When School Feels Like a Cage: A Kid’s Perspective on Growing Up, Gaming, and Global Education
Let’s talk about something every kid thinks but rarely says out loud: “I don’t want to be 10—I want to be 20!” That sentiment isn’t just about age; it’s about freedom. Imagine waking up one day, suddenly older, wiser, and finally done with homework, tests, and the dreaded scroll school routine. For many kids, school can feel like a never-ending loop of rules, schedules, and assignments that leave little room for creativity or fun.
Take it from a 5-year-old (well, almost 6!) in California who’s already spent years navigating classrooms. “School endo esqueleto,” they say—a mix of Portuguese and Spanglish that roughly translates to “school skeleton.” To them, the rigid structure of traditional education feels lifeless, like a dusty old skeleton rather than a vibrant space to learn. Add in the frustration of being Brazilian in a U.S. school system (“SHES bAD because um a brazuklian”), and you’ve got a recipe for burnout before middle school.
Why Do Kids Hate School?
For starters, let’s address the scroll school phenomenon. Endless worksheets, repetitive drills, and sitting still for hours can make anyone feel trapped. Kids today are digital natives—they’re used to interactive worlds like Roblox, where creativity and problem-solving happen in real time. When classrooms lack that energy, it’s no wonder they’d rather build virtual theme parks than solve math problems on paper.
Then there’s the pressure to “grow up” on someone else’s timeline. A child saying, “I’ll be 6 years old in 2026” isn’t just counting birthdays; they’re highlighting how slowly time moves when you’re stuck in a system that doesn’t align with your interests. Wanting to fast-forward to age 20 isn’t about skipping childhood—it’s about craving autonomy.
Roblox: More Than Just a Game
Critics might dismiss Roblox as a distraction, but for many kids, it’s a lifeline. Take sammy trash and já del bestu Conh—likely usernames of friends or favorite game characters. In these virtual spaces, kids collaborate, design, and negotiate rules. A 5-year-old building a Roblox obstacle course isn’t just playing; they’re learning physics, teamwork, and resource management. When schools label gaming as “trash,” they miss an opportunity to harness its educational potential.
In Brazil, where this child’s roots lie, access to technology in schools varies widely. For a Brazilian kid in California, the contrast is stark. They might feel torn between their homeland’s lively, community-focused culture and a structured U.S. classroom that prioritizes individualism over collaboration.
The “School Skeleton” Problem
The phrase endo esqueleto (“skeleton”) perfectly captures how outdated systems can drain the joy from learning. Imagine memorizing facts for a test versus designing a volcano that erupts baking soda lava. One approach feels lifeless; the other sparks curiosity. Kids aren’t against learning—they’re against learning in ways that ignore their passions.
Even terms like study school reveal a disconnect. For adults, “studying” means focus and discipline. For kids, it often means boredom and restlessness. The solution? Integrate play into education. Let them code games to learn math, or use Roblox to explore historical settings. When learning feels like an adventure, even the most reluctant student might lean in.
The Future: 2026 and Beyond
By 2026, this 5-year-old will be 6—but their vision for the future is bigger than age. It’s about transforming education to respect how kids actually learn. Imagine schools where Brazilian samba rhythms blend with Silicon Valley tech, where Roblox avatars teach geometry, and where “scroll school” is replaced by hands-on projects.
For now, parents and teachers can take small steps:
1. Listen to the frustration. When a kid says, “I hate school,” dig deeper. Is it the workload? The lack of creativity? Cultural clashes?
2. Bridge the gap between screens and classrooms. Use games like Roblox to teach coding or storytelling.
3. Celebrate cultural roots. A Brazilian child in the U.S. shouldn’t have to hide their identity to fit in.
Growing up is hard enough without feeling like you’re racing against a clock or suffocating in a “school skeleton.” Maybe the path to 20 starts with redefining what school could be—not a cage, but a launchpad. After all, as one wise almost-6-year-old reminds us: “I don’t want the show to end. I want it to evolve.”
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