Children: Dignity is Paramount

Mostly due to tradition, we tend think of children as a separate species instead of simply a smaller version of a grown human. It’s an important distinction. Children have the exact same needs as we do but on a much grander and more important scale. Dignity is paramount - we all want to feel important and useful. For the elderly we often say that they’ve lost their dignity because they can’t do things on their own (brush their teeth, walk quickly) yet how often do we strip it from children? We’re all guilty at times of carrying toddlers like packages, rushing shoes on their feet and using screens too often to occupy time at their most vital full-sensory learning period (0-12). And so we’re reminded this week to take our time, to allow for enough space to let them complete a task and to use a respectful tone when making requests. Whenever we lose our center we can ask: How would I treat my friend’s child in this situation?