The Two-world Experience of a Child

Billy is only three years-old. It is indeed a meaningful experience to observe him growing up everyday, getting excited over things around him, and trying to remember the names of the objects he sees. When we, adults would try to immerse ourselves in the little child's experiences of his surroundings, we may also discover something new about the people and things that we may have taken for granted.

It has been suggested that in the environment of a child, there exist two distinct realms. The first being the natural world, which in the home is apparent through pets, house-plants, or the elements of earth, water, etc; while the second one is the human realm and artificial objects which form a substantial part of the modern world that surrounds us.

Though most of us are living in the hustle and bustle these days, it is gratifying to see that many parents do realize that, apart from academic exposure, it is also important to let the child explore the things around him. As far as nature is concerned, let us consider, as an example, water - the substance with which the child has such a special connection. Like the life of an amphibian, which not only lives in its original world of water, but as well as venturing on dry land, it appears that, our young toddlers feel excited when they are given a chance to try out in the water. It is indeed wholesome for the little child to experience both in and with water, as well as to play freely with water. However, some parents may not have this concept in mind and often, they would just yell at their kids: 'Oh well, what a mess you have made, you little brat!' - and this causes the child to feel that he had done something 'bad'.

As a contrast to his sense for the substances of nature, the child's relationship with man-made structures gives him the feeling that his own journey from the heaven to earth has already been accomplished by the whole of humanity and is still taking place. Artificial creations are some sort of signposts left by those that have gone before. They can be trivial objects that are around him, large or small, such as little pieces of cloth of various colours, or a bowl and spoon, or a chair and table and etc. The importance lies in taking-up and letting-go, the receiving and giving away again of the precious material contained in these man-made objects, and how to address the child with moral values concerning the materialistic world.

Of course, we are here considering only simple things and not complex objects where their deeper reality is often obscured. For the child to call to life all the good that he brings with him from heavenly home, and for these gifts to thrive, it depends not only on our loving and understanding care but take into account, also, of the quality of the environment in which he grows up.