I have learned a lot of lessons living here in Peru, most from the innocent actions of children. Never before have I been so amazed at what these little ones can teach me. Their eyes are filled with a different view, their gazes have not yet hardened by dreariness that exist in the world, instead they see this colorful perception of the world. A world we outgrow as we realize that the bad sprouts as fast as weeds in a garden. This week I was taught something from these innocent angels.
At our arrival on Wednesday the kindergarteners were playing on the playground.
I learned two things on that playground that day.
The first was from Ricardo, a loving yet angry little boy.
While making my way around the playground greeting each smile with a smile of my own and chasing a few around, I noticed Ricardo sitting by himself, filling his pockets with rocks. I went over to see what he was just doing but he just grinned at me although to his credit he did try to hid that he was grabbing rocks. I walked away but watched unnoticed as he sat down, summoning his friend Angelo to do the same. Soon little Anderson had joined them and now all three of them sat conspiring.
l watched with amusement as he talked down to them giving them orders, pointing things out to them. Willingly and perhaps innocently they listened It too only a few moments before their plan was set, each one agreeing to act with the nod of their heads A few minutes later Laura and l watched as they carried out their plan.
Soon rocks were flying at us and the other children. While Laura held a bemused expression as the scene unfolded I was more distressed at the turn of events. A lot of people would say that they are troubled, or bad kids. It's true I was uncertain about the scene but never did I once think that they were bad kids. Granted Ricardo came up with the scheme and Angelo and Anderson willingly went along but none of them, are bad kids.
Instead I thought about the role models these kids had in their lives. What kind of things had these innocent young children seen to make them act in such a defiant way? At a young age, children are easily influenced, pliable, able to be molded by what they see and hear from others. What children do directly mirrors something they have seen.
"Our heratige and ideals, our code and standards- the things we live by and teach are children, are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange our ideas and feelings." -Walt Disney
Labeling kids is wrong, no matter what they have or haven't done. No child deserves to be labeled by a choice he or she makes before she fully knows what she is doing and that they are accountable for their actions. So before you call someone bad, think about their influences. Everyone-even a four year old has a back story, and everyone has influences in their lives, both bad and good.
Don't label, don't judge. Be a positive influence, and always remember, you never know who's watching.
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