I’ve missed this year’s Children’s Day so with a two-month delay I note down my reflections on this subject: I think that it should be a day when we not only organise truancy or games for children, but it also should be a day when we, adults, find some time for reflection on the fate of the less happy children, we should pose questions about what we can do to help them.

Ronald Russell wrote in his poem entitled ‘Children Learn What They Live’:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
"Children are not to be abused, they are to be loved, childhood is to be cherished" – with such an inscription Tanasza was supposed to go around the world.. maybe one day it will :)