A child’s greatest gift is the power of desire. They follow their wishes and dreams freely, without concern for rules, norms, or discipline. Every young child is a born explorer—learning to move, to walk, to speak, and to master language entirely on their own. Curiosity drives them; they ask questions and seek understanding.
Yet over time, they are taught that to be accepted by society, they must learn to follow its rules and expectations—a process we call education. The child comes to realize that the more they conform and the less they question, the more they are praised for being polite and well-behaved.
Gradually, the joy of questioning and discovering fades. Education and society convince them that the world is not a place for play, curiosity, or exploration—that such things are childish distractions. And if they persist in seeking and asking—the very essence of their being—they soon encounter the disapproval of parents, mentors, and teachers.
When a child stops asking questions and simply listens and accepts, they are often considered a good child or student. Over time, they forget their own desires and begin to focus on what makes their parents and teachers happy, believing that those things will bring them rewards. Their own wishes fade, and they start to adopt the desires of others as their own.
This is how, as adults, we lose the courage to be ourselves. We begin to measure our worth based on what others think—the majority or the collective voice. We, who as children had our dreams replaced by those of others, end up living without our own aspirations.
Is this way of raising children in harmony with our Zoroastrian values?
Our approach to education and upbringing, grounded in the belief in the Fravashi and the divine light of Ahura Mazda within every being, should be different. We must make room for curiosity and exploration. We need to be patient, allowing children to discover the values and norms of society on their own; to learn them through their own questions, reconstruct them for themselves, and then improve upon them.
Let us join children who see questioning and discovery as the game of life itself—let us become their companions and fellow players in this journey of learning.
