Let Children Speak
Letting a child express their thoughts.
Children are special and unique in their own ways. Their imaginations are continuous, their smiles are infectious and their abilities to live life without worries are desirous. As a mother of two, I have always given my children the right to speak their minds. Never have I given thought to the old rule, “Children should be seen, but not heard.”
Amazingly though, there are still people who treat children, now in the twenty first century, in this manner. We all know the frustrations of wanting and needing to say something to someone, but can’t do it for one reason or another. A child feels the same way when they need to say something they feel is important. Who are we, as adults, to take their right to express themselves away from them?
Some may say a child has nothing interesting or informative to say. Listening to the words of a child can bring tears and laughter. Every parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent or teacher will repeat something a child has said to them. Children speak freely and will tell you what is on their minds. Unlike an adult, a child will speak without the intention of hurting another.
We must remember that our children will grow up and run our companies and our countries. Giving them a platform to communicate, at an early age, will give them confidence in themselves and others. Leave your attitude at a child’s door, because they have one of their own. Listen carefully the next time a child wants to speak to you; you just may learn something.
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Published in: Family
Douglas J. Archambault | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Hi Cindy, I like your thoughts. I have my first fiction book which is a children’s book coming out in the future. My wife and I also have a book of poems in the future. If you check our website you can see the latest updates. Thanks for your updates.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeqbcgk/hespartofmylifecom
Linda Alexander | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Cindy:
Well said words. I appreciate your thoughts . . . children certainly need to be heard AND seen!
Blessings — Linda Alexander
John H. Turner Jr | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Very well said Cindy, I am an old man so I lived when we were to be seen and not heard, and there is much true wisdom in you artical. Listening to our children gives us a chance to direct their thinking. Have you ever looked at a still photo and tried to put a personality with the picture? Then when you meet the person and see them and hear them speak you find that your image of them was all wrong. We have to hear what a person has to say to know them, and all parents should want to know their children.
John H. Turner Jr | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Very well said Cindy, I am an old man so I lived when we were to be seen and not heard, and there is much true wisdom in you artical. Listening to our children gives us a chance to direct their thinking. Have you ever looked at a still photo and tried to put a personality with the picture? Then when you meet the person and see them and hear them speak you find that your image of them was all wrong. We have to hear what a person has to say to know them, and all parents should want to know their children.
John H. Turner Jr | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Very well said Cindy, I am an old man so I lived when we were to be seen and not heard, and there is much true wisdom in you artical. Listening to our children gives us a chance to direct their thinking. Have you ever looked at a still photo and tried to put a personality with the picture? Then when you meet the person and see them and hear them speak you find that your image of them was all wrong. We have to hear what a person has to say to know them, and all parents should want to know their children.
Morgan Mandel | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Cindy,
I think your suggestions can apply to adults also. There’s still a lot of class discrimination out there. It’s a good idea to let everyone have a say, no matter how rich or poor, no matter what kind of job they have. A dishwasher should be just as respected for an opinion as an attorney.
Jan Verhoeff | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Nice article. I’m going to link to it from my http://heartstringtreasures.org Blog – because I appreciate the sentiment! Jan
Alberta Sequeira | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
HI Cindy,
I loved it. Children are so innocent and that’s what makes them special.
Anonymous | Oct 24, 2007 | Reply
Well done Cindy! I can relate to everything you said. I have four grandchildren myself and they teach me the true meaning of love everyday. It’s true though, sometimes we get caught up in our own world inner acting with our friends and forget the little ones have much to say, and only want to be heard. We all need to slow down and pay more attention to our children, like you said they are our future.
Joan Urquhart | Oct 27, 2007 | Reply
Excellent article! I grew up with “Children are to be seen and not heard” and don’t forget, “You can talk when you’re spoken to”. Due to these rules, I didn’t learn how to speak up or defend myself until I was well into my years of work experience. I now have two children, aged 14 and 10, and boy do they have alot to say! Sometimes I wish I had chosen not to let them have their say but then I remind myself what would I have done if I was them, and how did it make me feel? Once reviewing my own thoughts, there’s no denying that what I’m doing as a parent was the right decision to make.
There’s definitely a skill in speaking with children, but it also has to work the opposite direction in listening when they talk. I have learned alot from them and find myself applying these lessons in my everyday experiences, whether at work, or at home.
Thank you for showing me that I have made the right choice.
Anonymous | Nov 27, 2007 | Reply
Good Morning Cindy,
I wrote this a couple months ago. It is very gratifying to feel you are on the right track with your children.
An Open Eye
Are our children are the healthiest kids in the world? Is there still so much to do? It is amazing to realize the platform we can reach with them, through love and giving them challenges. Challenges through respect and in healthy ways, lead to leadership rolls that will top our nation and the worlds most sensitive areas. Clean air, healthy food, the reductions of chemical production; it’s all in their future to resolve. Through respect comes an open eye.
For years I’ve wondered why parents separate themselves by appearing to be on a higher level then their kids. I listen to my kid when she speaks, and I produce something relative in response. Not only this, I continually drive at positive changes in my own life, knowing she has an open eye.
Bradley Stewart
Author of Kayak Reef; Eye of the Arctic.
mother of four | Nov 19, 2008 | Reply
I couldn’t agree with you more I feel the same way.