the spirits into thinking that they were dead as well.

Jack-o-lanterns would also be put in windows to

protect the houses.

The jack-o-lantern has a really great story.

Stingey Jack was a simple peasant, when

one day he encountered the devil, who

decided that he would take Jack to hell

with him. Jack wasn‟t happy about the

idea, and tricked the devil into climbing a

tree. He carved a cross into the trunk,

making it impossible for the devil to climb

down. The devil was so angry he put a

curse on Jack that when he died, he would

wander the Earth forever with nothing but

a hollowed turnip with a candle inside,

giving us the jack-o-lantern. Before North

America was discovered, jack-o-lanterns

were created by carving root vegetables, specifically

turnips and rutabagas. When they discovered North

America, they also found pumpkins, which were

easier to carve and hollow and were also available at

this time of year.

Hallowe‟en is a fun and creative holiday.

Anyone can dress up in silly, imaginative costumes,

party for days on end, and eat candy to their heart‟s

content. It is now highly commercialized (as is every

other holiday we have), but it‟s still amazing to go

trick-or-treating, no matter what age you are.So this

Hallowe‟en, have fun and be safe.

Community & School

Do you want to get the WORD out about your club or

event? The newspaper is the perfect place to do so!

Email us at ym.word@gmail.com to get advertised.

3

What are Kids Wearing These Days? By: AJ McDowell

The other day, I found a picture taken in 1998. In the photo,

I‟m wearing a purple jump suit with Minnie‟s face plastered all over the front, light up runners, and a hat with a huge flower on it.

Going through the album I found more silly outfits—bright sweats, silly shirts, clashing prints, and those puffy-shouldered dresses that, with the right amount of lace, would make any group of old women squeal in amusement. As children of the 90‟s, we should all be fully aware of the weird and sometimes ridiculous outfits we

were subjected to. However, this is a part of growing up—not having to care what you put on, just so long as you get to run around outside and play.

As ridiculous as our outfits were, have you seen what kids are

dressed in these days?

It seems like the clothing selection for kids has become more and more vulgar, especially for girls. You can‟t walk two feet into a Children’s Place or Gap Kids without seeing an “I‟M A BELIEBER” shirt. The other day I was looking around the mall for my brother‟s kindergarten clothes, and saw a shirt with “Mrs. Bieber” printed across the front. Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, even Twilight apparel is sold in child sizes. Not only has the conent of clothes worsened, but the styles have as well. Miniskirts in mini sizes, halter tops for tots, teeny bikinis for…. well, you get the idea. Gone are the days of puffy lace dresses and simple sweats. Lasenza Girl seems to be the worst offender for such styles, as I found a pair of mini fishnet stockings in one of their bins when shopping with my cousin a few months back. Yes, fishnets.

Kids don‟t understand the context behind these clothes. They

don‟t know what Justin Beiber‟s lyrics really mean, and they don‟t understand the themes behind movies like Twilight. They don‟t know why mini skirts are so short, or why halter tops are so revealing; they wear the clothes they are given. If kids don‟t fully understand the context, then why are they walking around with these images so loudly displayed on their clothes?

I‟ll be first to admit that sometimes seeing kids dressed up to

look like adults is adorable. Little boys in suits or the kids from the Penelope4Ontario ad campaign are cute. Little girls that are dressed like teenagers? Not so much. Little boys looking like convicts? It‟s bad enough that all tween boys have decided to embody Bieber. Leave the children out of it.

Sometimes, I‟ll see a family pass by and notice the youngest girl wearing her little dress. She doesn‟t

know what material it‟s made out of, or the designer, or where it was sewn together. All she cares about is that when she spins around really fast, the skirt swings around her and turns into a cloud. You can‟t do that in a mini skirt. They‟ll have to deal with all the drama of being a teenager in ten years anyway, so let kids dress like

kids and no fishnets „til you‟re thirty.

Opinions & Insights

4

When Does Childhood Really End? By Kevin Fan

To children, childhood is an endless haze of days. To adults, it is a long-forgotten land that is looked

back on with nostalgia, but when does childhood really end?

Strictly speaking, it ends after adolescence, when one physically becomes an adult. However, for many

people, this is certainly not the case. In my opinion, childhood should be defined by one‟s psychological state.

Depending on the various factors that influence a person‟s life, one might never have been a child. Take,

for instance, a seven-year-old labourer at a sweatshop; an orphan who has to feed her younger sibling;

Michael Jackson, who was an international star as a young boy; or soldiers who had to go to war at age 14.

On the contrary, one might be a child at heart all his/her life. As Le Petit Prince so simplistically put it:

“Ne perdez jamais l‟enfant en toi” (“Never lose the child within you”). In other words, some grown-ups may

keep the optimism, curiosity, innocence, imagination, and naivety of a child, as well as an intuitive way of

looking at things. For example, in one novella, a man developed a pill, which allowed humans to live without

the need for food or water. Although he was proud of his convenient and practical invention, le Petit Prince

regarded it as something that deprived humans of many of life‟s pleasures.

In conclusion, childhood is the most wonderful stage of life. However, there is no real border between

childhood and adulthood; it all depends on our attitude toward life.

Child Socialization By: Jessie Zhang

Have you ever thought about why you are the way you are, or how you got to be the person you are

today? Personality is shaped by socializing forces, and by other various factors from your childhood. As modern technology improves, little kids want all of the latest gadgets. From cellphones, to iPods, to

laptops—you name it, the 21st century has it all, with even more to come. Nowadays, a child's social life

revolves around technology and staring at screens all day. With each generation, kids will interact less with

each other face-to-face.

Children are influenced very easily. Do you remember that time when your friends did something and

you followed their actions? Do you remember when they received the newest toy and you begged for it too? Children tend to go with the flow and follow everything that other children do, whether it‟s right or wrong. However, a child looks up to his or her parents. Almost every movement a parent makes, their child will try to copy. If the parents are unloving and uncaring, the child will most likely become depressed and pessimistic, as children want full attention.

Media and advertisements play a huge role in a child‟s life. If a child sees a type of cereal that offers a

prize, they will bawl their eyes out until their parents promise to buy that cereal.

Look back into the past, and think about what influenced you, and how your social life as a child is

different than your social life today.

5

TV Time By: Mitali Chaudhary

Who in this world has not been yelled at for watching too much TV? Who has not been addicted to sitting in front of that magical box, to watch show after show, every day? Television, at some point in all of our childhoods, was an obsession, and the one thing to look forward to in the day. Most of us know (from hearing our parents rant) that TV isn‟t a good thing. We may not realize all of the implications that television has on children, especially toddlers, like the fact that their brains might not develop properly, because of too much exposure to that “magical” box.

Did you know that two thirds of all children

under the age of six watch at least two hours of TV everyday? That includes watching television commercials, as well as watching many silly characters do crazy things. All the while, the child is being shut off from crucial interaction between himself or herself and his or her family.

Let‟s not forget the brain-development issue.

Take SpongeBob as an example. It‟s a hilarious show, filled with fun and music, but a recent study suggests that young children who watch this show have a higher chance of developing A.D.H.D (attention deficit hyper disorder), since there are so many fast-moving images, sounds, and events.

Young children become used to a high amount of action, which affects their attention span. Even as a teenager when you watch TV, your brain activity slows down. Just imagine the effect that it would have on a child‟s brain.

Some, however, may argue that there are

advantages to television. Preschoolers can learn the alphabet, receive help in counting, and learn about wildlife and nature, but very few channels offer these types of shows, and most kids wouldn‟t find them as appealing as others. There are many more disadvantages than advantages to justify why a child less than six years old should be allowed to watch the average of two hours of TV per day. Parents should limit their child to less than one hour each day, if watching TV is even necessary. This way the child will understand his/her limits on the amount of TV they watch, and will be less likely to become addicted to it in elementary years.

The younger years of everyone‟s lives are so important—they determine what kind of person we will be when we grow older. Adding too much TV to the mix endangers the crucial growth stage in children.

How Teen Parents are Portrayed in Media By: Kayleigh Shield

Do you think that any of your classmates, as

parents, would be informed, considerate, and

responsible at their current age? If you have

watched shows like 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom or

Degrassi: The Next Generation, you will probably

say no. This might be because the media portrays

teen parents as naïve, inconsiderate, and

irresponsible.

For example, in the movie Pregnancy Pact,

many teenage girls from the same high school choose

to become pregnant at the same time. Most of the

girls who choose to keep their babies assume that

raising a child is not difficult; this reflects the wide-

spread perception that teen parents often don‟t

consider all the lives their pregnancy could seriously

impact. Also, teen parents are commonly shown to

be selfish. This is especially true for those featured

on 16 and Pregnant, where antics include frivolous

spending, constant arguing with their families, and

frequent custody battles. (However, the young lad

who drove off with his two sons, kidnapping them, will

always have a spot in my heart.)

The hallmark of the stereotypical teen parent

is irresponsible behavior—the tip of the iceberg is

often becoming pregnant in the first place. From out

of control partying (because they assume their

parents will look after their children for them), to

dropping out of school (because they have no access

to affordable childcare), it is true that the media

portrays teen parents as being deficient in many

ways. If our society is truly as tolerant as we like to

think it is, then everyone should be respected and

have equal opportunities, no matter how many

mistakes they make.

6

Feral Children By: Matthew Green

Wikipedia defines the term “feral child” as: a human child who has lived isolated from human

contact from a very young age, and has no (or little) experience of human care, social behaviour, and

human language. Feral children have been common in legends and tales since the beginning of recorded

history. The Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh tells of Enkidu, who was raised by animals and embodied

the natural world; Romulus and Remus, mythological founders of Rome, were abandoned by their

parents and raised by a she-wolf; and of course there is Tarzan, brought up by apes in the African jungle.

These figures exhibit ideal traits: intelligence (or the capability to develop it), courage, and adaptability to

society.

Unfortunately, most feral children are not this way. Having missed out on a critical period of social,

emotional and linguistic development, they rarely (if ever) lead normal lives. Here are the stories of three

feral children, all of whom developed differently:

VICTOR OF AVEYRON, ca. 1785-1828, FRANCE

Victor voluntarily left the forest in which he had spent the majority of his youth (from age 6-14) on

January 8th, 1800. He entered a small town in southern France and was displayed as an attraction before

being studied by a local biology professor, Pierre Joseph Bonaterre. Bonaterre noted, with unrivalled and

stunning insight, that there was something “which [made] him seem close to the state of wild animals.”

(Keen observation there, Pierre.) Victor then lived with a young medical student, Jean Marc Itard. With

Itard, Victor gained some elementary understanding of language, but could only write two phrases

(“milk” and “Oh, God”), and never learned to speak. Itard wrote that despite all of his teaching, “the boy

remained a savage." Victor died at age 43.

MARIE-ANGÉLIQUE LE BLANC, 1712-1775, FRANCE

Marie-Angelique was a Native American servant to a wealthy French woman in Marseilles. She

escaped into the forest when she was 9, and stayed there for 10 years, the longest of any documented

feral child. Facts are sparse, but she re-entered society at the age of 19, and did learn to read and write.

This is almost certainly due to the fact that she spent her young, critical years of development in human

society. Marie-Angelique lived until she was 63.

GENIE, 1957- , USA

Genie is the pseudonym given to a feral child who was kept for 13 years in a bedroom, socially

isolated, and strapped to a potty chair. When she was rescued she knew only 20 words or phrases (mostly

negative: “stop it” or “no”, as she was abused by her father), though she was mostly silent, and could not

walk properly. With extensive therapy, Genie gradually learned to give short answers, socialize to an

extent, and express emotion. She enjoyed classical music and bright, colourful objects. She also learned

to smile. Due to a dispute with members of the “Genie team” over who would take custody of her, as well

as a loss of interest and funding in her case, Genie moved from foster home to foster home, sometimes

suffering abuse and regressing severely. She is currently at a mental health institution, though her exact

whereabouts and true name are not known.

The cases of feral children, especially Genie‟s, are incredibly tragic. What I find remarkable is that

Genie managed to thrive, even after she was abused and strapped to a chair for the first 13 years of her

life. Genie‟s ability to smile after all that is a testament to the fact that some children are fighters;

somehow they will their “nature” (I believe that most children are inherently good) to overcome their

“nurture”. It is a testament to the power of human free will.

7

Winnie the Pooh By: Jessica Crawford-Brown

Deep in the Hundred Acre Woods, where Christopher Robin plays, you’ll find the enchanted neighbourhood of Christopher’s childhood days. The most recent Winnie the Pooh movie is a spectacular continuation of the series, starring that “silly ol‟ bear” we all know and love. The story begins in Pooh‟s home, when he awakes in the morning with his tummy

“a-rumblin". Unfortunately for Pooh, he had eaten all of his “hunny”, so he gets dressed and sets out to find some breakfast. In another area of the famous woods, Eeyore awakes and discovers that his tail is missing. Rabbit, Piglet, Tigger, and the rest of the gang agree to have a contest to decide on what Eeyore‟s new tail should be. After many different ideas, the crew seeks Christopher Robin, and Pooh discovers a note that reads: “Back soon.” Owl misreads it as “Back son,” and trying to seem smart, he (not knowing what a backson is) explains that it‟s a hideous monster. Now, on top of Pooh‟s hunger and Eeyore‟s missing tail, Pooh,

Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Owl, and Eeyore must save Christopher Robin from the backson. The cartoonists do an excellent job of mimicking the original drawings down to the very last detail, and the writers capture the well known quirks and perks of every character. It was almost as if the fun-loving stories never left. This is a wonderful movie for all ages (considering I myself went to see it with a friend).

The Walking Dead By: AJ McDowell

At first glance it appears to be just another zombie show, but upon further viewing,

it has successfully proved otherwise. The show is based on the graphic novel, Walking Dead, written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Tony Moore (later Charlie Adlard). In the story, Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up in the hospital (after being shot on the job) to a world that has been ravaged by a disease that turns the dead and infected living into mindless, flesh craving monsters. Society has collapsed, and survivors are few and far between. The first episode is identical to the first chapter of the comic, and after that, branches out into a different storyline. The characters all have dimension, even the ones that seem evil. They are realistically human and react to the situations that arise as humans would; grieving over loss, surviving and getting by. The plot is believable, and events are well structured and timed. This show is amazing. It‟s one of the few book-to-screen adaptations that remain

true to the text without copying it directly. Every single character on the show makes you think and feel through the masterfully written script and seamless acting—even the zombies, characters normally portrayed

with limping and fake blood, are played perfectly. There are no cheesy dramatics, no unrealistic growls. They

move as though it‟s all they are capable of doing, and follow the scent of life like hungry dogs—instinctually. It really gives substance behind the reoccurring question of “What if…”

In the previous issue of Wörd, the author of The Secret Circle was identified incorrectly. The

actual author was Catherine Ross. Wörd issues sincere apologies to Catherine for this error.

Reviews

8

Sometimes By: Jessica Crawford-Brown

“Mama, Mama, look!” the little girl shrieked as she made her way across the yard, her bare feet slipping as she ran on the wet grass. “Mama, look what I got!” The girl reached her mother and opened her clasped hands, revealing a small toad resting calmly on her palm.

Her mother let out a sound of surprise before smiling. “You know, Grace, frogs breathe through their

skin.” The child‟s face turned to concern as she looked from her mother, to the frog, to her mother, and back to

the frog. “I guess I should put him back, Mama. I don‟t want to suffocate Mr. Toadington.” The girl slowly walked back to the swamp just off their property.

Grace was no more than four years of age, and was just as innocent and kind as a newborn puppy. ----

“Mom, where is my blue sweater?” Grace called down the stairs to her mother, who was preparing

dinner in the kitchen. “It should be in your closet!” she called back, as she sprinkled seasoning and herbs upon the roast. “If it

isn‟t there then check the laundry basket in my bedroom.” “It‟s not in my closet, and it‟s not in the laundry basket.” Grace galloped down the stairs and entered the

kitchen, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the dining room table. Her mother turned around to face her and a giggle escaped her lips. Her hand flew up to her mouth,

trying to hide her apparent amusement. “Honey, look down.” Grace looked at her apparel, and laughed. “I guess I found my sweater,” she replied, and returned back

upstairs and to her room. ----

The doorbell rang, and the older woman made her way slowly to open the doorway. The cold winter

breeze blew through the opening, bringing snowflakes in with it. “Merry Christmas, Mom,” Grace greeted, stepping through the threshold and bringing her husband with

her. “Hi, Dad,” she said to her father, kissing him on the cheek as she took off her coat. She placed her coat on

a hook, and her husband did the same. She followed her mother to the kitchen as the men made their way to

the sitting area to converse.

“And how are you doing, Lovely?” her mother asked, approaching the oven and opening it to check on

the stuffed bird roasting inside. Grace sighed, “I‟m very stressed. There‟s a lot of pressure on me at work, and Dave doesn‟t seem to be

too happy lately.” She sighed again. “Sometimes I wish I could return to childhood, when everything was so simple, and when our only worries were trivial.”

Her mother looked up at her, her eyes full of thought. An image of the small child returning the toad to

the swamp flashed through her mind. “I do too, Lovely. I do too.”

Etc.

9

Little Hands By: Kayla Clarke

Her little fingers were like a vice. The little hands held onto her mother

for dear life—an iron grip on the fabric of her red dress, creating a small

crease. As her mother shooed her off to play with the other children, the grip

transferred to her own little pink dress. Tentatively, her little legs brought

her to someone else. Unknown by myself, she had crept up beside me.

Suddenly, I felt a clasp on my striped sweater. As I looked down, I saw little

hands looking for security, someone trust worthy, me. I took the little hands

into my bigger ones, marvelling at the soft touch. She looked up to me and

smiled. Her little hands in mine, we felt happiness.

Favourite Childhood Things By: Sandy Qin

Remember when you were a kid, and there was that one toy that you wanted so desperately? Remember

when you finally got it for your birthday, and you treasured it ever since?

It‟s so funny how your favourite things from childhood are often the smallest things—your Lego blocks,

that old stuffed animal, that little trinket you liked and later lost and cried over for an hour until your parents

finally found it in the back pocket of your pants. These little things represent the days when we were little, and

how innocent and cute we were. We had (almost) no care in the world, making this a joyful period. Most of us

will think back and agree that childhood was a great time, and I'm sure that a lot of us will wish we knew it back

then.

Some of my own favourite childhood things include my giant leather couch that was shaped like a banana,

my simple and well-used ragdolls, and a cat plushie that I still have to this day. Come to think of it, I adore a lot

of my childhood things, even now as a teenager. They bring back many memories, which now, are just as

precious as the toys loved long ago.

We all have memories of what it was like to be a kid, and many of us, if not all, will look back on them one

day and laugh, reminiscing about our own childhood experiences.

Beatles Song of the Issue: Yellow Submarine By: Kayla Clarke

“We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine!” How could you not think that

this song would be chosen for the Beatle song of the issue? Silly readers! The issue is about childhood, so why not

choose a song that has also been made into a kid‟s movie?!

Yellow Submarine was released in 1968, and is an animated movie, paired with the music of the Fab Four.

The plot revolves around a town in a different dimension, which was taken over by the Blue Meanies. The

Beatles are recruited by an escapee to help restore order to the town in the form of music. The soundtrack is full

of classic songs that range from deep and meaningful (Eleanor Rigby), to silly and childish songs about love (All

Together Now).

Another thing special about this movie is that our school has a wall painted in dedication to it. Yes, that‟s

right, the mural painted in front of Studio 1 is of Yellow Submarine. Go have a look, and you‟ll see the Beatles,

the Blue Meanies, The Glove and the Nowhere Man (I‟ll give a cookie to the person who can tell me the name of

the Nowhere Man!). The song, Yellow Submarine, is a really funny, sing-along song. There may or may not be

any references to drug use, but it‟s so catchy that you‟re parents shouldn‟t care.

Give it a listen, and watch the film. All of the psych-a-delic colours, and smart quirky dialogue will blow

you away, putting any Disney or Pixar movie to shame.

10

Dear Mischa,

I've been dating the same girl for a while now, and although it’s going well, I keep finding

myself looking at other girls. There's one girl in particular who I met recently that I just can't

seem to get out of my head. I feel guilty about even considering other girls while I'm in a

relationship. Should I break it off with my girlfriend?

-Girl Troubles

Girl Troubles,

I wouldn't make any rash decisions if I were you. You need to sort fantasy from reality; is this new girl

really worth it, or have you put her on a pedestal before actually getting to know her as a friend? Think about

your girlfriend and why you got together with her in the first place. Try sitting down, clearing your head, and

writing it out. The big question you have to ask yourself is “how good is my current relationship if I was willing to

give it up so quickly for someone I've just met?” I think that since you had to voice the question, you already

know the answer.

Dear Mischa,

It's my first year at YM, but I have only come for my grade 12 year. Going to a new school

is already intimidating, without having to deal with the stresses of making new friends. Everyone

already knows each other, and everyone has their place. I'm having a really hard time making

friends and fitting in. Help?

-Lonely

Lonely,

I totally understand where you're coming from. Some tips I have for you would be to join some clubs

around the school and get involved; not only does it help you get to know some people, it'll give you some good

memories of your last year. Also, try asking the person next to you a question in class. People generally like to

share knowledge, and it could be a good conversation-starter. What you have to remember is that everyone has

been new at some point, and though it may look like everyone has their place, most of them have moments when

they aren't so sure. Don't think of yourself as without a place, but more so as a personality too big for one specific

shelf. A little confidence never hurt anybody.

Advice

If you’re seeking advice, then let Mischa help.

Visit www.wordnewspaper.webs.com and have

your problems solved.

11

Answers

Matching : a)The Magic School Bus, b)Arthur, c) Hey Arnold, d) yogi Bear

Fill in the Blanks: 1. anywhere, green eggs, ham, Sam-I-Am 2. head, shoes 3. mat, Cat in the Hat

Test your memory! Match the cartoon

character to the name of the show:

Fun & Games

Hey Arnold

Yogi Bear

Arthur

The Magic School Bus

Fill in the blanks in these Dr. Seuss poems:

“I would not like them here or there. I would

not like them _________. I do not like

_____________and_____. I do not like

them, ______-____-___.”

“You have brains in your _______. You have

feet in your______. You can steer yourself,

any direction you choose.”

“We looked! Then we saw him step in on the

____! We looked! And we saw him! The

_______________!”

12

What I Miss about Childhood By: Kayleigh Shield

Nothing is better than being a child. From the

numerous superficial injuries to the poor hygiene, the harsh judgment of others to the self- gratification of fine-tuning one‟s motor skills, childhood truly is a golden age. I miss having a legitimate excuse to own a blankie and a stuffed animal (I am secure enough in my own maturity to admit that these items are comforting when one inevitably fails and no one understands). Also, no one ridicules your irrational fear of spiders or the dark when you can‟t even reach the bathroom sink by yourself. The sartorial freedom that comes with obnoxiously bright, patterned kid‟s clothes offers limitless ways to clash. Besides, no one will judge (seeing as you still have to sit in a booster seat), let alone comprehend that wearing a mish-mash of colours makes you look like a colour-blind fool. The following are stories from other Wörd members, about what they miss about their childhoods. I was once a child who lived such a happy and relaxing life. I miss how life used to be so simple and easy and joyous, especially early childhood. Everything was as easy as 1+1. Well, that is, for EARLY childhood. All the little kids were friendly to each other, and everyone got along fine without any complications, with the FEW exceptions, of course. No one would spread rumours or gossip or make little clubs. There was peace amongst everyone, including "frenemies". Nothing was so complicated, especially that gender problem. No one would assume anything in early childhood. Nothing felt awkward. Friendships were so straight-forward and sincere. Everything was just so easy and laid-back. From the past, the thing I miss most is how easy everything was, especially the friendship between people. -Jessie I miss the days when two hours seemed like the longest time, and waking up at seven o'clock for Saturday morning cartoons was my only weekend priority; when Pokemon was the coolest thing in the world and I was a chubby little goofball. Snack time and nap time are on the top of my list, too. -Catherine W. Being able to cry and get what you want in an instant. >=D -Peter I miss the simplicity of having a child's mind. -Joanna There are many things that I miss about childhood (yes I know it's sounds stupid, but at least I‟m honest). The main one would probably have to be how I could be so oblivious to everything going on around me. I thought the world was PERFECT! I had lots of time to myself and never had a care. I could wear anything I wanted without others judging me.

I could say anything and get away with it And most importantly, I could do anything that I wanted and never get in serious trouble! Ah, the freedom I had...too bad it's over... -Cassandra What I miss most about childhood would be missing classically drawn Disney movies. -Connie I miss.... Kindergarten nap times :D And how.... you can get 4 garbage bags worth of candy on Halloween And how you don't have to give a care in the world about your grades :) -Subin What I miss most from childhood is childhood innocence, as back then I thought all was good in the world and I was protected from all bad. I didn't have to worry about very much and I always felt safe. Now, however, I am aware of all the bad things happening in the world (drugs, rapists, poverty, etc.), and while I do appreciate being informed on these issues, I sometimes wish that I could go back to a time when all was good in the world, or so i thought. -Diana What I miss most about childhood is playing Hungry Hungry Hippos! -Alissa My toy cars. -Liane Attention span of 10 seconds maximum, that ol‟ stuffed animal which your mother always wanted to throw out but you insisted on keeping, the bed that was small but so comfortable, and your favourite blanket that you huddle under whenever there‟s a thunderstorm. 10+ hours of sleep each night, how the world looked so big to you, zero homework, and no tests or exams for which to cram. How you can play all day long, no chores, how little boys and girls can play together without having their friends conclude that they like each other, and the innocence which was lost over the years. How the number of Pokémon cards you had was all that mattered, the lack of exaggerated gossip and false rumours, and nonexistence of peer pressure. The days when we all still believed in Santa, Easter Bunny, etc., the attention you get whenever you go with your parents to visit friends or family, and the imagination and confidence that so many of us lack now. Trips to the toy store down the street and huge games of hide-and-seek with all the neighbourhood kids. -Sandy Qin