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SCMP Reporter

Many people say childhood is the best  time of your life. I  agree.  A child doesn't need to work and earn money,  or take care of their family.

When  children do something wrong, people won't blame  them or get angry.

Children are innocent and genuine,  so everyone  enjoys talking to them.

Childhood is also the best  time to learn new things. People say that if you learn a language, you should learn as young as possible.

Children have  more energy than older people,  so they can learn lots of  things  and not get tired.

But if you didn't make use of your childhood, it's not too late to start enjoying life now.

KATHERINE YU CHEUK-LING

Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School

Thanks for your letter, Katherine. I'm glad to see that you appreciate being young and carefree.

When you think about it, almost all of the fundamental things you learn in life happen when you are a child - how to stand, then walk, talk, count, draw and write. People are born with the yearning to learn and create, and the more you nourish this quest for knowledge, the stronger it becomes.

Scientists have experimented with baby mice - they put some in cages with lots of toys to play with and mazes to follow, while others they put in empty cages. The ones in the empty cages ended up having smaller brains than the ones that had plenty to keep them stimulated.

The message: use it or lose it.

Victoria, Assistant Editor



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Childhood the best time to learn and create