What kind of gift would be suitable for a child?

Every year, on Children's Day, June 1st, many beautiful words are bestowed upon the children, and many awards are given...

The love and understanding of parents are meaningful gifts on Children's Day, June 1st. (Photo: Phuong Ly)

For many years, we've talked a lot about happy schools, hoping that every day at school is a joyful day for our children, where each child can develop comprehensively in terms of "morality, intellect, physical health, and aesthetics." Everyone wants their children to grow up in a loving environment, to become kind and useful members of society. But what are we giving our children? Providing them with material comforts and luxurious trips for being excellent students? Rewarding them with beautiful toys to compensate for their hard work studying for exams?

Have we given our children the proper opportunities to eat, study, sleep, rest, and play? How many parents allow their children the right to fail? These days, how many children have a complete summer vacation? Or is there still a "third semester" somewhere? Are there still children who haven't even started first grade yet but are already struggling in handwriting classes? Sighs are heard somewhere…

Despite educational reforms, the academic pressure on children seems to remain undiminished. Regular school classes are followed by extra tutoring sessions, occupying a large portion of their time. Many children fall asleep in the car or hastily eat a sandwich to make it to their extra classes on time. Not a few children sit diligently at their desks until 11 pm, even on weekends and holidays. Many arrive at school looking tired and listless. And what do they get? Perfect scores of 9 or 10? Excellent certificates? But do they truly feel happy, appreciate, and take pride in those achievements?

"Perhaps what children need more is understanding and love from their parents. Don't idolize certificates of merit and good report cards, because children have sacrificed so much to achieve them."

As the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990, Vietnam, thanks to political commitments and the leadership of the Party and State, has continuously ensured the well-being of children throughout the country. More and more children are protected, given the chance to live, receive healthcare, education, and are prioritized in welfare policies.

Article 100 of the 2016 Law on Children clearly states: Parents, teachers, caregivers, and family members have the responsibility to cultivate knowledge and skills in educating children about ethics, character, children's rights and responsibilities; creating a safe environment and preventing accidents and injuries to children; preventing children from falling into special circumstances, being at risk of being abused, or being abused…

Teacher Nguyen Hoang Chuong said: “What makes a teacher's character is love for their students. A teacher must leave the podium and step closer to their students to listen, understand, and share. The teaching profession – no matter how difficult – if our hearts are always dedicated to our students, we will create happy schools…”

Parents should also stop blaming financial worries and stop being so obsessed with achievement; then the child will surely be happier. Motivate children to learn by encouraging them to seek out, explore, and embrace new things, allowing them to improve themselves. This needs to be nurtured from a young age, rather than causing them to lose their motivation to learn and study only because of the expectations and anxieties of adults.

Instead of lavish parties, expensive gifts, and trips, perhaps what children need more is their parents' understanding and love. Don't idolize certificates of merit and report cards with all 9s and 10s. Because these children have sacrificed so much to achieve them.

Let's tone down moralizing and expectations, and instead sit down with our children, understand them, and ask them what they want and need. Virtual achievements won't shape their character in the future. Children also need to be respected, listened to, and allowed to express their opinions. Accepting their imperfect achievements, appreciating their efforts, and not using "other people's children" as a benchmark for your own child is also a way to help them feel happier.

Albert Einstein said: "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it's stupid." Indeed, every child has strengths and weaknesses. Someone might be a musician but a terrible cook. Ability in a particular field doesn't define a person's core value.

Nowadays, there's a greater emphasis on teaching children life skills and educating them to become kind, compassionate individuals and global citizens. But most importantly, let your child be themselves!

"Overripe fruit is not sweet," "don't over-polish a gem," remove the pressure from your children, accept their shortcomings, their imperfect grades. Parents should allow their children the right to fail so they can rise again, gain experience, grow, and mature. What gift is more precious than understanding and love?

When the pressure of grades and the race for achievement are gone, no more children will feel lonely in their own homes. There, children will be enthusiastic about going to school each day, where they can be themselves. Their motivation to learn will be for themselves, not "studying for their parents" or "living their parents' lives"...

"Creating motivation for learning in children by fostering joy in exploration and embracing new things, so that they can improve themselves. Children need to be nurtured in this from a young age, rather than losing their motivation to learn and explore due to the expectations and anxieties of adults."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tet-thieu-nhi-16-mon-qua-nao-cho-tre-272885.html