BookPal Independence Day Blog for Children

We at BookPal Library wish you all a glorious Independence Day. Today is the day to reflect upon our ancestors’ struggles and how we should uphold the values they have passed down to us by being good citizens.

Independence is something that you have to claim and reclaim throughout your life. We often forget that no one else can hand it out to us, and if we are stuck in a situation where our voice is not heard and we are subdued, then it is not the place for us.

We must teach our children the importance of being free, and how to speak up in the face of injustice. While it is true that you cannot just burden them with the knowledge of the grotesque, it is also important that we tell them about some important things.

Here are a few things you should tell your children this Independence Day so that they can and wrong and make calculated decisions for themselves.

Have a safe word

This is extremely important if your child has to wait for you after school or is in public places a lot. Often, people will approach your child that you, the parent/guardian have sent them on your behalf. It is not the child’s fault if they choose to believe it as your name is now associated with this stranger.

To make them stay alert and not fall for such dirty tricks, tell them a code word that only you and your child know. It could be anything simple like “blueberry muffins,” or something that holds some meaning for you both.

Tell your child to ask the person who approaches them to tell them the secret code, and if they are unable to do so, move away from them.

It is also important to tell them that they should remain in crowded places as much as possible, as such threats get minimised that way.

Get them to remember phone numbers

Not just their parents, but their older siblings and a trusted adult, such as their godparent, neighbour, their best friend’s mother or teacher. They must remember at least three numbers because you never know who is going to be available or not. It is also suggested that you write down these numbers on a piece of paper and keep it in their bag in case someone else needs to call you for them.

Do not terrify them with the news

While this tactic is used by parents all over, it is recommended that you don’t tell them the ugly news every day to scare them. This may backfire and they might not come out of their shell, making it hard for them to navigate through the world on their own – something that is inevitable.

Allow them to do things on their own

Understandably, you want everything to be seamless for your child but it cannot be the case always. You need to let them see things for themselves and learn them the practical way. Let them buy a metro ticket, pay for their things at the store, pick out a part of your meal when you go out to eat – and if they end up hating it, tell them everyone learns by experimenting. Tell them random facts about things, what is the full form of commonly seen abbreviations, how you get electricity, etc. Such practical facts will help them feel less lost in the future.

These are just a few things that you should start doing today if you haven’t already because while you cannot be there for your child at every step, you can make them responsible and well-aware of the world so that their independence is not being taken advantage of by others.

Happy Independence Day!