Do you feel that children should be sheltered from Unhappiness?

The responsible answer would be not to shelter them. To let them experience the pain and failures so they may learn to stand up everytime they fall down. So they can mold their own character, and strive through hardships in life. But, in reality, as parents we do tend to shelter them. We don't want our children to experience whatever hardships we've had growing up, so we overcompensate when it comes to our children. I know this, because I am guilty of this.

I don't think anyone should visit unhappiness on children deliberately. Of course, plenty of people do, and this makes me sad... But, as you say, unhappiness is a part of the world, and I think it's a mistake to try to shelter children from the facts of life. You might consider the supposed history of the Buddha (Siddhatta Gotama), who was sheltered from all suffering by his father until the age of 29... He saw old dudes, sick dudes, starving dudes - whereupon, he became a religious nut. I guess that his revelations came as a result of being stoned; still, enlightenment isn't that bad a prospect for a wee lad (or lass)!

It is a hard question but my 2 are grown up now and working I have given them the best Childhood that I was able to, there will be unhappiness to them, like bullying, loosing a Friend and things like that, but that is where you teach them that things will work out and it will get better, I have an example and this nearly broke my Heart, my Son at the age of 8 had a little Girlfriend, they where always together, play park with their Friends, if either Family took an outing they would both be going, this lasted 2 years then her Family moved away, my Son was Heart broken and I cried for him after he had gone to bed, but I explained to him that this is how Life works, I hugged him close to me all the time I spoke to him but hurt me so much to see him like that He has been through a few bad times last year but he knew I was there and he knew he would pick up again, so while I would love to say spare them the unhappiness it is also a Lesson of Life

Yes and no. If you totally insulate them from things, they will not be able to deal with problems in their life. But you don't want to inflict pain on children either.

I think that there are some things in life that children should be sheltered from if it is possible. However, I also think there are certain things that they should not be sheltered from. For example, I do not shelter my children from the conflicts that occur between them and their peers. However, there are other sources of unhappiness that we find in our lives that I feel aren't the kids to be shared. An example of this kind of unhappiness is the unhappiness that comes into a family due to financial difficulties. If there is a way that you can shelter children from this kind of unhappiness, I think that it should be done.

Hey chelsgrrl69, Sorry, I just sent you another post. I just signed up a minute ago so I think I posted in the wrong place. I'm trying to find out where you got the silhouette of the happy child. Do you know if it's copyrighted or can be purchased? Thanks for the help, Rick

It depends. Having things go wrong in your life is normal and if we shelter them from every unhappiness they never learn anything. Of course, adults should intervene if the child is really going to get hurt or be emotionally damaged by a decision that he or she makes. However, allowing your child to just do whatever without any consequences will not make them a functional adult. So, as the adult, you must strike a balance. Let a kid learn consequences but don't allow that learning to go too far.

I always feel that children should not be sheltered from unhappiness because someday, they will encounter sufferings and frustrations and if they are sheltered from feeling the pain, they will be having a hard time coping up with frustrations. Like me, I was sheltered early from my childhood not to feel problems and pains. When I grew up I cannot fully understand why there are pain, disappointment and suffering and I am having a very hard time coping with heartaches that I think I would die in a minute. My sheltered childhood made me too weak to face trials in life.

I think its good to experience life. Life is not always roses. We have good and bad times. I think everyone has to be prepared for that or else if we see only good things, we wont be able to fight back when bad things happen. However children are a sensitive topic. I think we should teach them that life isnt always happy but I think that we should always try and protect them from certain unhappiness things. It depends on the situation. I would just mention a simple and common example: Many people dont like Christmas because they had suffered and have bad memories of this period. However if we have small children we should let them live this happy moment. We shouldnt pass this sentiment to them. In a few words we should try and make up in order to help them live a happy childhood. Not because we are sad, we make them feel sad as well. i just brought a simple example. But as i already said, it depends on the situations.

My view regarding this is that children never wanted to live in this world so parents should really strive hard to provide for their children so they stay happy and not suffer from anything. Yes hardships and sadness are a part of life but it is also a "must" to limit these if we can.parents should never blame their children for the hard life they are having because never did the children want to be in this world and experience suffering and unhappiness. I know i am very idealistic but i really feel that children deserves all the happiness in the world.

Good Morning!! Those who have not seen the darkness never know the importance of light. They should not be completely from unhappiness but cautiously exposed to it, Explaining it's merits and demerits so that they can cope well with it .:)) Have a nice day :)

I think kids should definitely NOT be sheltered from unhappiness. If they are, they'll never learn how to deal with it when they are grown up. No one (in their right mind) would want to see an unhappy child, but keeping a kid happy all the time would make him/her spoiled and not allow him/her to learn how to deal with life.

Of course children should be given the best possible life when they are young. Children shouldnt have to suffer. Let them deal with the weight of the world when they get older. But yeah, let their ignorance be bliss for now.

I like this topic and as much as I want children not to feel pain; I don't feel that is a good thing. Without pain, we don't know pleasure. Without anger and sadness, we don't know happiness. The bad things make the good things that much better. I love kids and I hate seeing hurting children or children living hard lives. But those children could be the ones to grow up and help others, you never know. I believe children should be sheltered from abuse and mistreatmeant, but not from unhappiness. Its one of the best parts of life if you think about it.

No.Kids should not be babied and talked down to.I understood bills,rent,jobs,money-all at an early age.My parents believed in including me in adult conversations.I am a more responsible, mature adult as a consequence.

hi chelsgrrl69 I am sort of mixed on that as I do not like to see chidren unhappy but yet if we shelter them too much they do not learn the difference between happiness and unhappiness and they need that learning. they must learn that life is not fair, that bad things can happen to good people and still good people can overcome and survive, Without knowing whats really going on in the real world sheltered children will recoil in sick shock when they find that the real world is not all sweetness and roses. No dont go out of your way to make children unhappy but do not make them believe that all the time everything is all peaches and cream.

You do no one any favor when you shelter them from pain. Learning how to cope is an important part of life. One needs to balance pain with joy so that you can truly appreciate the joy.