Over the summer of 2012, I was a Teacher's Assistant for a summer art class filled with children ages 4 through 7. My first thought walking into the classroom was "oh my, there's glitter everywhere!" A part of me did not want to work with so many children, especially when it came to paint, glue, and other problematic yet artsy objects. When those three months were over, I walked out on my last day longing to be back with my children. Ever since then, I have loved working with children, being around them, and doing things with them.
I think one of life's greatest joys is having the ability to understand and empathize with so many different human beings. When people hear how many years I have worked with children, either in daycares or as a teaching figure, they always say "Are you not tired?" A part of me is. But the more I talk with children, the more I see how they go about this life, and the more I come to the realization that we can learn so much from them.
It always baffles me when people use "acting as a child" as an insult, because children are more pure and more good than any adult I have ever seen. Children do not discriminate or spew hatred. Children do not let anger get the better of them. Children have the ability to make friends with anyone and everyone. Nothing stops them from playing with someone else, not religion, not race, not culture. I think, as adults, we should all strive to become like children. Have less hatred, and more open-mindedness in ourselves.
Working with children has been a blessing thus far. I have become more tolerant, more open-minded, and more patient. I have learned more from them than they have ever learned from me. Children are incredibly smart, and so talkative if given the opportunity. They can open up and bloom if given the smallest chance. That is the most wonderful thing about them. Once they get accustomed to you, they can tell you hundreds of stories about their family, their friends at school, and the experiences they have had in the short time they have been here.
The more I converse with children, the more I understand things from their viewpoint. Children are the most innocent human beings, they look at life in a completely different way than we do. They are more open, more forgiving, and ready to try anything and everything. They are unafraid of the world, because they have yet to see the reality of it. We should all strive to become like children, be more open and less afraid of what the world has to offer. Try new things, not thinking twice about the outcome. If we took the time to understand children better, we would collectively benefit.
