Lessons from a child: Simple choices, Big changes

This morning during our school assembly, I took a moment to appreciate the children who celebrated a Green Diwali by choosing not to burst firecrackers. I asked them how they used the money they would have spent on crackers, and their answers were wonderful. Some said they donated to old age homes, others saved it for future class trips, and a few bought plants and some even gifted it to others. Each response was thoughtful and heartfelt.

To add to the conversation, I shared a little conversation between two boys, Ram and Shyam. Ram celebrated Green Diwali, avoiding crackers entirely, while Shyam argued that if people stopped buying crackers, it might harm the livelihoods of those small children who work in the firework industry. I asked the children, “If you were Ram, how would you respond to Shyam?”

One of our 8-year-olds stepped forward and said, “If we don’t buy crackers, they don’t have to make them.” Such a simple, profound response! This child captured the essence of something we call the law of supply and demand in economics. When there’s no demand, there’s no need for supply. And here was a child, so young, who understood this concept better than many adults often do.

This conversation made me reflect on how we, as adults, often get tangled up in technical terms when discussing pollution, climate change, and the need for environmental consciousness. But change really begins from within. If we make eco-friendly choices and become role models in this way, we can create a ripple effect that reaches others. By making small, thoughtful changes, we can work toward a better, healthier earth.

To explain it simply, look at how our lives have changed in other ways. Remember the old Kodak film rolls? They were in every home once, but with digital cameras and smartphones, they’ve almost disappeared. Pagers, too, were once essential, yet now they’re a thing of the past. When demand fades, so does supply, naturally. This principle can apply to any industry, including ones that contribute to pollution. Just as we embraced the digital world, we can embrace sustainable choices.

Let’s remember that these small shifts in choices are powerful. As we live these values, we teach them to our children by example. They, in turn, will carry forward this ripple of change, shaping the world one thoughtful choice at a time. It’s not about waiting for grand actions; it’s about the simple decisions we make every day. Let us be inspired by this young voice, embracing the power of choice to create a better tomorrow. a child