For children, any slight mishap seems like the end of the world. They are still too young to understand that life is full of ups and downs, and while they are easily made happy, likewise they can quickly succumb to tears each time something goes wrong.

Their immaturity and vulnerability is often the reason why their reaction is different from that of adults in any given circumstance. While, generally speaking, most adults can respond to any difficult moment, and manage to stand up quickly after a fall, most children find themselves at a loss when something negative happens, and they seek the reassurance of an adult. Luckily, on most occasions they find it.

What is perhaps a worse situation for children is when they feel that are being let down by the adults they look up to. It could be their parents or other relatives. But it could also be their teachers and other educators. These therefore have an important role to play to avoid being another brick in the wall, as a Pink Floyd song famously said nearly 30 years ago.

As much as possible, parents try not to distinguish between their children. They love them equally and try to give them the best possible upbringing without showing preferences. If they are going to buy a bar of chocolate for one, they will buy a bar for the other/s too.

Of course, there are instances when some parents openly favour one child over another. This often leads to differences between the preferred child and the other siblings, and sometimes, sadly, to open fights among them. We have all heard the Old Testament story of how Joseph was sold by his brothers because he was the preferred son of Jacob. Things might not be so drastic today, but there are occasions when brothers turn against each other out of spite.

The situation in schools and in other places where a number of children are taken care of by adults – such as in football nurseries and dancing classes – is similar to that of the home, with the difference however that the educators have a much larger group of kids to see to and there is no natural bond between the adult and the children.

We are all human, and we all have our personal likings. That is why we are attracted to some people and dislike others. It is the same for educators with kids. Still, educators must do their utmost to treat all their pupils in the same way without showing preferences.

Children notice that their teacher is treating them differently from their peers, and this might negatively affect them. If, for example, a child is continuously being berated by his or her teacher while another is being constantly praised, it is inevitable that the berated child will grow up to dislike authority as it would represent something that brings back bad memories.

Likewise, it is unfortunate that, for example, the same children are, year in year out, chosen for the best part in the school Christmas concert while others are conveniently forgotten. Schools are not Hollywood, where only the best actors and actresses make it. Schools are the place where everyone should be given the same chances.

Teachers should be careful. They should never show any preference towards a student – as this could lead to bullying by his or her peers. At the same time, they should not show dislike to any student, as this could also have its negative repercussions as well.

Educators should try to remember how much their school life affected their personalities when they were young, and try not to repeat the mistakes that were committed with them.