Page 14 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Spring Giver 2026

In a Kid’s Eye View By Suzanne Major PhD

Young Children Feeling Alive!

Young children live in the moment. The past and the future are absent
from their minds. They are not aware of time, space, or of their self. Their
brains as well as their minds are slowly developing, and they will take years
to acquire maturity.
But once in a while, they experience consciousness or awareness. For a
few seconds they are suddenly aware of themselves, their body, and where
they are. The experience is striking but fleeting because of their immaturity.
Consciousness, some say, is a biological phenomenon triggered by all
our senses perceiving information that produces sensations and emotions.
In turn, they create images in the mind, some of which become memories.
Cherished memories come from experiences, familiarity, knowledge and
information.
The more young children are out there, the more they can experience
being aware of themselves and their surroundings. This gives them a chance
to discover who they are and what they are made of.
Because this is interesting to them it allows the development of attention
and concentration.
Young children spend a lot of time in rooms with functions and materials defined by others like daycare rooms,
classrooms, playrooms, and play centres. They are prompted to pay direct
attention to what other people want them to do, manipulate, or experience.
They have to put on hold their own impulses, desires, and interests.
This makes them tired, agitated, and angry.
Their minds need to roam, to explore, to play, and follow impulses.
This allows them to construct themselves through their own senses and
experience interest, fascination, and delight. This has to come from them.
Young children don’t need to have everything prepared for them.
“Having nothing to do” is like a shut door in young children’s minds that
taunts them relentlessly into grabbing the knob and flinging it open onto
life. Being bored is a necessary condition to trigger thinking and creativity.
Lots of time has to be provided for young children to find this path to
discovery, exploration, fun, and the pleasure of feeling alive. And there
are zillions more paths in the great outdoors than in our closed rooms! Oil painting by SuzMajor.
Photography by Christian Cailliau

14 www.GiverMiramichi.com Spring 2026