The two Sunbirds above, one on a bush looking out for flowers and the other feeding nectar from flowers, were happening around the same time in our garden! They search and find!
I found this purpose driven behaviour interesting to watch.
In a conversation with a family yesterday evening, I was fascinated by the insightful conversation of parents about their two children. One of them likes to listen to sounds by tapping rhythmically on the refrigerator. I wondered if it indicated the musical interest of the child! The parents were to keen to observe that further!
The conversation proceeded to consider how a toddler discovers his or her home environment to explore and discover! It is the engaging environment that brings out the hidden interest and observational skills of a toddler. That is how a toddler finds play purposeful.
For a toddler, finding ways to play and explore the environment is the normal pattern. It is when parents facilitate that a child comes forth with ideas and activities to explore.
A toddler looks for satiety in playing! I wonder if parents have a play plan for their toddler for each day! It could involve indoor and outdoor activities.
Parents who have designed a Child's Corner, where child has a space to belong to with his her collection of toys, books, and creative materials, would facilitate a toddler to design his or her play time. If parents have found a joint time of play at the Child's' Corner, then it offers parents an opportunity to observe the unfolding interests and discoveries of a child.
Almost every day, one toddler girl that I know about, prepares tea for her parents in the evening at the Child's corner with her toy stove and toy vessels. It is a way a child connects with parents and invites them to participate in her play process! A toddler is a seeker and an aspirant for inventing!
I wonder if parents have a collection of videos of such inventing activities of their child and play back these videos to the child once every week for the child to feel appreciated for his or her exploratory journey!
It is when parents become present and participate in the child's world of imagination and exploration, they can awaken in the child a sense of emotional engagement to grow in the attachment process which is the foundation for endearing relationships.
The Sunbirds find their feed on their own! A child too finds his or her way of play to feel fulfilled.
The parents can become providers to enlarge the fulfilling experiences of toddlers. The pre-school years at home are golden years to develop intimate emotional bonding between parents and children. A child who feels rooted in such an ambience of intimacy flourishes and grows up with a sense of belonging, protected and affirmed!
M.C.Mathew( text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment