Young children spend a great deal of time trying to understand the world. There are so many different things and so many different people out there that need to be examined, categorized, discussed, and understood. Some things are concrete and are easy to understand - peanut butter, dogs, cars, rain. Some things are not easily felt and observed and are more difficult to understand - sadness, later, manners, humor. Young children are also very egocentric, which makes understanding difficult in many circumstances. They know that if a friend hits them, it will hurt. They do not understand that if they hit a friend, it will hurt.
A few days ago I had a conversation with a four year old boy who was obviously trying to make sense of some abstract concepts.
Bobby: I am getting older.
Miss Meg: So am I.
Bobby: But I am not getting as old as you are.
Miss Meg: No, you are not.
Bobby: You will get older and then you will die.
Miss Meg: Yes, Bobby, that is right.
Bobby: Everyone gets older and dies someday.
Miss Meg: Yes, everyone does.
Bobby: Miss Meg, I will miss you when you are dead.
Death is a difficult concept for a child. It is hard to imagine that something or someone will just stop being. Groups of young children will often play dead. This games involves having a child lie on the floor while several children announce, "She's dead!". They will then go to work poking her with blocks or play spoons and then jump for joy when the dead child comes alive again. Bobby is starting to learn that death is permanent, but it is still not completely real to him. Verbalizing his understanding of death helps him to better understand the concept.
It is also nice to know that I will be missed.
A few days ago I had a conversation with a four year old boy who was obviously trying to make sense of some abstract concepts.
Bobby: I am getting older.
Miss Meg: So am I.
Bobby: But I am not getting as old as you are.
Miss Meg: No, you are not.
Bobby: You will get older and then you will die.
Miss Meg: Yes, Bobby, that is right.
Bobby: Everyone gets older and dies someday.
Miss Meg: Yes, everyone does.
Bobby: Miss Meg, I will miss you when you are dead.
Death is a difficult concept for a child. It is hard to imagine that something or someone will just stop being. Groups of young children will often play dead. This games involves having a child lie on the floor while several children announce, "She's dead!". They will then go to work poking her with blocks or play spoons and then jump for joy when the dead child comes alive again. Bobby is starting to learn that death is permanent, but it is still not completely real to him. Verbalizing his understanding of death helps him to better understand the concept.
It is also nice to know that I will be missed.
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