If you ever want to understand life then you could invest some time in the woods, by the sea or probably simply observe the way children live, think and act.
You watch them play with buddies, you will learn a lot about innocence in relationships.
You observe a child tying a shoelace or looking at a butterfly, you will learn a lot about mindfulness and undivided attention…
You watch them narrate a story, you will find them immersed in it, owning it totally…
You ask for an idea, you will be surprised with their unique thinking styles and the creativity that seems inherent.
Clearly, children are more capable than we think and have a lot to teach us. And it is important now to unlearn the idea of treating them as ‘little ones only’ but instead view them as independent thinkers, or someone adding value no matter what age or phase.
Apart from allowing children to just be…I decided to turn the tables and dive into their world to look around for the lessons they have to offer us, as adults, to redefine our roles for them.
Children as thinkers, creative beings and as leaders – I was amazed at what I discovered.
Leadership is a tricky thing, it is a pivot role needing multiple attributes. The world is moving at rocket speed today, there are so many of us trying to understand what perfect leadership looks like. But, children are born leaders.
There seems to be a significant positive correlation between certain characteristics of children and leadership attributes. The ones that are natural, real and observable. The ones that we could imbibe.
The book, ‘Scientist in the crib-What early learning tells us about the mind’ by Alison Gopnik, Andrew. N. Meltzoff and Patricia. K. Kuhl is a perfect piece that highlights the immense abilities babies possess. The unique set of skills inside the precious womb and as soon as they arrive…It is sure to blow our minds!
I wish to focus on the amazing natural leadership traits. Our job as stakeholders is to safeguard these skills and nurture them.
Here are a few intriguing skills which we must acknowledge, allow and celebrate in children:
The Unbiased Observers…
You give them something new, you would notice the work of the eyes first. They view everything as magic and as an art. They are open to experiences, and have an ability to clearly see things through. Ready to learn every element they are exposed to, they purely think and live that is situation specific.
Our role is to allow them to build their own observations, to expose them to newer experiences and let them own it! To let them think, have questions and look for answers merely through observations.
The lesson for us is- “Keep your judgments to yourself, view the world as real, as it is, like our children…”The Adapters…
It is hard to enter a world which is alien to us. How do they even survive? What are those life skills needed? Probably the tendency to just be ‘ready for everything’, to the novel experiences. The way they take risks, learn to choose, displays them as great adapters. They show willingness and accommodate themselves to every new environment they are placed into. Our role is to help them build a stronger gut, a loving heart and an able brain. To instill life skills that help them survive the hard times and sustain strength.
The lesson for us is– “Learn to survive. New place, new job or a new city. Reset yourself as often as you can, whenever life demands, like our children…”
The forgivers…
Forgive, forget and refocus.
Children, forgive and forget. Possibly, because they never create an image of a thing, person or a place based on the specific behaviors. They are able to put the events into compartments and not mix up! They are firmly able to refocus, get back to the task at hand and continue delivering the best. One of the biggest leadership qualities one can imbibe from children is this incredible ability!Our role is to create a great learning environment for them to thrive, a safe space to let them be and help them build on with these skills, further.
The lesson for us is- “Forgive others, and ourselves, like our children.”
The Profound Thinkers…
You spend an hour with a child, you will experience some great ideas, thoughts and experiences. They are divergent thinkers, highly creative. When they are curious about something, they ask questions, when in doubt they ask questions. They have a capacity to create, smoothly travel from simple to complex and vice versa. They simply learn, by asking, thinking, wondering.Our job is to create opportunities, to hold meaningful conversations with them, to encourage problem solving.
The lesson for us is- “Put your thinking hats on, rely on your own abilities, like our children…”
The Social Butterflies…
John. F. Kennedy once quoted that “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”They make the world a better place. It seems children subtly understand the art of being social. They are the kindest and the most compassionate. If given an opportunity they might also explain what happiness means. They are open hearted and are genuine in relationships. It is we as adults, the ones with rigid minds. Children form relationships that are unconditional and are open towards every emotion that they witness. They believe that every person is a unique system, they rely on bonds to grow together.
Our job is to nurture the bond we build with them and to grow in it together. To see them as important, to view them as human.The lesson for us is- “Bonds are reciprocal in nature, they aren’t automatic. Build them like our children.”
Although, it all seems perfect, being ‘children’ is not an easy job. They enter the world, with time they sharpen their tools, pick some new ones on the way and also drop some as they progress. Let’s observe their journeys and aid them in the best possible ways so they can blossom into their best selves. And yes, once in a while, let’s take a good idea to peek into their world to understand ourselves better.
In reality they are anchoring us!
Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future. – Maria Montessori.
