"Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows".
- John Betjeman
I like this quote because it speaks to the in the moment, sensory based existence of young children. Information is gained through the senses, first hand, rather than via what has been read or discussed with another. I have long contended that, at birth, infants know about all of those things that we ponder endlessly-life, death, human nature, the secrets of the universe, etc. I think that they forget all of these truths when they begin to learn to crawl, walk, and speak. The mention of the "dark hour of reason" refers to adult humans' endless need to analyze, plan, worry, criticize, and judge. Young children generally do not worry. Nor do they analyze every aspect of life. They are not beleagured by prejudices and plans for the future. They are truly present.
- John Betjeman
I like this quote because it speaks to the in the moment, sensory based existence of young children. Information is gained through the senses, first hand, rather than via what has been read or discussed with another. I have long contended that, at birth, infants know about all of those things that we ponder endlessly-life, death, human nature, the secrets of the universe, etc. I think that they forget all of these truths when they begin to learn to crawl, walk, and speak. The mention of the "dark hour of reason" refers to adult humans' endless need to analyze, plan, worry, criticize, and judge. Young children generally do not worry. Nor do they analyze every aspect of life. They are not beleagured by prejudices and plans for the future. They are truly present.
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| I have very few photos of myself as a child and none of only me. I am the child on the left and my twin sister, Dany, is the child on the right. A boy called Richie is seated between us. I was 4 years old in this photo. I like this snapshot because all 3 of us had a look of unbridled happiness on our faces. We were truly present. |
Careyann,
ReplyDeleteAs I am trying to postpone the "dark hour of reasoning" in my child's little life, your quote supports my philosophy on life that I have been instilling in my 8-year-old child, "it is all about having fun!"
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, learnings and thoughts with me during the 8-weeks of our Early Childhood Studies class. Your early learning community creation has added value to my personal knowledge bank. I look forward to our continued sharing of knowledge, experiences, and resources as we continue on our journey. Respectfully, Patty