Educate Children To Treat Others With Dignity!

 

I almost cried. No, I actually cried: Listening to the conversation between a friend of mine and his 12 years old nephew -- his younger brother's son.

Accidentally deprived of oxygen flow, for a few minutes during his birth, he was born with a brain malfunction that severely affected his motor movement -- making him slightly limp during walk.

Simply speaking, despite having no physical deformity he is unable to stand erect and walk normally, because a part of his brain that controls his nervous system regulating leg movement got permanently damaged.

 

Recently, due to a family engagement he couldn't attend school for a few days, and my friend, while helping him complete home work, asked him to get relevant notes from one of his friends.

'I have no friends.' He replied!

'Don't joke, son,' said my friend. 'Tell me the name of your best friend.'

'Believe me, I'm not joking. I don't have any friend.'

'But why?'

'Because, I'm different than others.'

Unable to understand, my friend probed further.

'How come? What made you feel different?'

'Because, I can't walk like them. I'm physically challenged.' He explained like an adult. 'That's why none wants to be my friend.'

At that point my friend changed the course of discussion, leaving me wonder, how ruthless is this world -- including young generation.

Well, the purpose of this post is to highlight a dark shade of life that was still unknown to me until overhearing above conversion.

However, the next day I had a counseling session with him and did my best to make him realize that he is no different. I shall share the gist of my intense discussion with him through one of my future posts.

 

Well, there is a great guideline, in that respect, outlined in one the posts on Harvard Graduation School Website, providing 5 Tips For Cultivating Empathy In Children.

  

"Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It’s a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships of many kinds, for loving well, and for professional success. And it’s key to preventing bullying and many other forms of cruelty.Empathy begins with the capacity to take another perspective, to walk in another’s shoes. 

 But it is not just that capacity. Salespeople, politicians, actors and marketers are often very skilled at taking other perspectives but they may not care about others. Con men and torturers take other perspectives so they can exploit people’s weaknesses. Empathy includes valuing other perspectives and people. It’s about perspective-taking and compassion."

In the mean time, let me make  an appeal to all parents: Please, educate your children to treat others with dignity and empathy. Tell your children that they are lucky to be born normal. Make them realize that they must thank God for being normal, and teach them to stop laughing at others who're not as fortunate for no fault of theirs.

Parents may go through an excellent article written by Erin Leonar, in one of the World's most popular Psychology websites, Psychology Today, highlighting "The Secret To Teaching A Child Empathy."

  

"The goal is to raise a child who is conscientious. A child who truly cares about the way his or her actions impact others is, generally, a child with solid character.

Usually this type of child feels immediate and deep remorse after a mistake and works hard to make it right. A deep streak of empathy usually runs through this sort of child.

But what about the kids who lack these capabilities? Helping them acquire the capacity for empathy is critical because it is key in maintaining close and healthy relationships."

Let us teach our children to have empathy for others, including them who deserve it most, by educating them understand the importance of the same for living a healthy emotional life and achieving relationship excellence.

 

Photo by Polina Zimmerman from Pexels

 

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