Young Children

I'm fascinated by these humans as they develop into adults.

So many things are new and exciting and we can share in their excitement.

It's great to watch as they puzzle their way through problems they or you have set them.

A three year old I go out with knows that he is responsible for carrying his food and drink. He carries these in a small rucksack and it's a bind when he on his tricycle. He knows that it's a rule that won't carry it for him . If he gets fed up with this task then we have a period when we have a stand off.

I have time to kill and can out wait him out any time. He eventually caves in - it's hard and he gets lots of congratulation for resuming his task.

It was great seeing him come up with a solution.

He found that because the bag was light, he having eaten his lunch, he tried out an ulternative to carrying it on his back. He was able to hook it over the end of the handlebars and he was able to cope with the changing demands to his steering.

All his idea. He must have felt pretty pleased with himself at coming up with his solution. One I've never seen used before.

He's also got to a stage in life where "Why" has a great power.

I really value this question and curiousity.

Providing answers can I believe be a mistake - this slips into the territory of failed education where learning 'stuff' becomes a bind.

"What do you think ?" is my favorite answer.

It opens up the possibility of understanding a little of what is going on in that developing brain.

Another possibility is to give a very simple answer and see what the next question is.

Alternatively there is "I don't know - shall we try and find out - later"

With the access to a computer there must be answers to every question that has been asked.

One could have a regular session on the computer where these questions are explored. The challenge would be for the child to remember what the questions were.

Other answers that are very valid are "because I said so" which can be shortened to "because".

Long live curiousity.

Don't let it drive you mad - it really can be fun!