Adult learning from childhood behaviour!

Anna and I lived in two residential campuses of Medical Colleges, where we worked during our professional life. This picture above, is of children from one campus, engaged with each other in the evening. They were probably preparing to say farewell in the evening after the evening play time and returning home. The mood of the picture reflects childhood gestures of regardful relationship and sense of belonging ! 

The charm of childhood is this experience of friendship and shared experiences! This is evident in this photo !

When Anna I visited a hospital campus recently, we observed similar gestures of bonding and togetherness between children. In their language there was mindfulness and attention towards each other!

Erik Erikson proposed in his theory of stages of psychosocial formation that early childhood is a season of finding identity and intimacy. The social net work among children and the home environment contribute towards this in a significant way. 

It was while watching a conversation time of children about the evening play time I was drawn into their world! Although winning and loosing mattered, most of  the conversation time was recollection of the good experiences at play! They dispersed in the evening wising to see each other at the play time on the next day. 

I noticed how the children negotiate a quarrel peacefully and return to their play! Their quarrels do not last beyond a few minutes. They recover and return to be normal. During the one week at the hospital campus, I noticed such an attitude of spontaneity and trustfulness in their regard for each other. 

I felt moved by this language and behaviour between children. They regard their sense of belonging dearly and reciprocate to each other kindly! 

This is a lesson in adult education. 

Others we relate to or work with or live with, add value and worth to our lives! It is in relationships we grow and discover the deeper plane of our being and belonging! 

I happened to listen to a behaviour psychologist who mentioned that when we learn to trust and relate to others, we grow up to a new stature of being ourselves! It is in and through relational living, each of us finds depth in our being! This inward journey is the path towards a deeper consciousness of who we are and whose we are! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)