History lessons tell little about the culture and traditions of Greece, and the upbringing of children is not at all known, meanwhile, this vibrant country has a rather interesting approach to children, which works great.
Raising children in Greece is a thing of the past
The ancient Greeks attached great importance to physical education. The slender, strong body of a young man was the ideal of beauty, to such an extent that a slender child served as a source of father’s pride. Flaws or physical deformity were considered the curse of the gods and the worst misfortune. Physical beauty, spiritual nobility had to go hand in hand with education, so from early childhood they taught moral principles through Spartan education.
Spartan boys and girls were subject to the same rules, since the Greeks were convinced that only a healthy woman could give birth to a strong boy and only healthy people could be useful in protecting society. Unfortunately, this mindset led to artificial selection – each newborn was examined by a government official and if it turned out that the baby was weak, they got rid of him.
The transfer of knowledge did not take place in a strict atmosphere, there were no public schools in Athens, children received knowledge from the older generation. At first, the young Athenian spent time carelessly under the supervision of a nanny, from the age of seven he received poetic, musical, moral and physical education, which prepared young people for a correct, cultural life. As a teenager, the child became a completely independent person, reasoning and helping others at the level of an adult.
Growing up in Greece – present
The family plays a very important role in the life of every modern Greek, theoretically, no parent dominates the others, but in many homes there is still a rule that the father is responsible for the maintenance of the family, and the mother takes care of the upbringing of the children. The vast majority of Greeks have their own business, as a rule, it is the management of a restaurant, tavern, travel agency, hotel, transport company, so parents quickly return to work, and children grow up nearby, which of course contributes to the smooth transfer of knowledge about the family business.
The Greeks are an extremely family-oriented nation with a positive attitude towards children, but it’s hard to say the same when you get to a big city. Moving around with a wheelchair is very difficult because most public facilities such as banks and post offices are not adapted for them with stairs or a complex door system at the entrance.
As in the past, educational institutions still adhere to freedom, teachers are not scolded for an unfulfilled task, but at the same time, this is a rarity – responsibility, the main quality of Greek culture. Also, there is no question of corporal punishment, the child receives exactly as many comments as required for obedience. This approach to education is connected with the kindness instilled by nature itself, the nation from ancient, historical times does not tolerate violence.
Despite the reports of the economic situation, the family is a value that will never face any crisis. Children are a force, a source of love and joy, giving energy every day. Perhaps this is due to Hestia, the Greek goddess who guards the domestic fire of family happiness.