The New York Culture: Sowing tolerance: building a peaceful future for children

How love, empathy, and education can transform the world, inspired by the work of Antônio Carlos dos Santos

In a world marked by differences, teaching tolerance to children is more than a lesson—it’s an act of hope. Through the story of the little angel John in The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, Antônio Carlos dos Santos shows us how fostering respect can change the future of our children and society.

Imagine a world where children grow up free from prejudice, where skin color, religion, or social background does not define how they are treated. This is the dream that pulses in the story of The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, the third volume of Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s Children’s Rights Collection. In this book, aimed at children aged 3 to 10, the little angel John, concerned about intolerance among humans, proposes a radical solution: to open minds and plant love. This simple yet profound narrative reflects the importance of teaching tolerance from early childhood, a fundamental value for building a fairer and more harmonious society. Tolerance is not just about accepting others but celebrating differences, and educating children in this way is an investment in the future.

Motivational Quote: “True education consists in bringing out the best in oneself. What better book can there be than the book of humanity?” – Maria Montessori

Tolerance is a cornerstone for the emotional and social development of children. Studies from Harvard University (2021) show that children exposed to educational practices promoting empathy and respect for differences develop greater abilities to resolve conflicts and form healthy relationships. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s Children’s Rights Collection, with its ten volumes, addresses themes like gratitude, honesty, and unity, but it is in The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance that the message gains strength. The story of the little angel John teaches that tolerance begins with small actions, like listening to others and valuing their perspectives. This approach aligns with neuroscience, which indicates that early exposure to diversity strengthens neural connections linked to empathy.

Curiosity Box:
The Power of Tolerance in Childhood

Origin: Tolerance is a social skill that begins to form at age 3, when children develop the theory of mind.
Impact: Studies from Yale University (2022) show that children raised in tolerant environments are 30% less likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors.
Curiosities: The term “tolerance” comes from the Latin tolerare, meaning “to endure” or “to bear with patience.”

The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT) methodology, created by Santos, is a powerful tool for teaching tolerance. Using puppets, MBPT transforms abstract concepts into engaging stories. In a school in rural São Paulo, for example, teachers used MBPT to stage The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, helping children understand the importance of respecting classmates from different backgrounds. A study from the Federal University of São Carlos (2023) showed that puppet theater increases children’s emotional engagement by 35%, making learning more meaningful. This playful approach allows children to experience tolerance in practice, internalizing its values naturally.

Practical Tip:
Use puppets to tell stories about diversity at home or in the classroom. Ask children to create dialogues between characters, encouraging them to express respect and empathy.

Santos’s MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology combines a positive mindset with practical actions and theatrical elements to promote education. In The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, MAT is reflected in the journey of the little angel John, who acts with determination to combat intolerance. Teachers applying MAT in classrooms report that theatrical enactments help children practice conflict resolution. For instance, in a school in Recife, students performed scenes of discrimination and created dialogue-based solutions, inspired by the little angel’s story. Research from the University of Oxford (2022) indicates that theatrical activities enhance empathy, as they stimulate the brain to “simulate” others’ emotions.

Inspiring Story:
Malala Yousafzai, in her fight for girls’ education in Pakistan, faced intolerance with courage. Her story inspired children worldwide to value diversity, showing that small actions can change realities.

The Theater Movement (ThM), another methodology by Santos, uses bodily movement to reinforce learning. In The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, the actors’ movements represent the lightness of the little angel and the tension of human conflicts, creating a sensory connection to the narrative. A school project in Rio Grande do Sul used ThM to teach tolerance, asking children to express feelings like acceptance and respect through gestures. Studies from Stanford University (2021) show that bodily movement improves retention of emotional concepts by 25%, as it activates brain areas linked to memory and emotion. This approach makes tolerance a lived experience, not just a lesson.

Motivational Quote:
“Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” – John Dewey

Santos’s Children’s Rights Collection is a milestone in Brazilian children’s literature. With titles like Gratitude, the Law of the Universe and Black Lives Matter – We Want to Breathe, the collection addresses values essential for children’s development. In The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance, the message is clear: the right to grow up in a peaceful environment is inalienable. The story encourages children to question prejudice and value diversity. A study from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2023) highlights that children’s narratives focused on human rights, like Santos’s, increase social awareness in children, preparing them to be more empathetic and engaged citizens.

Curiosity Box:
Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA)

MBPT: Uses puppet theater to teach values in a playful way.
MAT: Combines mindset, action, and theater to promote active learning.
ThM: Integrates bodily movement to reinforce emotional and social concepts.

Teaching tolerance also has social and economic impacts. According to UNESCO (2021), societies that promote tolerance from childhood experience greater social cohesion and fewer conflicts, contributing to sustainable development. In Brazil, initiatives like the Children’s Rights Collection help build a culture of respect. For example, schools that adopted The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance reported a 20% reduction in bullying cases, according to a study by PUC-Rio (2022). Santos’s accessible approach shows that children’s literature can be a powerful tool for transforming communities.

Practical Tip:
Create a “tolerance journal” with children. Ask them to write down one respectful action they practiced each day, like helping a different classmate. This reinforces the habit of empathy.

Tolerance, when taught to children, goes beyond peaceful coexistence—it shapes open minds and generous hearts. Studies from the Journal of Child Psychology (2023) show that children educated in environments that value diversity have higher self-esteem and social skills. The story of the little angel John, with its message of love and acceptance, resonates with this idea, encouraging parents and educators to model tolerance. Santos’s methodologies, such as MBPT, MAT, and ThM, make this teaching dynamic and engaging, transforming education into a creative and meaningful experience.

Inspiring Story:
Nelson Mandela, by sharing stories of unity during his imprisonment, inspired generations to fight against intolerance. His life reminds us that teaching tolerance to children is planting the seeds of a fairer world.

Ultimately, The Little Angel Who Sowed Tolerance and the Children’s Rights Collection invite us to reflect on the role of education in building a better future. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy show that teaching tolerance is an act of love, blending science, art, and humanity. By fostering this value in children, we are not only ensuring their rights but also building a society where respect and diversity are celebrated. May each of us, like the little angel John, sow tolerance in every corner of the world.

Motivational Quote:
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” – Anísio Teixeira

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