Normalization of Suffering – Post 7: What Are We Teaching Children?
Children are always watching.
Not just what we say.
But what we do.
They see what we scroll past.
What we stop for.
What we ignore.
They notice more than we think.
And today, they are growing up in a world very different from the one many of us knew.
A world of constant exposure.
Not just cartoons and simple programming…
But ads. Algorithms. Endless content.
Messages layered into everything.
In places like Vancouver, children don’t just grow up in neighborhoods.
They grow up surrounded by messaging.
Bus shelters. Screens. Phones. Schools.
Everywhere they look—something is trying to reach them.
And here’s the part we need to sit with:
What are they learning from all of this?
Are they learning empathy…
Or are they learning to scroll past suffering?
Are they learning self-worth…
Or are they learning they need to change to be accepted?
Are they learning how to think…
Or what to think?
Because repetition doesn’t start in adulthood.
It starts early.
The messages they absorb now—
About bodies, success, worth, and even suffering—
will shape how they see the world.
And themselves.
And then there’s something even harder to face:
What happens when children start filming suffering… instead of helping?
Not because they are cruel.
But because that’s what they’ve seen modeled.
This isn’t about blame.
Parents are navigating the same environment.
Teachers are working within systems they didn’t design.
But that’s exactly why the question matters:
What are we consciously teaching… in a world that is constantly teaching them something else?
Because if we don’t guide awareness—
The loudest message will win.
And right now, the loudest messages are not always the healthiest ones.
So maybe it starts small.
Conversations.
Questions.
Moments of pause.
Helping children not just consume the world…
But understand it.
Because they are not just growing up in this environment.
They will be the ones shaping what comes next.
And what they learn now—
Matters more than we realize.
🔍 Reflection Questions
What messages do you think children are exposed to most frequently today?
Do you believe children can distinguish between advertising and reality?
How early do you think media and advertising begin to shape self-image?
Have you ever seen a child mimic behavior they learned from social media or online content?
What are children learning about suffering from what they see online and in public?
Are we teaching children how to think critically about what they see?
How often do adults model mindful media consumption for younger generations?
What role should schools play in teaching media awareness and emotional resilience?
If children are constantly exposed to messaging, who is responsible for guiding them?
What would a healthier media environment for children look like?
No comments:
Post a Comment