"Perhaps we are sometimes afraid to allow children to contemplate the weighty questions of life because it will mean we have to deal with them as well," observes Nancy Rosenow in Heart-Centered Teaching Inspired by Nature. She continues...
"How do we face the fact that death is a part of life? ... How do we reconcile the touching beauty of nature and gentleness of the natural world with what seems like nature's heartless cruelty? These are not easy questions, but they are ones worth asking. One of the gifts nature gives to all of us is the reassurance that a new day will always dawn... without fail. No matter how dark the night before, the sun will always rise. These may seem like clichés, but when we stop to let ourselves ponder the reality of these words, we are reminded that we, too, have been given the ability to always persevere. We have the ability to find the lesson — and the gift — in every situation, no matter how difficult. It may take a while to discover, but the gift is always there. That's a lesson I believe we might want to make part of children's 'core curriculum' — and our own."
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Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsNewton, NJ, United States
My comment was suppose to go to the August 26th article on inactivity and obesity. It doesn't make much sense here. lol, that's life
New Jersey, United States
I hope we consider findings like these as we contemplate changes in the early childhood field. Moving towards worksheets, sedentary work and sanitizing environments of all risk (often large motor experiences), seems to be resulting in a generation that is starting life at risk. Children's natural inclination to jump, climb and run is often being diminished by adults who overtly curb behaviors with "classroom rules" or subtly by valuing the naturally sedate or "compliant" child who seems to enjoy those worksheets and passive experiences. We have the power to change the tides. I hope we seize the opportunity.
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