The marvel of children -- wonderment, creativity and play

In her article published in the Yogi Times Magazine, April 2008, Rebecca F. Amis, co-founder of the MUSE Elementary School in Malibu, California, shares a story about a famous greeting card company, which I believe to be Hallmark. Rebecca tells us the long-time creative force of this company would frequently visit schools to talk to students about his profession. He would open his talk by telling the children he was an artist and would then ask the children, "How many of you are artists?"  All of the children in kindergarten and first grades raised their hands. However, in the second-grade classes about two-thirds of the class raised their hands. And, when visiting the third graders, only a few raised their hands. By sixth grade, not one student raised their hand!  (How sad is that?)

My good friend Dr. Nathan Regier, lead researcher on our published study on the effects of laughter in the workplace and the Director of Process Solutions at Prairie View, Newton sent me the article and said he particularly liked the following. "Even Tobin Hart, in his book, The Secret Spiritual Lives of Children, encourages parents to celebrate their children's sense of wonder at whatever age they may be."  Dr. Regier contends, "In schools, for example, we are not interested in tremendous mystery but in tremendous certainty and so activities direct children away from wonder and toward things like multiple choice exams . . . giggles have little place in the typical classroom".

I so agree with Dr. Regier's commentary, "With our workaholic and persister-based educational system . . . no wonder the rebels and dreamers are lost and outcast. Yet, in the spiral dynamics framework, my guess is it's the spontaneity, ability to change and 'get outside the box' as well as the ability to imagine new possibilities without judgment (rebels and dreamers) that will ultimately save us from ourselves."

Please take a moment and read the article in its entirety, excellent thoughts and recommendations for parents and educators. Then ask yourself, "Why do children laugh?" The answer: because they have to. Small children are so smart remember the example in the Hallmark story. They intuitively know deep robust laughter is good for them and . . . it feels soooo good. And, guess what, it is good for you too! Try it -- you'll like it!

Learn more about Muse Elementary at http://www.museelementary.com/

You may contact Rebecca Amis at musemalibu@gmail.com.

Until next time … laugh yourselves silly. You'll feel better!

Judy                                          back to E-zine list

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Laughter is good for the soul and good for business too!