Is it possible good ol’ Saint Nicholas got the dual notion of naughty or nice all wrong? The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) certainly thinks so. In their new ad that was released yesterday, they dive deeper into what adverse side effects the idea of simply being good or bad can have on a child.
The two and a half minute long commercial features Santa sitting on top of a roof, contemplating whether he has been judging kids all wrong. He questions the idea that maybe some kids are nervous or nice, or uncomfortable in their own skin or nice. He begins to realize the concept of merely labeling a person naughty or nice isn’t right.
While this may be true, it does not mean it is a ticket for kids to get away with whatever they want because they are struggling with other issues. Life is inherently tricky and confusing. The world we live in today doesn’t make things any more straightforward. The video touches on some of the factors in society that cause enormous amounts of stress on kids but fails to dissect how it can be solved.
That said, it is a 150-second advertisement, not an in-depth case study on the issue at hand.
I am certainly not going to pretend like I have any authority on the issue, either. I am not a psychologist, and I have not spent much time researching the topic. Either way, I believe this narrative was creatively written and produced. It raises essential questions we should all be asking ourselves - How can we help combat mental health problems? And how can we raise children to be more confident and prosperous?
I would love to hear your thoughts on the ad, as well as the issue of naughty or nice. Feel free to leave a comment below.
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