How Extent Celebrations are doing good to Children [Blog Post by Prof. Mohan Kumar Suram]

 

Celebrations are an important part of human culture. They help us to mark important events, express our emotions, share our values, and connect with others. But how do celebrations affect children and future generations? Are they beneficial or harmful for their development and well-being?

In this blog post, I will explore some of the positive and negative impacts of celebrations on children and future generations, based on scientific research and personal experience. I will also suggest some ways to make celebrations more meaningful and sustainable for everyone.

Positive Impacts of Celebrations:

Celebrations can have many positive impacts on children and future generations, such as:

- Enhancing their sense of identity and belonging. Celebrations can help children to learn about their cultural heritage, traditions, and values. They can also help them to feel part of a community and a family, and to appreciate diversity and respect differences.

- Boosting their emotional and social skills. Celebrations can provide opportunities for children to express their feelings, practice gratitude, empathy, generosity, and kindness. They can also help them to develop social skills, such as communication, cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

- Stimulating their creativity and curiosity. Celebrations can inspire children to explore new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. They can also encourage them to use their imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills to create, perform, or participate in various activities.

- Supporting their learning and development. Celebrations can expose children to different types of knowledge, skills, and values that can enrich their learning and development. They can also motivate them to seek more information, ask questions, and discover new interests.

Negative Impacts of Celebrations:

However, celebrations can also have some negative impacts on children and future generations, such as:

- Causing stress and anxiety. Celebrations can sometimes create unrealistic expectations, pressures, and demands for children and their families. They can also trigger negative emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, or jealousy. For example, some children may feel left out, disappointed, or overwhelmed by the celebrations.

- Encouraging consumerism and materialism. Celebrations can often promote a culture of consumerism and materialism that can influence children's values and behaviors. They can also contribute to environmental problems, such as waste, pollution, and resource depletion. For example, some celebrations may involve excessive spending, buying, or receiving of gifts or decorations that are not necessary or meaningful.

- Reinforcing stereotypes and inequalities. Celebrations can sometimes reinforce stereotypes and inequalities that can affect children's self-esteem and social relationships. They can also perpetuate discrimination and oppression of certain groups or individuals. For example, some celebrations may exclude, marginalize, or offend people based on their gender, race, religion, or other characteristics.

How to make celebrations more meaningful and sustainable

To make celebrations more meaningful and sustainable for children and future generations, we can:

- Focus on the purpose and the people. Celebrations should be about celebrating the meaning and the significance of the event or occasion, not about the material aspects or the superficial details. They should also be about celebrating the people who are important to us, not about impressing or pleasing others.

- Choose quality over quantity. Celebrations should be about quality time and quality experiences, not about quantity of things or activities. They should also be about creating memories and stories that last, not about accumulating stuff that fades.

- Be mindful and respectful. Celebrations should be mindful of the impact they have on us, others, and the environment. They should also be respectful of the diversity and the dignity of everyone involved.

Conclusion

Celebrations are a valuable part of human culture that can have both positive and negative impacts on children and future generations. By being aware of these impacts and making conscious choices, we can make celebrations more meaningful and sustainable for everyone.

Regards

Prof. Mohan Kumar Suram,

Principal - Nalanda High School, Gajwel.