reality matters

Did you ever take a minute to watch how a toddler exhibits interest, and even amazement, in objects that we take for granted? From a child’s perspective, there is wonder to be found in a leaf, in a shell or in a pebble.

By holding these tiny treasures, by examining them (sometimes with all five senses) and by developing a relationship with them, as it were, a child continues to grow in familiarity with the wider environment in which we all seek to live in harmony. With familiarity comes the power to make predictions, to anticipate and to form opinions or develop preferences. The world into which a child is born is full to the brim of sensory stimulation and by entering into a lifestyle of engagement with this reality, a child begins a lifelong journey of discovery. In order to provide a supportive platform for the first steps of this journey, it is therefore essential to focus on the tangible rather than the abstract; tailoring experiences that respect the natural urges, interests and abilities of a child reflect the mind of an adult who is prepared to take on the role of guide, grounded in awareness that child development is a process that evolves over time. At some point between the age of five and six years old, a child’s inner development arrives at a point where distinctions can be made between that which is real and that which is not. From that point forward, fantasy can be introduced as a means of building on or extending from that which is confidently accepted as being real. In the interim it is a gift, given in respect, to present the factual wonders of the world to your little one. They take nothing for granted. They are actively seeking out the simple pleasures of a reality-based life every day.