Acorn

My experience for the last 24 plus years with children has taught me that each child is hardwired for greatness.  Children come on to the planet with everything they need to blossom forth into the greatness that they are. They are provided with gifts, traits and passions that will allow their purpose to shine through.  On the flip side, they also may have some challenges, some struggles that can provide the arid ground and opportunity for growth.  Very often, the natural gifts and abilities of the child become obscured by the challenges they are experiencing. 

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This is particularly evident when the approach is standardized, normative and comparison based. When we ask fish to fly and elephants to climb, when we compare kids using frameworks that served well years ago in the industrial age but less so now in a conceptual age, the results can be devastating. Very often it is the heart breaking first innocence lost for children: they are not enough, they are behind and worst yet, something is wrong with them.  This feeling of diminishment has been proven by research to be one of the most impacting factors on future success and happiness for kids.  How a child feels about themselves as a learner is more important in the long term than almost any other factor.  This feeling creates limits, buries potential and stops expansion in its tracks. 

Knowing this, observing this and experiencing this, let’s change the conversation. Let’s change the approach. Let’s change the parameters. Let’s celebrate each child and ultimately each person for the gifts and potential they possess. Let’s uphold our little acorns with limitless belief to grow into the magnificent oak trees they are meant to be.  We can do this.

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