Childhood… where the shaping of a human being begins

 

Childhood... Where the Human Being is Formed

On Emirati Children's Day, we pause to reflect on a simple yet profound truth:

Childhood is not just a short stage of life; it is the stage where a person is formed from within.

A child doesn't just grow in height and age; an entire world of feelings and beliefs about themselves and about life grows within them.

Through my years of work in coaching and listening to many people's stories, it has become clear to me that many of the challenges a person faces in adulthood do not begin at that moment; their roots often go back to early childhood years.

This is why it is said that childhood is the first school where a person learns the meaning of life, societal values, and moral principles.

In their early years, a child begins to answer profound questions without realizing it:

• Am I loved?
• Am I important?
• Is my voice heard?
• Am I allowed to be who I am?

The way they receive answers to these questions becomes part of their personality as they grow up.

 

Childhood Shapes the Person They Will Become Later

A child does not interpret events the way adults do.

Every experience they live through transforms into a message about themselves and the world.

A child who is listened to and receives containment grows up feeling that their voice matters.

A child who lives in a safe environment full of love grows up with a sense of confidence and stability.

However, a child who lacks safety or containment may grow up searching for that feeling throughout their life.

Therefore, what we sow in our children today, we will see tomorrow in our society and our nations.

 

What Does a Child Need to Grow Up Healthy?

There are simple yet profoundly impactful foundations in building a child's personality.

First: Self-love

For the child to feel loved as they are, not just when they behave in a certain way.

Second: Building Self-Confidence

When a child is allowed to try, make mistakes, and learn, they discover their abilities and grow up self-confident.

Third: Emotional Containment

Children need someone to listen to them and contain their emotions so they can learn to understand themselves and express them.

Fourth: A Safe Space to Talk

For the child to know that there is someone who listens to them without fear or judgment.

Fifth: Feeling Safe and Belonging

For the child to feel that they are an important part of their family and society.

 

A Shared Responsibility

Building a balanced person starts from childhood.

A child who grows up in an environment full of love, safety, and trust becomes an individual capable of giving and building a healthy society.

Therefore, caring for our children today is not just caring for their present,

But it is an investment in the future of our nations and our coming generations.

As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said:

"What we plant and instill in our children today is what we will reap and harvest tomorrow in our nations."

Therefore, childhood remains a great responsibility for everyone...

Let us nurture it, and let us provide our children with a safe environment full of love and values, so they grow up carrying confidence, hope, and ambition.