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https://www.positive.news/society/kindness-is-named-oxford-childrens-word-of-the-year-for-2024/>
"In what has been a particularly turbulent week in global affairs, the choice
of ‘kindness’ as Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2024 offers a reminder
of the hope we carry for younger generations.
More than 6,000 children aged between six and 14 were asked to select the word
they think best summed up 2024 as part of research conducted by the Oxford
University Press (OUP). According to teachers, the choice of ‘kindness’, which
was selected by 61% of the youngsters asked, reflects a growing awareness among
young people of the impact of mental health, and the contribution kindness can
make to mental wellbeing.
Numerous references to global violence and current conflicts emphasised how
attuned children are to current affairs, said survey organisers, with words
such as ‘need’ and ‘should’ frequently used in their responses.
“It is so encouraging that kindness has been voted – by a considerable majority
– as the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2024,” said Andrea Quincey,
director of early years and primary publishing at OUP. “We know from previous
years that young people are very conscious of the big issues that can divide us
as a society and attuned to the important role which language can play in
bringing people together.”
One child said: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle we know nothing about.
We should treat everyone with kindness. You never truly know how much it could
help someone.”
“It tells us that empathy, and tolerance and the language we use matter, and
that kindness is not only a solution to so many problems but is something
everyone and anyone can do to make a difference,” continued Quincey."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
