Psychologists believe that this is inappropriate, and not at all patriotic – a veil of romance on the most terrible tragedy of mankind.
Recently, my seven-year-old son took part in a regional reading competition. The theme, of course, is Victory Day.
“We need an image,” the teacher-organizer said with concern.
Image so image. Moreover, in the stores of these images – especially now, for the holiday date – for every taste and wallet. You just need a garrison cap, go to any hypermarket: there it is just now a seasonal product. If you want a full-fledged costume, cheaper and of worse quality, go to a carnival costume store. If you want more expensive and almost like a real one – this is in Voentorg. Any sizes, even for a one-year-old baby. The complete set is also at your choice: with pants, with shorts, with a raincoat, with commander’s binoculars …
In general, I dressed up the child. In uniform, my first grader looked courageous and stern. Wiping away a tear, I sent the photo to all relatives and friends.
“What a sharp adult”, – one grandmother was moved.
“It suits him,” – appreciated the colleague.
And only one friend honestly admitted: she does not like uniforms on children.
“All right, another military school or a cadet corps. But not those years, ”she was categorical.
In fact, I also do not understand parents who dress up children as soldiers or nurses, just to walk among the veterans on May 9th. As a stage costume – yes, it is justified. In life – still not.
Why this masquerade? Get into the lenses of photo and video cameras? Rip off compliments from seniors who once rightfully wore this uniform? To demonstrate your respect for the holiday (if, of course, external manifestations are so necessary), a St. George ribbon is enough. Although this is more a tribute to fashion than a real symbol. After all, few people remember what this tape actually means. Do you know?
Psychologists, by the way, are also against it. They believe that this is how adults show children that war is fun.
“This is a romanticization and embellishment of the worst thing in our life – war, – a psychologist wrote such a categorical post on Facebook. Elena Kuznetsova… – The educational message that children receive through such actions of adults that war is great, it is a holiday, because then it ends in victory. But it is not necessary. The war ends in unlived lives on both sides. Graves. Fraternal and separate. To which even sometimes there is no one to go to commemorate. Because wars do not choose how many living from one family to take as payment for the impossibility of people to live in peace. Wars are not chosen at all – ours and not ours. Just charge priceless. This should be brought to the attention of children. “
Elena emphasizes: military uniforms are clothes for death. To do an untimely death is to meet it yourself.
“Children need to buy clothes about life, not about death,” writes Kuznetsova. – As a person who works with the psyche, I understand very well that the feeling of gratitude can be overwhelming. There may be a desire to celebrate in unison. The joy of unity – agreement on the value level – is a great human joy. It is humanly important for us to live something together … At least a joyful victory, at least a mournful memory …. But no community is worth paying for it through children clothed in death robes. “
However, in part, this opinion can also be argued. The military uniform is still not only about death, but also about defending the Motherland. A worthy profession to which one can and should instill children’s respect. Whether to involve children in this depends on their age, psyche, emotional sensitivity. And another question is how to communicate.
It’s one thing when a father, who has returned from the war, puts his cap on his son’s head. The other is a modern remake from the mass market. They put it on once, and threw it into the corner of the closet. Until next May 9th. It’s one thing when children play war, because everything around them is still saturated with the spirit of that war – this is a natural part of their life. The other is the artificial implantation not even of memory, but of a certain idealization of the image.
“I dress up my son so that he feels like a future defender of the Motherland,” a friend of mine told me last year before the parade. “I believe that this is patriotism, respect for veterans and gratitude for peace.”
Among the arguments “for” is the form, as a symbol of the memory of the terrible pages of history, an attempt to foster that very “feeling of gratitude”. “I remember, I am proud”, and further in the text. Let’s admit. Let’s even assume that they ask to come in outfits at schools and kindergartens that take part in festive processions. You can understand.
Only here is the question: what in this case is remembered, and what are the five-month-old babies proud of, who are dressed in a tiny shape for the sake of a few photos. What for? For extra social media likes?
Interview
What do you think about this?
I don’t see anything wrong with a child’s tunic, but I don’t dress it myself.
And we buy suits for the child, and the veterans are moved by him.
It is better to simply explain to the child what war is. And this is not easy.
I will not dress up the child, and I will not wear it myself. The ribbon is enough – only on the chest, and not on the bag or antenna of the car.