Psychiatrist Dr. Zeynep Gülçin Yıldırım said that care should be taken to prevent the Eid celebration from becoming a cause of trauma for children due to carelessness in sacrificing animals.
Expert from the Child Psychiatry Clinic made statements about how Eid al-Adha should be explained to children. Dr. Zeynep Gülçin Yıldırım said, "As Eid al-Adha approaches, we need to be careful to prevent the Eid celebration from becoming a cause of trauma for children due to carelessness in sacrificing animals. Because careless mistakes made at certain points do not make the Eid a source of joy and happiness for children, but cause many psychological problems that frighten them." "It can become a period of time that causes the problem to begin," he said.
How should the reason for sacrificing an animal during Eid-al-Adha be explained to children?
About how to explain the reason for sacrificing an animal during Eid-al-Adha. informing Dr. Zeynep Gülçin Yıldırım said, "Parents often tell the story of the Prophet Abraham when explaining the reason why we sacrifice. Even though the story has a good ending and what is really meant is submission and acceptance in a religious sense, the inference that young children will draw from this story is that it is normal for fathers to cut the necks of children." This will happen and the likely outcome will be that they will feel intense anxiety about their own father doing something similar. As in all other religious matters, children cannot clearly understand the meaning of religious concepts before the age of 12-13. Therefore, when the child asks the question "Why Do We Sacrifice?" "Information should be provided by highlighting the importance of cooperation and meeting the needs of those in need, in accordance with their age," he said.
Should the sacrifice be shown to children? Children over the age of 12-13 can participate in the sacrifice without being forced, if they are willing to do so. However, younger children should never participate in the sacrifice. Because a child who is far from understanding the religious concept of sacrifice (all children under the age of 12-13) is not allowed to cut the necks of sheep. Showing is often experienced as a traumatic experience. Another risk factor is that children who witness sacrifice normalize violence. A child does not need to watch the slaughter to understand the importance of sacrificing an animal during Eid al-Adha. "This period when parents and children do not go to work or school should be considered as an opportunity to spend pleasant time with them, to have conversations that we cannot have in the hustle and bustle of daily life, and to get to know them," he said.
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