It's All a Matter of Perspective

 Is it a bird?

Or a rabbit?

It's all a matter of perspective, yes?



My daughter's preschool is moving to a new location.  Moving for a myriad of great reasons, none of which I will get into here.  Some parents are upset about this, also for a number of good reasons.  Only one will I mention.  The current school is in an idyllic location, overlooking a river and a golf course.  The street is rarely travelled and the children are very close to nature.  The new location will be closer to town and will overlook a fairly busy road.  Several of my mom friends, also parents of children in the school, have lamented about how their child will miss seeing the river every day.  They have even mentioned switching to a different school that has a mountain view.  As an adult, I completely appreciate where they are coming from.  It is what I would want for myself.  I would venture to say, however, that if you ask any of the 3 and 4 year olds from the school, many of whom live in idyllic locations with mountain views and rarely travelled roads, they will love watching the trucks drive by.  It might even be the highlight of their outdoor play!

It's all a matter of perspective.  It is so important that we, as parents, as teachers, look at decisions affecting our children from the perspective of our children.  So often we think we are doing what is best for them, but it is really what we want, from our perspective.  Take a peek from 3 feet tall.  From only 3 or 4 years of life experience.  From a world unencumbered with heavy importance, where play is their work.  If it's healthy, if it's safe, if it's reasonable, go with your child's vision.

Incidentally, my daughter thought it was an ostrich.