Posted by Kevin Hahn on Aug 15, 2017; 2:31pm
URL: https://nabble.aealearningonline.org/Topic-4-Narrative-Voice-tp3794p9032.html

Google defines someone who is wise as having good judgement and being enlightened. While many adults have wisdom because of their experiences, children are born with wisdom. I truly believe children have more wisdom than adults. At least they are until they are taught to think differently.
Children have good judgement. Adults may have clouded judgement. In Jerry Spinelli’s book, Loser, he has a very interesting look on wisdom and judgement. He compares judgement through little kid eyes and big kid eyes. Little kid eyes do not see race, gender, or socioeconomic status. They don’t pass judgement. They question out of curiosity, not out of defiance. They accept people for who they are. Big kid eyes, however, notice differences, call out mistakes, single out certain people, and mock someone’s uniqueness. When children become older, they start judging by appearance. They lose their ability to make good judgements based on merit. They lose some “wisdom”.

When my youngest daughter attended daycare as a three year-old, she had to teachers named Brittany. One was African American and the other one was Caucasian. She was telling a story that involved one from that day at daycare, and I asked, “Which Brittany?” With the wisdom only a small child with little kid eyes could contain, she said, “Brown haired Brittany.” It truly opened my eyes. My daughter didn’t see skin color. She separated them by hair color. I was astonished and proud.

I have also witnessed my daughters being asked to play by many kids. Kids are not shy. They see a possible friend to play with, and they go ask. They don’t hesitate because the potential friend looks different than them. They don’t find out what toys they have before they are deemed worthy of friendship. They simply don’t pass judgement. They are wise.

I wish adults would look to the children and see through their eyes. Then we could change how we make judgements. Thus, we would become wiser.