There is Wisdom in the Sand Pile of the Kindergarten Days.
The kindergarten is a children’s place which serves as a transition from home to the commencement of formal education. Depending on the local custom, children attend kindergarten between the ages of 2 and 7 which are the formative years.
Life time virtues are taught in the kindergarten in a playful way to children whose hearts are open to acquiring knowledge. There is wisdom in the sand pile at the kindergarten. Indeed, all we really need to know in life about how to live, and what to do are the key lessons of the kindergarten.
I remember my kindergarten days, we were taught to share with one another, play fair, not to take what is not ours, to say sorry when we hurt others, do one thing at a time, wash our hands before and after eating, take a nap every afternoon amongst other things.
More so, the kindergarten is the period where a child is in his or her natural state, that is, very innocent; the child care less about what people think about him or her. Instead, a child is inquisitive and pays attention to details. There is no burden, no cause for alarm, no undue haste, no holding of grudges. The heart of a child is open to friendship, he or she cries immediately when hurt to let out emotions and when petted, he or she forgives and forgets. One will always see that innocent smile on a child. This is the salient period for every child; the best time for picking good habits and learning participation.
Every child needs a good coach at this period of their life. The coach could be a neighbour, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, father, mother, or a teacher. The coach should have a strong value system and the interest of the child at heart. A coach is meant to guide the child through life. He or she is meant to be there for the child at all times. The words of a coach should always linger in the mind of a child at every critical moment.
As we grow out of the kindergarten, life challenges may hold us so tight and steal all the kindergarten values from us if not careful, but an active coach will give his or her seasonal guide that will bring us back on track. The kindergarten lessons enable us to live in love and be at our best at all times. When we do things that we are passionate about, we give it our all; not minding who is watching. When we lost a loved one, we cry passionately like a baby. When we have wonderful surprises, we get remarkably excited. All these experiences can be compared to the kindergarten days of openness and innocence. I can imagine the detailed manner in which a child prays with all innocence at meal time.
Patience and creativity are part of the virtues taught at the kindergarten. I have the story of a man, who was so much in a hurry, he ran and fell. He got injured and realized that he could have been a little more patient with himself. He was delayed than he would have been if he was careful and patient. Creatively, one could see an unpalatable situation in a positive light. Patience warned him, some people at that point will grab the lesson while some other people will wait for a harder experience to learn from. Patience is a virtue learned at the kindergarten. Children are taught to take their time in all exercises. What requires more patience than having fun by making a sand pile?
The kindergarten is a period when we know all unknowingly. Only if we know that we know all, there will be an availability of the internal motivation that guides to the sweet end of self actualization. The wisdom in the sand pile is making meaning out of what is supposedly meaningless, having a fresh breathe in creativity and appreciating God’s works. It is a subtle kindergarten experience!
