The Learning Umbrella

I'm currently reading Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement-Oriented Society by William Crain. The basic premise is that we look too much to the future, and fail to acknowledge just how important and wonderful childhood is for its own sake. He discusses the child as a dramatist, naturalist, artist, and poet, and encourages parents to follow their children's lead and just let them be children rather than trying to improve and accelerate them. I like the book quite a bit, and it reminds me of the spirit of things like Winnie the Pooh or Puff the Magic Dragon. I'm reminded that they will grow up all too fast in the end, and now is the time to enjoy their childhoods. The world is a wonderful and magical place to a small child like my son, and I should watch that and celebrate it.