“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Ever wonder how to raise nonviolent kids in a violent world? The world we live in today is vastly different from the one we grew up in, and it’s essential to consider the future our children will inherit. The prevalence of stories involving violence and senseless killings can fill us with dread when we read or listen to the news. As mothers, we are particularly struck with horror as we think about the kind of world we are leaving for our children.
One image that remains vivid in our minds is that of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, lying face down in the mud—a heartbreaking victim of a war that was not his fault. This image serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities we face. However, despite these challenges, we must strive to raise our children to be nonviolent individuals. We have the power to instill in them values of compassion, empathy, and peace.
By teaching our children about empathy, fostering open and honest communication, promoting kindness and respect, and providing positive role models, we can guide them towards a nonviolent path. Let’s come together to explore ways to nurture nonviolence in our kids and create a better world for future generations.
It can be extremely depressing to read about such goings-on and frustrating to realize that we can’t do anything about it. But the truth is that in our own small ways, we can make a change. Like Mahatma Gandhi said:
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
Gandhiji’s teachings were never more relevant as they are in today’s times. And what better occasion than his birth anniversary to refresh our memories of the Mahatma and to teach our children the same. So this Gandhi Jayanti, we have some tips for parents to raise more tolerant, compassionate and non violet kids, so that humankind has a better hope of peaceful survival.
How to Raise Nonviolent Kids in a Violent World
1. Ensure a No-Tolerance Policy for Violence
Have a rule at home that you will not tolerate violence for any reason whatsoever, and practice it!! Research shows that kids who are hit end up hitting others, so find peaceful ways to discipline them. Encourage siblings to sort their troubles out peacefully and show them how much better it is than a fist fight where someone might get hurt.
2. Limit Screen Time
It’s no secret that popular culture and media make kids aggressive and impatient. Limit your child’s screen time, and that includes everything – TV, movies, computer, tablets, phones, video games – everything. When screen time is limited, kids are much more tuned into their inner thoughts and are able to manage and control them better.
3. Use Role Play
For very young kids, role play is a great way to get a conversation started about non violence and compassion. You can create a situation and use their dolls or teddy bears to enact the roles and try to explain how talking things through ends up beneficial for everyone.
4. Teach Anger Management
Anger is a human emotion and everyone is bound to get angry at some point or the other. Teach your kids that it’s perfectly normal to feel anger, but what they do about it is what truly matters. Young kids can benefit from books like ‘When I feel angry‘, which explains anger management in a kid-friendly voice.
5. Be Respectful of Differences
This is one of the important tips on how to raise nonviolent kids in a violent world. All the preaching will do no good if you yourself don’t model respectful behavior. Behave politely to everyone including maids, drivers, waiters and doormen. Let your child learn that everyone is worthy of respect and love. Embrace differences and be aware of what you say at home; if you talk badly about any particular community or region, your child will grow up thinking that everyone from that community or place are to be hated, purely because they’re different.
6. Ensure a Safe, Secure and Happy Environment
The 6th tip on how to raise nonviolent kids in a violent world is to spend some time with them. Many children act out their frustrations and fears, which comes across as bullying or violence. Spend enough time with your child so that he knows that he’s loved and can talk to you about his problems. Kids who have trusted adults as role models who also love and spend quality time with them turn out to be much more loving individuals later.
7. Learn to Manage Tantrums and Meltdowns
Temper tantrums and meltdowns can test the patience of the most gentle-natured parent out there, but you need to realize that these are usually caused by an underlying problem. Most of the time a child is just hungry, tired or scared, and when you handle it with a calm and collected attitude, they learn that problems can be solved without loud voices or hitting.
8. Model Appropriate Methods to deal with Conflict
When it comes to how to raise nonviolent kids in a violent world, it’s important to teach them valuable lessons about conflict resolution. It’s impossible to completely avoid any fights with your spouse or other family members, but the way you manage such conflicts teaches your kids important lessons. Fight fair and always be polite; stick to the problem at hand without needless aggression.
Kids learn a lot about interpersonal relationships from their parents, so be aware of yourself at all times. By demonstrating respectful conflict resolution and modeling positive behavior, you provide your children with a strong foundation for navigating conflicts peacefully in a violent world. Remember that your actions speak louder than words, and by handling conflicts with fairness and politeness, you teach your kids the importance of nonviolent approaches and healthy communication.
However old your child may be, there’s sure to be something you can teach him from these. You don’t need to create a lesson plan to teach a child non violence; just practicing it in your daily life is enough. To quote Mahatma Gandhi again:
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”
While the post is certainly good and worth practice. However it fails to recognise that some children are born aggressive and dominating. Such trait over time takes form of violence in character, unless corrected early on. Such traits can lead to tantrums and meltdowns, which cannot be mistaken for hunger or tiredness or being scared. Haven’t we seen some puppies in the same litter being more aggressive, some child being more aggressive and implacable among siblings. This is not to mean that parents shall not make an attempt to create a less violent home atmosphere. I simply mean there is no linear progression in any attempt for the reasons are just too many and we may sometimes not account for things that influence outcomes a lot.
Yes, You are right. In few cases it might be out of our hand, that is when we need the psychologist’s support. Thanks a lot for sharing your precious views.