Big Ears & Harnessing the Creative Nature of Children

Growing up, when I heard my mom say, “Little pictures have big ears,” I had an idea she was talking about us. But as I look back on raising my own children, I realize how big those ears really are. And those eyes, noses, hands, and tongues!

As a homeschool mom, I knew it was important to allow children to explore and discover. I knew the importance of providing a variety of environments for this purpose. Some of my children learned to read while sitting under a pine tree in the forest. In this same forest they discovered thimbleberries, and so did I.

We sometimes had the opportunity to travel, using roadside RV hook-ups. We experimented with gardening. We created homemade musical instruments. We observed preying mantises and katydids.

But my regret? My regret is that we didn’t continue in this path. As the family grew, and as we succumbed to growing outside criticism, I began working a full-time job. The great times of discovery slowed to a near standstill.