Degirmencioglu said that the information given to children about the reasons of death of the sacrificed animals is usually incorrect and inadequate. He added that this information usually causes anxiety in children. According to Degirmencioglu and his students, the adults should pay attention to the child's age and tell him/her about the reasons of death accordingly.
Degirmencioglu: Children perceive death in a different and difficult wayDegirmencioglu, Karka and Gezgor said that adults don't pay enough attention to children during this religious holiday during which Muslims sacrifice animals. They released the results of the "Research on the Feast of Sacrifice and Children" and drew attention to the psychological problems the children will encounter during and after the holidays.
Degirmencioglu and his students said that children perceive death in a very difficult and different way, adding that their parents and the media should provide enough support to children during this period.
Degirmencioglu, Karka and Gezgor researched the scientific literature and spoke with teachers, parents and children about sacrificing animals. Their aim is to raise awareness and provide resources on the issue.
The research reveals that it is impossible for children to perceive death in the same way adults do, and that death is very difficult for children to cope with.
Children establish an emotional bond with the animal to be sacrificed.
The research also shows that inadequate information and support about death can have both short-term and long-term negative effects on children. The children have difficulty understanding the death of animals and are deeply saddened, according to the research.
The outcome of the research proves that children establish an emotional bond with the animal, which is brought home to be sacrificed. Moreover, the children are not clearly told that the animal will be killed.
Degirmencioglu stated that the parents do not understand the grief of the child when the animal is killed and they do not provide the necessary support. The research also shows that there are many cases in which the child stops eating meet after the sacrifice.
Degirmencioglu and his students highlighted that an explanation such as, "it
was a very good animal and so Allah wanted it to be killed," may mean for
the child that, 'good creatures die' and the child may stop behaving well. A
statement such as, "Look, we are eating the meat of the lamb we had," may
cause the child to stop eating meat for a long time.
Children under six should not watch sacrificing
Degirmencioglu, Karka and Gezgor said that the results of the research
constitute a warning.
They proposed the following to prevent children from being negatively
affected during this Muslim holiday:
* Children should not be forced to watch the sacrificing ceremony. Children under six should not watch the sacrificing. Children at the age of eight and up may understand the meaning of sacrifice but children under 10 cannot fully perceive death. Children older than 11 can better understand the notion of sacrifice.
* Children, no matter how old they are, should not be forced to watch the sacrificing if they don't want to.
* Adults should refrain from talking about the sacrifice in front of children.
* Killing the animal with which the child has established a bond, is especially disturbing. For that reason, either the animal to be sacrificed should not be kept at home or the child should be openly told that the animal will be killed. It is important to use a language that can be understood by the child and to select the words carefully. The adults should refrain from saying, "It's fallen asleep," "It was going to die anyway," or "It was an accident." Killing the animal without telling the child, making the child eat it without knowing, and then telling him/her "Look we killed and ate it," is especially disturbing.
* Children should not be forced to eat the meat of the sacrificed animal if they don't want to.
* Adults should clearly and openly answer the child's questions about death.* Adults should permit the children to talk about their feelings. They should not use statements such as "Men don't cry" and carefully listen to what the children say. The members of the family should pay attention to the grief of the child. They should refrain from saying things like "Don't worry," or "We'll get another one next year."
* It is important for parents to go to an expert if the sacrificing has had a big impact on the child resulting in insomnia and loss of appetite.
* The television channels should avoid broadcasting images of the sacrifice, blood or animal parts.
Degirmencioglu and his students said they would continue the "Research on the Feast of Sacrifice and Children" during the holidays. They said the goal of the research is to help the families and the society to adequately inform children about the notion of death and to contribute to preventing the emotional problems the children may have during that period. (KO/TK/AD/EA/YE)
* Please click here for more information about the research.
