Children are naturally inquisitive. This inquisitiveness is apparent immediately after a child is born. Most times, a baby will gaze into the eyes of its mother, and begin to bond and form a relationship with her. The baby’s senses awake to his/her new environment, and so begins the life-long journey of self-discovery, curiosity about life’s mysteries, relationships and his/her purpose.
Every child is a unique gift from God, born with extraordinary potential. Innate within every child is a burning flame of desire to explore and make sense of his/her small world. This burning flame can either grow and burn brighter, or begin to diminish and eventually die out. When this flame is carefully and responsibly tended, a child’s self-confidence will grow. The child believes that dreams can come true!
Innate within every child is a burning flame of desire to explore and make sense of his/her small world.
Unfortunately, oftentimes, the radiance of the flame begins to dim in many children at a very young age. The extinguishing of this passionate quest to follow one’s dreams and the belief that all things are possible may not be intentional, but nevertheless, it happens. It happens when the fire is ignored and/or regarded as just childhood fantasies and consequently, it is not tended to properly. It happens because of insufficient stimulation by those responsible for keeping the flame burning as the child grows and matures.
For a fire to continue burning brightly and become a good source of light and warmth, it needs constant kindling. I do not know of anyone who does not enjoy sitting in front of a fireplace aglow with the beauty and warmth of a fire. However, the light that radiates from an inanimate object cannot compare with the beauty that radiates from a child who is glowing with the inner light of wonder and the belief that all things are possible for him/her to achieve.
All children need a nurturing, wholesome environment in which to grow and lots of encouragement to kindle the flame that burns in their hearts and minds. They need the assurance of knowing that no dream is too big, extravagant or beyond their reach.
Parents and teachers must kindle the flame of curiosity and cultivate the creativity that is within every child. They need to encourage children to talk about their dreams and aspirations. Both, parents and teachers need to kindle every child’s fire by making learning exciting. Let me be perfectly clear; all education does not happen in school. Attitudes toward learning are formed long before a child starts his/her formal education.
Attitudes toward learning are formed long before a child starts his/her formal education.
Education begins shortly after birth. Parents must talk, read and sing to their children constantly. It takes little effort and money to beautify a child’s surroundings. Create an environment for them that triggers imaginative thinking. Give them toys that foster creativity. Provide rich family experiences for the child, that is, experiences rich in time spent but, not costly in money. This provides a solid foundation on which formal education can begin to build.
As the child gets older, provide more opportunities for him/her to explore his/her interests through many disciplines. There are many enriching experiences that are free and require only the dedication of time. Use these times to communicate with your child openly and honestly. Honest communication builds trust. Encourage the child to talk about each experience. Have him/her write about it and/or draw about it. Show authentic interest in your child’s thoughts concerns and impressions. Keep the channel of communication open.
Children are great imitators of the adults in their lives. Therefore, it is important that parents and teachers model the behaviors they wish to see in their children. Both, parents and teachers can give children a strong foundation on which they can take steps toward realizing their dreams. It is important that they provide all the kindling necessary to keep the flames of enthusiastic learning and living deeply burning within every child. When this happens, then every child will have the courage to live the wonderful life God has planned for him or her to live and enjoy.