As I mentioned last month, observing a whole slew of little kids is both enlightening and incredibly entertaining. They don’t worry about consequences or social niceties or whether or not their playmate wanted the red truck. If they are angry, they yell. If they’re sad, they cry. If they need to burp, not only do they let it out, they giggle with delight (or maybe that’s just boys — I’m around boys so often, I’ve forgotten what little girls do).
If there’s something in their nose, they’ll go to great lengths to get it out and they don’t care who’s watching. If they think your hair looks weird, your voice sounds funny or they see anything they don’t consider “normal,” they will, without a doubt, let you know. You can be assured that if they feel the slightest bit wronged, not only will they come tattling to you, they will not give a rip what the other children think of them, just as long as justice is served.
Today I started teaching the 3-year-old class at our church’s Vacation Bible School. It was wonderful. It was also like being in a microcosm of humanity at its basest form.
Kids amuse me no end. I’m fairly patient and while other adults are about ready to pop an eyeball in situations like VBS, I’m usually trying my hardest not to giggle at how hilariously honest kids are, particularly the young ones. That’s really what it boils down to: they’re totally WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). There are no facades, no pretending to be something they’re not; they’re not trying to fit in or be liked, they just are.
Which is why I find it so refreshing to be around little kids.
That being said, at times like this, I have so much respect and admiration for people who teach preschool (thanks, Judy!), those who run daycares and all the other jobs that require tending to a bunch of little kids for hours. It’s not a job for just anyone. It takes a special person to care for children. The micro-second attention spans, the endless fidgeting, the need to always be doing something and the sudden urge to possess the toy someone else is playing with can be exhausting to watch, let alone deal with.
So I’m giving a big shout-out today to all of our children’s caregivers. Your role is greatly appreciated and highly regarded.
What behaviors have you observed in children that you find particularly funny/disturbing/interesting/entertaining? Do you agree that watching little kids is like watching a microcosm of humanity at its basest form? Why or why not?
I’m with you. Every time I see my toddler melt into tears of frustration (no, wait — that’s too tame for what he does: Explode into tears of rage), and then get over it 5 min. later, I realize that’s what I need to do: Let it out. Express (in some way) my full disappointment and move on. But we grown-ups far too often hold our feelings inside, nurturing resentments and irritations. Sometimes I think we’d all do well to learn from the little people beside us!
Jenny
Yes–God bless those who work with children on a daily basis. Toddlerhood is NOT my area of expertise, although I have learned to endure it!
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Well said, Jenny!