Through the Eyes of a Child

Through the Eyes of a Child “Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder”

Eberhard Arnold

It is Spring in Australia and I am aware of nature ‘unfolding’ around me – every day I learn something new! 

 

Having arrived here 6 weeks ago after nearly 15 years in Scotland I am living through new, exciting and sometimes scary moments - I consider myself very privileged to again be allowed this opportunity to experience the ‘childhood’ awe and wonder I remember feeling as a child. 

As adults we can lose this ‘skill’ as we are often too busy; rushing and meeting deadlines that we tend to then miss the amazing detail surrounding us. All too often we ‘drag’ our children with us instead of allowing them to lead us into their world – they live in nature time.

 

Children who are given time and space will find and enjoy the detail of nature  in even the most unlikely places – a bug under a stone, a raindrop on a plant, a weed in the corner of the car park, a puddle in a discarded plastic bag. Even a decomposing leaf as a beauty of its own.

I have observed children spend time getting really close, investigating from all angles and then exploring the play-potential of their discovery - often over extended periods of time. 

I believe that children are able to see and appreciate the minutia and detail of the world around them leading to a natural fascination that should be nurtured and valued. 

Slow down, allow children to take the lead, to share with us the world through their eyes and we will learn the true value and beauty of the world that we have access to – a blade of grass, a bee, a shell or a stone. 

Looking through the lens of my camera I can see the delicate detail I would otherwise miss and feel so privileged that I am given another opportunity to see and share the world with young children using my camera lens.

 

 

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” Oscar Wilde

The Adult Role in Support of Precious Childhoods

Our young children need time to explore, experience, discover and make sense of the world around them. It is sometimes easy to forget that they have only been on the planet for maybe two, five ,ten years.... they need to be their own explorers and investigators. 

 
Children need to have the ‘protective arms’ of an understanding adult around them. This is not an adult who uses their ‘arms’ to hold the child back but an adult who uses these ‘arms’ to gently guide and support as appropriate, who stands up for children's rights, who shows trust in their judgement and protecting their time and allowing them to build important childhood memories.
 
This is an adult who sees even the youngest child as a competent and capable little being who needs to be sensitively nurtured and allowed to grow into the competent, happy adults we want all children to grow into.

Jumping and dancing in the water - fun science investigation into the properties of water and sand