This was an interesting read about the emotional development of children, written by Niklas Serning and Nina Lyon. The essay was published on aeon.co (link here).
The authors make the following statements regarding the development of children and navigating to adulthood:
1. The Trap of Safetyism. Modern culture leans heavily toward shielding kids from any form of distress, risk, or failure—a mindset that prioritizes total safety over character-building.
2. Learning Adulthood Skills. Practical and emotional skills cannot be handed down through lectures; they are forged when children navigate manageable discomfort, minor physical injuries, or social friction on their own.
3. The Cost of Over-Protection. Children who are overly cosseted often grow into adults who lack autonomy, freeze when facing unpredictable real-world problems, or struggle to cope with independence.
4. Rethinking Care. Real care means allowing things to go wrong in safe, incremental ways ("stepping-stones") so children learn how to fall, get back up, and build genuine self-confidence.
