What does it mean to be human? From the moment of birth we begin to answer this question for ourselves. We observe our mother and father, our siblings, and the other people who surround us. We take in their movements, their actions, their speech. And, then we try to imitate these things. We learn by a combination of observing and practicing.
It is no accident that young children want to do what they see others doing: they want to sweep the floor, play with the toy the other child has, talk on the telephone, tap the buttons on the computer, cook, write, sing, yell...This is how they connect with their species. It is how they work out what it means to be human.
It is no accident that all the young teens in middle school wear the same brand of jeans, the same shoes, the same jackets, jewelry and hairstyles. These young people are not abandoning individualism; they are in the process of learning what it means to be human and thirteen. They are learning by observing and practicing.
Scientists say that we are born without instinct. In order to survive we must learn everything about our world and about ourselves. A boy who was raised by a pack of wolves in the Russian wilderness is more wolf than human. When his young brain was developing it created neural pathways that enabled him to assimilate into the life of the wolf pack. These pathways became "hardwired" so that doctors say he will never recover and live a fully human life. What he has learned has defined who and what he is.
When I took my children out trick or treating last night I saw lots of parents talking on cell phones or staring into small glowing screens. I know that many parents today are very conscientious about not letting their young children have access to electronic media--but, what are they modeling with their own usage of these devices (cell phones, computers, video games, television, e-readers, and tablets)?
As we model the importance of these devices in our lives, what lessons are our children learning about their humanity, especially when we say, "No, you may not do this thing that I do--don't look; don't touch"? (It should be noted that doctors and scientists have stated that these devices are not appropriate for young children and even harmful, but is there an age when they become beneficial or harmless?)
I have used electronic media as an example, but I think it is important to ask myself what benefit there is in modeling any behavior that I do not want my children to imitate. My questions are:
:: Caring for my body: getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise
:: Connecting: honoring the needs of others, enjoying spending time with people, gentle communication, play
:: Caring for others: housework, service, taking care of the sick
:: Meaningful work/creativity (an essential human activity): cooking, crafting, writing, music, gardening, art, etc.
:: Establishing a daily rhythm that allows time for everything.What a rhythm might look like for me (I wish that I could display this here as a circle):
It is no accident that young children want to do what they see others doing: they want to sweep the floor, play with the toy the other child has, talk on the telephone, tap the buttons on the computer, cook, write, sing, yell...This is how they connect with their species. It is how they work out what it means to be human.
It is no accident that all the young teens in middle school wear the same brand of jeans, the same shoes, the same jackets, jewelry and hairstyles. These young people are not abandoning individualism; they are in the process of learning what it means to be human and thirteen. They are learning by observing and practicing.
Scientists say that we are born without instinct. In order to survive we must learn everything about our world and about ourselves. A boy who was raised by a pack of wolves in the Russian wilderness is more wolf than human. When his young brain was developing it created neural pathways that enabled him to assimilate into the life of the wolf pack. These pathways became "hardwired" so that doctors say he will never recover and live a fully human life. What he has learned has defined who and what he is.
When I took my children out trick or treating last night I saw lots of parents talking on cell phones or staring into small glowing screens. I know that many parents today are very conscientious about not letting their young children have access to electronic media--but, what are they modeling with their own usage of these devices (cell phones, computers, video games, television, e-readers, and tablets)?
As we model the importance of these devices in our lives, what lessons are our children learning about their humanity, especially when we say, "No, you may not do this thing that I do--don't look; don't touch"? (It should be noted that doctors and scientists have stated that these devices are not appropriate for young children and even harmful, but is there an age when they become beneficial or harmless?)
I have used electronic media as an example, but I think it is important to ask myself what benefit there is in modeling any behavior that I do not want my children to imitate. My questions are:
- What are my children learning about being human?
- What do I want my children to learn about their humanity?
- How can I begin to model this for my children?
:: Caring for my body: getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise
:: Connecting: honoring the needs of others, enjoying spending time with people, gentle communication, play
:: Caring for others: housework, service, taking care of the sick
:: Meaningful work/creativity (an essential human activity): cooking, crafting, writing, music, gardening, art, etc.
:: Establishing a daily rhythm that allows time for everything.What a rhythm might look like for me (I wish that I could display this here as a circle):
: Rise :: Breakfast :: Prayer :: Singing :: Study/Work :: Lunch :: Study/Work :: Chores :: Play :: Rest :: Supper :: Quiet Play :: Sleep:
No comments:
Post a Comment