The clothes looked as if they hadn't left his body in weeks. His pants were torn and a tattered scarf hung around his neck like a piece of frayed rope. He was trying to keep warm in the bitter cold, but these clothes couldn't do the job.
How kids see the world
It would have been easy to walk past this man's slightly outstretched hands; we were impatient kids, especially on this occasion as it was mere days before Christmas. We pulled at our mother to move into a nearby mall where brightly lit Christmas trees and carollers beckoned us.
But Mom was in no hurry. "Hello. How are you and what is your name?" she asked the man. With genuine caring, she also asked if it had been cold the night before. Then she gave him some change and wished him a happy holiday.
It wasn't the first time our mom had done this, but still we never thought twice about her kind gestures. It wasn't until we saw others cross the street to avoid a homeless person that we realized just how special her simple actions really were.
Years later, we also understood the lesson she was teaching us: By not being a passive bystander and acknowledging other people's plight, we respect them and see their humanity -- no matter who they are.
Children CAN make a difference
It's natural to shield children from situations in which they feel helpless. But this can reinforce the idea that children can't make a difference.
In an effort to protect, we unwittingly encourage children to close their eyes and hearts to the suffering of others. And that's how we nurture passive bystanders (young citizens who remain on the sidelines of society and accept things the way they are), which world leaders say poses a significant problem to society today.
Page 1 of 3 -- Learn how to set a good example for your kids by teaching them empathy, sincerity, and other values in life to carry them forward, with advice on page 2
