Srinagar: In a recent meeting of the National Child Development Council (NCDC), members had a detailed discussion about an important issue: the need to nurture empathetic, responsible, and value-driven children.
Sudha Menon of NCDC started the meeting by presenting a resolution topic. She highlighted the urgent need to create supportive environments at home and in schools that encourage respect, integrity, compassion, and active participation in society. She asked a critical question: Do today’s children really reflect these values? She observed that children seem more self-focused, driven by academics, and socially disconnected. Often, they choose isolation over interaction, even with their own families.
She noted that modern lifestyles, with more comfort, personal space, and easy access to digital content, might contribute to this trend. She expressed worry that children are not receiving enough guidance about their role in society. Both parents and schools are responsible, yet they often fall short. Parents are busy, and schools focus too much on academic performance rather than moral growth.
Sudha suggested that schools should not only grade academics but also include activities that build empathy, respect, and communication skills. She emphasized that parents need to act as role models, showing respectful behavior and encouraging children to engage positively with others rather than fostering fear or isolation.
NCDC’s Bindu Saraswathibhai supported this idea by pointing out the increase in self-centered behavior among children. She linked this partly to nuclear family structures and fewer chances for sharing and social interaction. She stressed that values must start at home and be reinforced in schools through hands-on learning, like role plays and community activities.
NCDC Core Committee Member Anandi added that while parents and teachers focus heavily on cognitive and intellectual growth, social development is often overlooked. She argued that empathy and responsibility should be nurtured daily at home. Involving children in small tasks and teaching respectful communication helps with this. She pointed out that children learn best by observing, making parental behavior vital in shaping their character.
Another member Mohammad Rizvan mentioned that today’s parents might also lack guidance. He said that many grew up in changing family structures without the support of extended family systems, like grandparents. To address this, it was suggested that awareness campaigns, possibly featuring celebrities and shared on social media, could effectively reach younger generations and promote values.
Durga Pradeep briefly highlighted the importance of emotional security, urging parents and teachers to spend quality time with children and be available for their needs.
Radha Sajeev concluded by discussing the competitive nature of modern society, which she believes is undermining moral values. She noted that both adults and children increasingly focus on comparison and achievement, often sacrificing kindness and cooperation. She expressed concern that even sibling comparisons within families can negatively affect children’s emotional and moral growth.
