Early years Last forever by Anonymous

Author:Anonymous [Anonymous]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-05-29T00:00:00+00:00

Instill Patriotism That Lasts

Figure 11 - artwork by Hayat AlHassan

“He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn.” His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, May God rest his soul.

Children understand the significance of the National Day in the UAE, which is celebrated on the 2nd of December each year, because of their enjoyment in watching fireworks, giant flags, and hearing the national anthem that is played to reflect the feeling of loyalty and dignity for the country. But do all children know about UAE history, and how Sheikh Zayed devoted his life to provide his people a better life? Are they aware of the current significant events that take place today in the UAE like the UAE Flag Day and Expo2020 that will have a great impact on UAE’s global image? And are children aware of their history and heritage?

“Future generations will be living in a world that is very different from that to which we are accustomed to. It is essential that we prepare ourselves and our children for that new world” said Sheikh Zayed. Preschool children soak up bits of knowledge from everyday involvement with their parents and surroundings. The time between birth and age of six is a time of growth and learning unparalleled to any stage later in life. A four-year-old child continues learning about the environment through playing and imitating adults that shape their own personality to approach the world.

While my four-year-old son was listening to the UAE presidential guard song, he focused on the repeated lyrics that stressed on the phrase “God; then our nation; then our president.” It grabbed his attention, and he started asking me, “Mom, who is the UAE president?” and proudly I stated “Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan”. “Roll back the tape mom, let me hear that part again” he insisted.

Here I started explaining that the Flag Day that falls on the 3 rd of November, is the day of President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s accession as President of the UAE. I highlighted general vital facts about my beloved country the UAE. What is there, what makes the UAE nationals appreciate the leaders and make them tremendously proud to be Emiratis, in words that suit his speaking patterns. It’s never too early to make children aware of the country’s activities and important events that take place regularly since they learn more quickly during their early years than at any other time in their life.

The importance of what our children learn at home and through their relationship with their parents form the strongest base of all that comes later. The most rapid stage in a child’s development occurs in their first six years of life and here we can play the teacher role to instill in them the patriotism. Children can learn the educational subjects perfectly at school but they’ll never be taught how to be patriotic since that kind of loyalty germinates at first from home.

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