Let Children Dream: Why Every Child Needs Encouragement, Freedom and Opportunity

What happens when a child dreams of becoming an artist but is told to become a doctor? When a young girl wants to play football but is discouraged because it is considered a sport for boys? Or when a child has the talent to excel but never gets the opportunity to discover it?

Every child has a dream, but not every child grows up in an environment that allows those dreams to flourish. This Children's Day, celebrated across India on 14 November, brings attention to a fundamental responsibility of families, schools and society: ensuring that children have the encouragement, freedom and opportunities to discover their potential and shape their own futures.

India celebrates Children's Day on the birth anniversary of its first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was fondly known as Chacha Nehru for his affection towards children. Nehru believed that children were the foundation of the nation's future and emphasised the importance of their education and well-being. Interestingly, the United Nations observes World Children's Day on 20 November, commemorating the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

However, celebrating childhood must go beyond cultural programmes, sweets, gifts and school festivities. It must also encourage society to reflect on whether children receive the care, protection and opportunities they deserve.

Beyond marks and achievements: Let children discover themselves

Children often grow up surrounded by expectations about what they should study, how they should behave and what careers they should pursue. While guidance is essential, excessive pressure can prevent them from discovering their interests and abilities.

A child who enjoys painting should be encouraged to create, just as a child interested in science should be given opportunities to experiment and explore. Not every child will excel academically, and not every talent can be measured through examination marks. Sports, music, dance, storytelling, scientific curiosity and compassion are equally valuable expressions of a child's abilities.

Encouragement does not always require grand gestures. Sometimes, listening patiently, appreciating an effort, allowing children to ask questions and giving them the confidence to try again after failure can make a lasting difference. Children need adults who believe in their potential, even when they struggle to believe in themselves.

Freedom must come with Opportunity

Freedom is equally important in childhood. Children need space to express their opinions, make age-appropriate decisions, explore their interests and learn from their mistakes. Giving them a voice does not mean leaving them without guidance; it means respecting their individuality while providing the support they need to grow.

Yet, dreams cannot flourish without opportunity. Poverty, discrimination, gender stereotypes, inadequate education and child labour continue to limit the possibilities available to many children. Access to education, healthcare, nutrition, safety and a supportive environment must not depend on a child's family income or social background.

India's Children in India 2025 report, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, highlights progress in child welfare. The infant mortality rate declined from 44 per 1,000 live births in 2011 to 25 in 2023, while the school dropout rate fell from 13.8 per cent in 2022–23 to 8.2 per cent in 2024–25. These improvements are encouraging, but they also underline the importance of sustaining efforts towards children's well-being and development.

A Childhood where every Dream Matters

Parents, teachers, educational institutions and communities all have a role in creating an environment where children feel safe to dream, question, explore and grow. Schools must nurture creativity alongside academic learning, while families must recognise that a child's happiness and confidence matter as much as academic success.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child also recognises children's rights to education, protection, participation and development, reminding the world that children are individuals with rights, not merely recipients of adult decisions.

This Children's Day, the real celebration lies not in how many gifts children receive, but in how many opportunities they are given. Every child deserves the freedom to imagine a future, the encouragement to pursue it and the opportunity to make it a reality.

After all, children should not have to fit into the dreams adults create for them. They should be given the wings to discover and pursue their own.