Children are hungry for more than just snacks

“In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf. One Sunday morning the warm sun came up, and - pop! Out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.” So begins the beloved tale, by Eric Carle, of a tiny creature who continually fed himself, and ultimately transformed into something glorious. There couldn’t be a truer metaphor for the journey of a child.

Children are born with a HUNGER for knowledge, constantly taking in their surroundings, asking “why?”, and wondering about their place in the world around them. They have a natural desire to be filled to the brim, just like our favorite hungry caterpillar.

How do caterpillars transform into butterflies? A little known part of the metamorphosis process is that inside the cocoon, the caterpillar basically turns into goo before becoming a butterfly! Enzymes are released that dissolve the caterpillar, and groups of cells in the caterpillar soup end up coming together to form the butterfly. (All parents of teens at some point lament, “Where did my child go?” ...Be patient! They are in the “caterpillar soup” phase! Lol!)

It is so important that we do not overlook the step in the growth process when a child takes the knowledge he/she has gained, and pieces it together to construct his/her new self! Children need numerous opportunities to use their knowledge in real ways so they know how it fits in their lives. For example, children can use their knowledge of fractions to help you cook (bake a batch of cookies and have them make the calculations to double or triple the recipe!), or they can use their knowledge of plants as they help you in the garden this summer. What are some other things you and your child can do together to help connect knowledge they gain in school with a real world application?

The truth is, they are satisfying their hunger for learning regardless of our intervention. Some days they may be filling their minds with wholesome apples, pears, blueberries, and strawberries. Other days they may end up with a “stomachache” from filling their minds with metaphorical chocolate cake, ice cream, cherry pie, etc. Ultimately, the mental and emotional nourishment children receive will give them the ability to transform into an independent beauty.