Introduction:
Children’s social lives are complicated. They have to navigate their own desires, wishes, and impulses while learning to consider the needs of others and broader societal expectations. At times, children give in to their frustrations and pursue self-fulfilling goals at the expense of others (as do adults). But perhaps more commonly, children choose to engage in selfless acts of kindness (such as helping a stranger pick up cherry tomatoes).
Moral pride is felt across ages and cultural contexts
Canadian children were more likely to report moral pride than were Japanese children, likely due to divergent cultural norms regarding expressing emotions in the context of achievement. While it is encouraged and expected for children in Canada to feel proud after doing something good, Japanese parents encourage modesty and humility, and thus expect children to temper their joy following achievements.
In both Canada and Japan, older children (nine- and 12-year-olds) were more likely to report moral pride than were younger children (six-year-olds). This suggests that the period between six and nine years may be a promising time to encourage the development of moral pride across cultures.
Moral pride is a kindness-building emotion
children who reported moral pride were frequently kind in their daily interactions at school. Although pride in general may be discouraged in Japanese culture, moral pride may have benefits for supporting social harmony (at least in a school setting) and thus may serve a positive function. (Our study was correlational so we cannot be certain that moral pride causes kindness – rather, we found evidence that moral pride and kindness tend to co-occur in Japanese children.)
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 1 large butternut squash (about 2-3 pounds), peeled and cubed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional for added creaminess)
- Fresh herbs like parsley or chives for garnish
What caregivers talk about with toddlers matters
In different parts of the world, how early a child learns a variety of skills, such as walking and talking, varies. Similarly, how early a child learns that they are a separate person who has a body, thoughts, and feelings of their own also varies.
When studying cross-cultural differences, it is important to keep in mind that differences do not mean deficits. We are not arguing that using language that focuses on the child is inherently better for their development. The value of different approaches and outcomes depends on the culture.
Talking with children about traumatic and violent events
With every act of violence, especially shootings that expose children, adolescents, and youth to harm, we are shaken to our core. As parents, we struggle with how best to protect our children, regardless of their age, but also with how best to help our children cope with and move beyond these experiences toward positive outcomes.
