What is the magic of childhood?
What is the magic of childhood that turns their young world into a bubble of surprises, delights, adventure, and timeless enchantment?
We can take a good look because it’s here right now – this magical time of year when we see and feel the magic in children. It’s the magic of the Christmas season, and it simply entrances our little ones… they are instantly enthralled, beguiled, bewitched.
This magic of childhood
Enchantment. Pure enchantment. Watch the children and you can almost touch the magic once again. They are captivated, delighted, dazzled, enraptured.
Marianne Williamson, who presented her iconic Course in Miracles, often referred to the idea of the magic of childhood. She reflects her belief in the Light we are all born with – our magic – in her most famous quote:
“We are all meant to shine… shine as children do.”
[You can find more of her quotes from her Course in Miracles on Good Reads.] Light On!
What does Magic mean?
The Magic of childhood most certainly does NOT mean witching or wizardly, and most definitely NOT possessing supernatural powers.
The glory of childhood magic is in its everyday simplicity and imagination. It’s in those moments when parents realize they have bought expensive gifts – only to see the toddler playing blissfully with the box in which it is wrapped!
What is the age of magic?
The famous Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget (1896-1980), studied the Cognitive Development of children, and could not deny the presence of magic in their thinking. There really is an “Age of Magic” for children: from about two through seven years. It starts to wane around ten years-old, though many children want to hold on to their magic years. (VeryWellMind.com)
Why is childhood magic so important?
Early child development and the accompanying curiosity and imagination that feels so magical is precisely what establishes their learning, behavior, and physical-emotional health. The experiences children have in early childhood actually shape the brain and the child’s potential to learn, including how to get along with others, and how to respond to everyday surprises – good and bad. The enchantment of childhood magic is like a helping hand in their Wonder Years.
What Goes on in a Child’s Magic?
Children are immersed – in whatever is before them, be it a toy, a game, a person playing with them.
The poet, e.e.cummings, wrote: “I imagine that YES is the only living thing.”
I see children saying, “Yes!” to life! They are so immersed in the details of life, they love to say Yes! (Well… perhaps not the 2 1/2 year old! They are learning the power of their “No!”). Yet, when offered the least little delightful surprise, children leap on board. Fun is second nature to a child, as I wrote in my Light Lessons Blog.
And Time means nothing to little ones. They imagine and dream and play… and do and do and do – all day long. That reminds me of a childish little joke my uncle used to say: Do Do Do!
To do is to be (Socrates)
To be or not to be (Shakespeare)
Do be do be do (Frank Sinatra)
Yabba Dabba Do (Fred Flinstone)
How do you keep the magic of childhood?
The #1 best way to nurture the Magic of Childhood is to read to your children… from infancy and onward. Bedtime stories every night are memory makers – for both child and parent.
Make your evening meal together a family habit. This is where some of the most powerful connections are made for children – in conversation that go around the table. It nourishes just as compellingly as the food on the table. I like to ask a question at our family gathering table – one in which everyone can participate. Once I asked the old chestnut: What would be one thing you would want on a desert island? The oldest Grand said: “A boat”!
Whenever possible, share traditions, especially from your history, culture, language and the legacy of family stories. Also, nurture new traditions – especially when the children offer an idea. Years ago, at our Thanksgiving gathering, one of the Grands started a charades game after dessert. We still look forward to that laughter and fun.
It’s easy to travel with our Grands now -but when they were little – it was quite a challenge. Oh! I remember when we grandparents made the ridiculous mistake of putting the baby’s swimsuit on the four-year old. No, it didn’t occur to us that is was too tight – until we couldn’t get it off him – and had to cut him out of it! Mama was not pleased! But what a fun memory we still share! How we enjoy making more family legends as the little ones have grown.
One More Piece of Magic
Lastly, always have easy, flowing ‘down time’ – not glued to their digital screens – but real, unwinding time so that the children can relax, play, read, create, imagine. This past Thanksgiving, we were concerned about the kids disappearing into their digital devices. At the beginning of their week off, my husband nonchalantly proposed: “Let’s go digital free this week.”
To our delighted surprise, all 5 Grands agreed. We had a grand time playing, puzzling, cooking, baking, walking, raking leaves and jumping in the piles, footballing… and relaxing in the afternoon, reading or playing card-games around the table.
Enjoying the Magic of Childhood…. It’s the magical time of the year – Christmas! Let’s keep it going… with our
Lights On!
