Ignorance And Compassion In Children
On a visit to the grocery store, you see a wheelchair bound patron who needs assistance, what do you do? At the playground, a child with down-syndrome, a visible dark birthmark, or any other society defined abnormality approaches your child to play. They look to you for direction, what do you do? Your decision to help or walk away from the patron in need, and encourage or discourage our child from engaging in play with the other child will define your ignorance or compassion in handling these situations. Do you wish to teach your child to exude ignorance or do you wish your child to convey compassion?
Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information on a given subject. Compassion is the understanding of someone’s pain and the ability
to somehow mitigate or lessen that pain. When a person stares at someone in a wheelchair or someone with a birthmark covering part of their face, this can be out of ignorance. When a child walks away from another child because they are different in looks or abilities, this can also be out of ignorance. Children don’t enter the world knowing what society deems normal,. This is learned from the examples set by the adults in their lives. When you see that wheelchair bound patron in the store, ask if you can help. If you have a child with you, suggest they pick up the dropped item. The thanks or smile they get will make you both smile. Next time you visit the park with your child or any child, encourage them to play with that friendless child society has deemed abnormal. Helping the patron in the store or playing with that child are both examples of compassion.
Ignorance and compassion can be learned at any age. I learned compassion at a young age from my grandmother. She was a very important person in my life and it was my goal to emulate her. Unfortunately I didn’t fully become accountable for my actions until well into my teens, being that I too feigned ignorance in situations where compassion would have been the better choice. At 16, I was introduced to a unique working environment, a summer camp for physically and mentally challenged individuals of all ages. I learned that ignorance was not acceptable. The individuals I was introduced to were a rewarding group to work with and get to know. My past ignorance definitely had me missing out on some fabulous relationships with some extraordinary individuals. They were beyond belief some of the most compassionate people I would ever meet. Individuals shunned their whole life were well versed in exhibiting compassion. I worked at this camp for five summers, and after that first summer vowed to never use the word “retard” again. Therefore, that word is not allowed in our home. My next lesson in compassion came when my now 11-year-old nephew was born with cerebral palsy and microcephaly. He was born into a home with two other children, and we all know how kids can be. Consequently my past experiences, working with individuals with special needs and understanding their abilities rather than their disabilities, taught me just how extraordinary my nephew could be. His siblings surprised us all with the compassion they showed as their brother’s abilities became apparent. He is unable to walk or talk, however is included in all aspects of their family life. This experience has taught all the children in our family to be compassionate individuals. They love to open doors for people, assist less able-bodies individuals, and run to befriend that lonely child sitting on the buddy bench.
I hope that you now practice compassion in lieu of ignorance. Ignorance has no place in today’s world, however compassion can change the day of both the person receiving it and the people extending it. Let’s teach the children in our lives to be compassionate, caring individuals and end ignorance by sharing knowledge and information on compassion.
Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information on a given subject. Compassion is the understanding of someone’s pain and the ability
to somehow mitigate or lessen that pain. When a person stares at someone in a wheelchair or someone with a birthmark covering part of their face, this can be out of ignorance. When a child walks away from another child because they are different in looks or abilities, this can also be out of ignorance. Children don’t enter the world knowing what society deems normal,. This is learned from the examples set by the adults in their lives. When you see that wheelchair bound patron in the store, ask if you can help. If you have a child with you, suggest they pick up the dropped item. The thanks or smile they get will make you both smile. Next time you visit the park with your child or any child, encourage them to play with that friendless child society has deemed abnormal. Helping the patron in the store or playing with that child are both examples of compassion.
Ignorance and compassion can be learned at any age. I learned compassion at a young age from my grandmother. She was a very important person in my life and it was my goal to emulate her. Unfortunately I didn’t fully become accountable for my actions until well into my teens, being that I too feigned ignorance in situations where compassion would have been the better choice. At 16, I was introduced to a unique working environment, a summer camp for physically and mentally challenged individuals of all ages. I learned that ignorance was not acceptable. The individuals I was introduced to were a rewarding group to work with and get to know. My past ignorance definitely had me missing out on some fabulous relationships with some extraordinary individuals. They were beyond belief some of the most compassionate people I would ever meet. Individuals shunned their whole life were well versed in exhibiting compassion. I worked at this camp for five summers, and after that first summer vowed to never use the word “retard” again. Therefore, that word is not allowed in our home. My next lesson in compassion came when my now 11-year-old nephew was born with cerebral palsy and microcephaly. He was born into a home with two other children, and we all know how kids can be. Consequently my past experiences, working with individuals with special needs and understanding their abilities rather than their disabilities, taught me just how extraordinary my nephew could be. His siblings surprised us all with the compassion they showed as their brother’s abilities became apparent. He is unable to walk or talk, however is included in all aspects of their family life. This experience has taught all the children in our family to be compassionate individuals. They love to open doors for people, assist less able-bodies individuals, and run to befriend that lonely child sitting on the buddy bench.
I hope that you now practice compassion in lieu of ignorance. Ignorance has no place in today’s world, however compassion can change the day of both the person receiving it and the people extending it. Let’s teach the children in our lives to be compassionate, caring individuals and end ignorance by sharing knowledge and information on compassion.