How can we make a better world for our children?

tolteq

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Nick_oliveri

I dont want children.

We could stop going around in circles.
Feed them hungry!
Stop glorified sanctioned murder (wars).
Take new approaches to a society and its laws.
Multiculturalism.

megmeg

feed them well, educate them well and love them plenty. With a good upbringing they will be helping us make the world better when they are big enough. I am not saying that it is fair on them....

Talk to them about the real issues in the world, abolish money, become the person you want them to become.

tallaght01

My only aim if I have ever have little bastard offspring is to A) Have kids that I can relate to, and who need less "rules" as they grow older, because they respect that I will always have their best interests at heart and Help them to see that they're utterly fortunate in that they are in the minority that have more than they need in this world.

Nothing would make me prouder than to have kids who grew up helping others.

So, to make the world better for our kids, I think we need to raise kids who want to make the world better

Porkpie

Great question, and one I often think about. My suggestions would be firstly to foster respect, both for others and our planet. Encourage tolerance, personal responsibility, cooperation, peace and altruism. If we do not have the necessary parental skills, maturity and finances then we should not add to the world's already overpopulated figure.

A shift in thinking is required. We are always trying to increase resources, wealth, possessions. We want faster communication, smaller gadgets, bigger houses, to look better, have designer clothes. The media has us brainwashed. Instead of measuring wealth in GDP we could learn from Bhutan which instead measures Gross National Happiness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness)

Our children are being taught in schools about trigonometry and the rise of Fascism. If they study hard enough maybe they'll get enough points to go to college and become a doctor or lawyer, because, well, that's success isn't it? I'm not undermining this achievement but is this all they should strive for? This is the age when they could really do with learning vital life skills. Our educational system needs a major re-think.

Communication is becoming more and more impersonal and ultimately driving us apart from each other. We give Facebook updates, e-mail someone instead of picking up the phone. What are we doing? We do not know our neighbours, we've probably never spoke to them. We must regain our sense of community and make the effort to reach out to others, especially those in need.

I do not want my children to be afraid to walk down the street at night. On a more local level, crime needs to be tackled with a zero tolerance approach. The police and legal system in this country should be feared and respected, not laughed at. We must try to create a more peaceful society by tackling the root causes of crime.

We could all do with becoming less self-centred and find ways to make this world a better place. We should look outside ourselves and think of others. We will never have Utopia but future generations will reap the benefits if we make small positive changes.

Dades

How can we make a better world for our children?

Only have as many as you can afford to feed, clothe and educate.

Morlar

Dades wrote: »

Only have as many as you can afford to feed, clothe and educate.

Shame that it is only the sensible people who will take that approach.

glaston

Dont burden them with your expectations.

Affable

Like Sarkozy says, show that humanity is a strength not a weakness, if good people keep making stand there can be a domino effect. Obama refers to empathy a lot and he and Sarkozy are two Politicians I really like right now, setting a decent example. We have come from Hitler and Stalin to this. It's not perfect and there is eveil in the world, but it may, just may get better yet, if good people help each other and keep going.

But yes, it is easy to feel that the world i getting more and more evil at times and that it's not worht having kids.

GirlInterrupted

glaston wrote: »

Dont burden them with your expectations.

I think it might be a far greater burden to have no expectations.

If nothing is expected of you, its hardly a spur to personal achievement.

metrovelvet

Make better children and they will make a better world.

Ban nintendo and facebook from the house.

rantyface

Porkpie wrote: »

Our children are being taught in schools about trigonometry and the rise of Fascism. If they study hard enough maybe they'll get enough points to go to college and become a doctor or lawyer, because, well, that's success isn't it? I'm not undermining this achievement but is this all they should strive for? This is the age when they could really do with learning vital life skills. Our educational system needs a major re-think.

Maths is vital for developing your abstract thinking and reasoning. History is important because it raises moral questions and opens our eyes to how people used to live. Wishy washy classes like CSPE and religion are generally seen as "doss classes". You can't force personal development or reflection, it comes naturally with time.

Obviously learning school material is not "all" you should strive for, but it's very fulfilling and good for you. I am glad I did all the literature and History I did, I loved it and I still remember it even though I studied chemistry in college.

I would be furious if my children were being indoctrinated in school. The parent's job is to teach values. Education frees your mind and teaches you to think for yourself, free from indoctrination.

Look up the essay "The gift of language" by William Dalrymple to see the importance of learning to express yourself properly. Telling your children that their education isn't important is probably the worst thing you could ever do and will give them such a disadvantage in life. Children in other countries would love the chance to learn to read and write.

glaston

glaston wrote: »

Dont burden them with your expectations.

Perhaps, don't burden them with your failures?