If you look at any playground you can see children of all sizes, shapes, colors and religions laughing and playing together. They don’t seem to create distinctions to keep themselves apart, but often look first for what makes them similar. Playmates may begin to notice each other’s differences, but it tends to be a source of curiosity and a reason to get to know the playmate a little better, not something to keep them apart. Children seem to be interested in forming bonds with each other to make new friends.
When do kids lose that natural curiosity and begin to use those differences to separate them from others? Why does this happen? What kinds of things can teachers and parents do to encourage that curiosity?
Teachers often say they learn a lot from their students. Maybe kids can show adults how to live together.
I was listening to the song "We Can Show You How" from One World by the Children’s Theatre Company when I thought of this post. You can listen to this song and 4 others on their MySpace page.
While one question may be, Can they show us how?, perhaps the larger unknown is, Will we listen?
Note: This entry is cross-posted on my other blog – Wanderings.
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