What can we learn from our children?

The things we haven't learnt from formal education!!

While a lot can be learnt, by observing other's children, I must say, the most can only be learn't when you have your own. Perhaps the first learning is to handle responsibility. Most managers would agree it is easier to handle subordinates, than it is to handle children however young they may be. I must add this would be one of the most engaging of responsibilities ever. You have may handled crores worth of business, innovated on a new product, however this responsibility is one of the best.

You may ask what could you learn from being a parent, and I would say every one learns different things, and by no means would I claim to have my observations be exhaustive, you may learn many more things, and may not have learnt what I did from mine. Read on to know more...

1. To share responsibilities: The myth is that the man handles the work front, while the woman handles the home. Interestingly the child brings out what you may not want to consciously bring to the fore. As a father; late nights, changing diapers, reading stories, playing with the lego blocks, riding the bicycle together... They are all things you would either not do or prefer to do alone. However the child would effortlessly pull you into some of these and you would end up sharing more responsibilities at home than you ever had. You end up building empathy towards your spouse, your parents, and every one involved in the process (including school teachers). You end up sharing responsibilities which you would otherwise not and this learning can translate into other areas of your life as well. You may just see yourself being more empathetic towards your colleagues at work.
2. To learn & unlearn: We are all programmed by this world to hold on to what we create, and the insecurities, do not help in any way to let go. While learning to do something is difficult, to unlearn something, before we learn another way of doing the same thing is even tougher. You would find your children exhibit this in plenty, whether it is the way they write, think, play, you would have plenty of examples of the same. As we grow, we build this complex world around ourselves that keeps us away from unlearning. Whether you choose a field of specialisation and go deeper in any subject, or you decide to be a generalist, and learn the breadth of a subject, this would be a skill that will take you a long way. Observe children learning from their peers, and from teachers and parents, you would realise how much there is to learn (and sometimes unlearn).
3. To give: Most of what you do in life is to earn something, be it money, fame, strength of some sort, and you believe success is in hoarding some of these material things. Observe your child sharing their most favourite stationery items with a child on the street, or their most favourite food item with their sibling, without as much as batting an eyelid. To see the smile on other's faces is more an achievement, than to just fulfil one's desires. However growing up we end up wanting to get versus learning to give. This could be to the under privileged, or to some one who may have suffered from a natural calamity, etc. It does take some doing to get there. However I must tell you the joy of giving is unparalleled. You must learn to give more than you learn to get/receive.
4. To look forward to tomorrow: There are times, we dread what lies in the future, and the feeling of not wanting to explore tomorrow. At times we are even fearful of consequences of what we may have done yesterday, or lose what we have built today. But one look at the little ones and they gear up everyday to go to school, to the extent that public holidays are looked at with disdain, that they may be a means to pull themselves away from the fun. Growing up we tend to build walls around us, and feel pulled down by the uncertainty that tomorrow brings in instead of the excitement of heading into the unknown. If you have told your child about a new activity they would be doing tomorrow, you will observe them sleep late, wake up early with excitement. This to me is a major learning. Whether the going is tough or otherwise, we must look forward to tomorrow with the same zest.
5. To have fun: For any lighthearted comments, you may have heard people ask you, why don't you grow up? Well what does growing up mean, Not having fun? While we go about doing our work seriously, we must still let that child in us remain. The lighter side of things help us remain more optimistic. And happiness has been proven to create good health more than any medicine. You may blame a lot of external situations to not have fun, but ask yourselves, that if you could drive this from within, how could external conditions hold you back? Come what may to be cheerful is the way to go.
6. To Meet new people: Observe kids in a gathering of newer children, this could be the first day at a new school, this could be in a birthday party amongst children they do not know, this could be to a dance class which they are attending for the first time. Observe them connect, gel and bond with someone they did not know a few minutes ago. While we may be introverts or extroverts, as psychologists classify us, however we cannot deny that as kids we did not have some of these inhibitions that we develop as we grew up. Networking is a basic human skills, which most of us do not build on. You would hear most people ask WHY should I network? Well there are many reasons, some could be to know more like minded people, to learn from people who are different from you, to learn from other people's experience which you may not have had, and you never know when you could join the dots going forward. It never hurts to network with people, like you, and unlike you.
7. To be curious: Kids ask a lot of questions, some that you appreciate, and some may make you uncomfortable. Now as kids we may have been dealt with differently by our parents, teachers, and society at large, and perhaps been taught not to question teachers and adults (in the India context). However you still find some of the achievers are brought up in an environment of challenging the status quo. While this can be perceived on the extreme to cross the line. However if the fundamental to know more is focused on one could achieve a lot. As grown ups we may think the questions we ask could be perceived as stupid and end up not asking and finally end up not learning something you would have rather wanted to know. Can you keep the curiosity within going and ask the questions no body dares to ask?

There are perhaps a lot many more things, one could learn from children, but definitely not lesser than what you have read. For those of us who have children, make sure you encourage your kids to keep these going. Mostly by keeping the environment around the kids conducive to develop. It is not just the job of the schools to impart education. What is learnt outside of the school stays longer.

Most importantly, what do "YOU" learn from your kids is as important. The next time you see your child doing something you do not, be humble enough to learn from the tiny tot, if possible share it with others as well.

I often ask my colleagues, co-passengers, people at large. What can we learn from our children? Do you...?