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Understand



When I was growing up my parents had some friends that had two children.  They would come over maybe 2-3 times per year.  The kids were two girls, about 3 years apart.

Whenever we would start to play a game my sister, brother, and I would have to go over the rules.  For us, we knew the rules since most of the games we played were "our" games.  Of course, we would have to explain the rules to the two girls.  Each time we did so the older one would say, "Ok, let's play!".  The younger one, however, would always say, "I don't understand" in a kind of whiney voice.  The older sister would roll her eyes and sigh but before she could say anything one of us would explain the game again.  "I don't understand", the younger one would insist.  We then would show her how to play the game, trying our best to provide an example for her.  Often times the example was a bit confusing especially to someone who "didn't understand". In perfect harmony with her previous statements she would again claim, "I don't understand."  The older girl lost her composure and demanded of her little sister, "NOW YOU UNDERSTAND!!".  The younger one invariably cried at this.  We went ahead, despite her tears, and played the game.  Within 5 minutes the younger one understood and everything went fine after that; until of course, the next game and explanation came along--then the whole affair repeated itself.  

Kids benefit from being told things, that's for sure.  They can benefit from seeing things as well.  They do, however, benefit most from experiencing things.  As the adults in our children's lives we have the awesome responsibility to teach them the ways of the world...education, art, music, manners, courtesies, coping skills, and more--much more.  In this, as a teacher and a parent I have relied heavily on something someone once told me...

"I hear and I forget,

I see and I remember,

I DO and I understand."

The older sister wanted so badly for her younger sibling to understand that she thought she could command an understanding out of her.  To no avail.  It wasn't until the little girl actually played the game did she understand.  

As adults, we have to let our kids "play the game"...from there they will gain a greater understanding of the world in which they live.





Mr. Casten
Feb. 10, 2012

Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten

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