Learning through a Child's Eyes

Have you ever spent the day with a child and come away feeling like it’s you that learned a lot? That summed up my day yesterday as I spent it in the company of my 8yr old nephew Bradley.


It’s always fun to spend time with him as he has a very positive outlook on life. He can be a very serious, sensitive and concerned child but he also knows how to enjoy himself and make the most of every experience. His optimism is quite contagious at times and after spending any amount of time with him, you find yourself appreciating the little things in life.

Yesterday we went to our local theatre to see Roald Dahl’s The Witches. It isn’t a book we have read together but he is a fan of Dahl’s other works and even attended the premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox the opera last year. As usual he was excited for the show to start and when it did his facial expressions clearly reflected the enjoyment he was experiencing.

The story tells of a little girl whose parents die in a car crash and she is sent to live with her Grandmother in Norway. After a period of illness, it is recommended that the grandmother travels to the coast for a holiday to relax and recuperate. Whilst on holiday they encounter The Witches who are attending their AGM and discover plans to turn all little children into mice. The little girl manages to foil their plans but only after being transformed herself. It ends with the Grandmother and her mouse grandchild returning to Norway and spending their remaining days together. The final line in the show was “It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you look like, as long as you have someone to love you.” The play was well acted and aimed at a very young audience but enjoyable for children of all ages. When I asked Bradley what part he enjoyed I had expected many answers but was surprised to hear him quote word for word the ending of the show.

Later on we watched the Disney film, The Princess and The Frog, where sure enough, the same message is repeated in many different ways and we are encouraged to look past people’s wealth, looks or possessions and discover what’s inside. It was a great film to watch, full of lively and catchy songs but also contains a great moral to it too. Set in New Orleans, the story re-tells the classic fairy story but with a twist. Prince Naveen a wealthy and arrogant Prince is transformed to a frog by a voodoo magician. Tiana, a hardworking waitress with big dreams, fatefully kisses the frog but instead of transforming him back to a Prince is transformed to a frog herself. With the help of a firefly, a trumpet playing crocodile and an old blind lady, Tiana and Naveen must find a way to break the spell and fulfil their dreams. They do eventually fulfil their dreams but not before discovering along the way that what you want and what you need aren’t always the same thing.

Bradley declared the day to be “the best, most awesome day ever” and said that he had enjoyed the play and the film. Somehow, every day that Bradley spends with us is the best and most awesome day – but is that because of the things we do with him, or just the fact that we are doing something, together? Sometimes I think we focus too much on grand gestures and spending money but really when it comes down to it, all that matters is spending time with those you love and who are important to you