When you have the opportunity to sit back and observe children we could learn many lessons. It is fascinating to watch how children interact, behave, play and even share. Since I work in a toddler classroom, I have a firsthand perspective on how children act. I often see children sharing and interacting with others even if it is the first time they meet. Children generally do not make judgments on others, are naturally curious and are friendly towards others. Children are also, carefree and bear little worries. As adults we tend to make pre-judgments towards others and over think, even the simplest of things, which, in turn causes us to stress out. Children don't worry about things like getting messy, burping in public, crying in public, or even about what others may think of them.
In Ralph Fletcher's novel, "Walking Trees," he paints vivid images of how children function in their classrooms. In every class that Fletcher visits, he leaves with a little something he didn't have before. Fletcher recognizes that children are honest beings, and often tell things as they are. When Fletcher made a visit to a junior high school in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, a student named, Carlos, volunteered to read his writing entitle, "Jealousy," to the class. Carlos wrote openly and explicitly about his jealousy towards his mother's boyfriend. Carlos was also eager to share his work with his classmates, without any concerns about what his classmates might think about him.
As adults, we could learn a few things from children! We should accept all types of people, get messy once in a while, stop worrying about our image, and even about what others think about us!
About Me
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I like your point about children not being so worried about what other people think of them. Adults always seem to be carrying some kind of agenda with them, and they worry about everything they do because it will be a reflection on themselves. Hopefully we'll all find that balance between being responsible and kicking back and relaxing once in a while.
Hi Susie,
I definitely agree that children have a carefree attitude, which is a quality I envy. As adults we tend to stress out about the little things and worry about what people think. I sometimes feel like I would like to cry or burp in public. I wonder what age kids start to conform to what is socially expected of them. When do you think they start caring what others think and become more self-conscious?
I also think it is astonishing how honest kids can be. They are not afraid to point out the obvious and sometimes can even say things that may be hurtful. I think your example from “Walking Tress” with Carlos does a great job illustrating your point. In “Walking Trees,” many of the students are ready and willing to express themselves.
I remember one of my teachers use to say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything is small.” This is something I say to myself when I begin to freak out or become worried about silly things. I think this is an important idea to remember.
Post a Comment