The Child's appeal

"I am the child.

All the world waits for my coming.

All the earth watches with interest.

What shall I become?

Civilization hangs in the balance.

For what I am, the world tomorrow will be.

I am the child.

I have come into your world, about which I know nothing.

Why I came, I know not how I came. I know not.

I am curious. I am interested.

I am the child.

You hold in your hand. My destiny.

You determine largely whether I shall succeed or fail.

Give me, I pray you.

Those things that make for happiness train me, I beg you.

That I may be a blessing to the world."

- Mamie Gene Cole

Whenever I recite or read this poem by Mamie Gene Cole, during my ECCE workshops, I reflect upon the journey of a child from birth to early years.

The child begins to explore his environment the moment he comes into this world. He becomes aware of his mother 's touch. Most of the actions are inborn and he learns by his instinct. His very first sounds, the child hears is the voice of his mother and then slowly as the child grows, he becomes aware of his mother singing lullabies and songs. This actually is the beginning of language development. At this stage it becomes so important that the mother talks to the child when he is awake, this also builds a strong bond between the mother and her child ...Mother is the child' s first teacher and home the first school. He first seeds of value education are sown at home. Children learn by emulating and copying whatever the adults around him do, hence it becomes so important that the parents and other family members lead by example, putting to practice the right values in their day-to-day life.

As I read and re-read the last two lines of the poem, it feels as though the child is making a sincere request to the world. It becomes the responsibility of the parents, the family, the teachers, in particular and the society at large to ensure a safe, secure and a healthy environment for him to grow and evolve into the individual the world wants him to be

* We see that when parents provide the experiences at home that prepare the child to be school ready, entry to the school becomes easy and smooth

* When schools are prepared to welcome children for what they are and not judging them, school life becomes a jolly ride and easy for every child to take the journey forward.

With these thoughts I sign off. Also leaving behind some quotes that you can reflect upon.

"A newborn baby is like beginning of all things,

a wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities" - Eda J Leshan

"Like there are stars to the sky,

so are our children to the world,

THEY DESERVE TO SHINE" -Chinonye J

Happy reading !!!Do look out for my next topic...!

Parents and Teachers are Partners in Progress ...