TIPS FOR RAISING COMPASSIONATE CHILDREN
BY JENNIFIER DRAGOTTA, M.S.ED.
Most young children innately care about animals. It is important to nurture these feelings so that when outside influences - like peer pressure – threaten to negate them, our children will still be able to treat animals kindly.
Role modelling is crucial. If an adult yells at, hits, or scares an animal, a child will view this as acceptable and may do the same. Laughing at or even ignoring an injured animal can lead children astray.
Promote positive interactions with animals. Pets provide daily opportunities for children to act humanely. If you can’t have pets, visit friends or family who do. Encourage older children to volunteer at animal shelters to learn about the plight of homeless animals.
Reading and discussing animal literature – such as the Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award Winners (see “ Compassionate Words and Pictures, “ pp.30-31).
Children must develop humane values.
Respect for the smallest creatures in our neighbourhood to the magnificient tigers in the wild is a way of acknowledging the universe is built upon
Divine diversity.
Sandy Lim
Make kind and compassionate choices
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