I remember the days when I took naps at school and learned the alphabet; when my diet was colorful goldfish and apple juice in a big kid cup; when I thought all I actually needed in life were parents to tuck me in at night and read me the most recent Clifford adventure; when the largest struggle in my life was tying my shoes, and when the word “problem” was definitely not in my limited vocabulary. The simpler times, some might call them, the good old days, others say. For me, living simply is the epitome of the past, present and future. Living a life without making complications for myself is what I strive to accomplish each day, believing that others should consider this lifestyle as well. The simplistic principles of my five year old self’s existence are what I strive to live by now, as a teenager.
Naturally, this way of thinking may sound absurd, but I believe that as a teenager or young adult, we often become extremely wrapped up in our busy lives, that we don’t take the time to relax, furthermore, we often think of ourselves too highly, thinking that the people around us are inferior. In kindergarten, we are
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Fulghum connects his ideas to the real world. He gives the example of having “... the basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and clean up our own messes.” Fulghum also touches on a few other main points, saying, “And then remember that book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK!” That book used to be my favorite. “See spot run?” and also writes, “When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder.” Everything around us is full of beauty and many adults don’t take the time to take in the wondrousness that is part of our everyday living. These things seem remarkably simple, yet it can be so difficult to make them a part of our
Early Childhood is marked by a time in children’s lives when they develop “a confident self-image, more effective control over their emotions, new social skills, the foundations of morality, and a clear sense of themselves as boy or girl” (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011, pg. 45). According to Erik Erikson, early childhood is a period of “vigorous unfolding,” one where children have a sense of autonomy and a new sense of purposefulness or initiative (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011, pg. 45). Play is a means for children to learn about themselves and they begin to adopt the moral and gender-role standards of the society in which they live (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011). A negative outcome of early childhood is the guilt children feel as a result of excessive punishment and criticism by the adults in their lives (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011)....
The principle of the Tiny House Movement, less equals more, applies not only to monetary benefits, but also to simplified living. One philosophy of the Tiny House Movement is to "design life to include more money, health, and happiness with less stuff, space, and energy" (Maglalang 30). Likewise, the founders of the Transcendental Movement believed in this theory; they believed that to be content, one must eliminate materialistic attachments to focus on the significant circumstances that life has to exhibit. The Tiny House Movement accosts the popular ideology of procuring large investments to be content (Maglalang 30). This consortium obliges a cleanse of superfluous components that are gratuitous, absolving one from trivial attachments.
Chicago Public Radio, prod. “Adventures in the Simple Life.” This American Life. WBEZ, Chicago, Illinois, 11 Sept. 1998. Radio.
The greatest desire of all is to be important among others, for most children they do not receive this feeling enough. George F. Will once wrote “Childhood is frequently a solemn business for those inside it”. This quote may be interpreted to mean adults see only the bliss of their childhoods, but forget how lugubrious a child’s life can really be, and the hardships of succeeding in life. This quote is proven valid by Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, how she has a somber child hood and adults overlook her struggles. It is also proven true by the conceit, Reading the Obituary Page by Linda Pastan how the adults do not acknowledge the vile treatment of the kids. Dispute the expectations childhood is hard and older generations do not support today’s kids, but only the character that persists through all impediments will adhere to happiness.
Young children may need more assurance, particulary when first starting school. They may need to have more physical contact as a result. As children become more mature they may need more help with talking through issues and reflecting on their thoughts.
The term “hurried child syndrome” is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “a condition in which parents overschedule their children's lives, push them hard for academic success, and expect them to behave and react as miniature adults.” This fairly new issue was first proposed by child psychologist David Elkind in 2007. Elkind’s book “The Hurried Child” clearly shows his concern for the next generation and what the word “childhood” has become for them. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “childhood” is defined as “the state or period of being a child.” And “child” is defined as “an unborn or recently born person.” Noticeably, the dictionary definition is completely objective. There is no implication of how childhood is, or what it involves. In the major advanced cultures around the world, childhood has always been mentioned with a positive connotation of innocence and joy. But the hurrying of children seems to be defying this way of thinking.
In every individual’s life, there are specific actions and behaviors that we conduct that are unique to ourselves as an individual. These actions and behaviors are connected to many other aspects in our life, ultimately encompassing the overall idea of a “lifestyle”. Although it is seen often as ambiguous in nature, the concept of a “lifestyle” is actually quite simple. The root of this word contains the word “style”, which is typically used to describe a specific conduct or action. However, when fixed onto the word “life”, this transitions into a more complex term. In society, an individual’s lifestyle is simply defined as the way in which that individual chooses to live their life. This includes how the individual decides to conduct their
Erik Erikson introduced us to eight stages of development that happens over a person’s lifespan. At each stage, there is a developmental task with a crisis that will need to be resolved to successfully go through that stage development. During these tasks, vulnerability is increased and there is enhanced potential. If the task is handled successfully, then we can see healthy development occurring. This idea of people going through different stages helps to explain why people develop differently and how one develops during childhood can directly affect how they will be and/or act during later years in life. This paper will examine my personal
According to a study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science journal, researchers have found that much of a young person’s personality is formed as early as first grade. It is fascinating how important these formative years are to a person’s future life. If our personality and perspective on life is formed by such a young age, it should then be understood that those people closest to us are the ones framing our perspective on life. These perspectives follow us throughout much of our adolescence and even into adulthood. How fitting it seems then, that the categories we find many of our friends fall into appear to be affected by the attention, or lack thereof, received at home at an early age. As I look back at my group of friends from high school, it is clear that we all had someone in our lives were trying to please. The only real difference appears to be the way we went about getting the approval we so desperately desired.
Growing up, I was given the freedom to choose who I wanted to be, to decide what I wanted to do. I grew up with many different opportunities and chances to try out new things. A simple life I led as a child, sheltered and loved by all, but I was oblivious to reality, lost in my own “perfect” world. Yet as I grew up and began to surpass the age of imaginary worlds, the idea of “perfection” had begun to fade and reality began to settle in. Like a splash of cold water, I went from a childish mindset to an adult’s. Child hood play was a thing of the past and responsibility became the norm.
We might not have the same opinions, paths, and ways of living; but we all, millions of people around the world, share the same purpose of life: Being able to say “I am having a good life!” What we mean by “good life” is living in pure happiness and having a wonderful peace of mind. The difference between us is that each one of us chooses a different way in his pursuit of happiness. Some find it in stability with a big house, a family, and a good paying job. Some find it in adventure and wildness, travel, and taking risks. While others don’t really have specific criteria or an organized plan, they just believe that happiness comes with living each day as if it was the last, with no worries about the rest. Personally, I find it in trying to be the best version of myself, in staying true to my principles, and in the same time in being able to make my own decisions; which reminds me of what George Loewenstein said “Just because we figure out that X makes people happy and they're choosing Y, we don't want to impose X on them.”
Our ancestors used to live a happier life. They were not drowned in technology like we are. They lived life as they should to, closer to their instinct. In the past, people had a healthy lifestyle, had more time to spend with their family and friends and were closer to nature. Whereas nowadays, people’s lifestyle has become unhealthy due to modern life. For example, we do not have much physical activity anymore. Besides, as modern humans are busy, we do not spend enough quality time with our family and friends which makes us happy. Moreover, we do not respect the nature which used to be our home. We live too fast without taking a rest for a while and enjoying our life. But as Dillard suggests, we need to be more observant. By taking a look at weasels, we can remember the real meaning of life which is living in the moment, being happy, and noticing
Children in middle childhood are growing psychosocially at a quick rate. During middle childhood they become industrious, develop a self-concept, and learn how to be friends, amongst other things. In Erickson’s Stages of Development, a child in middle childhood (or children from age six to age eleven) moves through the industry versus inferiority stage. This stage is marked by the child working to gain new skills and in general just being productive (Click P. M., Parker J., 2002, p. 89). A child who is successful in their attempts will gain confidence in themselves and move on into adolescence firmly on the industrious side.
Few words in the search of the optimal status of our daily existence, that is geared to search for the material perfection where the knowledge learned from academic books taken to the extreme, can be misinterpreted or frantically put to work twisting positive outcomes.
It is extremely crucial that teachers care about their students’ successes, accomplishments, and well-being. In the fourth grade, children are starting to encounter a harder curriculum than they have experienced in earlier grades. Stage four of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory is industry versus inferiority and it takes place during the school age years from around age six to 11. During this stage, “children busily learn to be competent and productive in mastering new skills or feel inferior, unable to do anything well as they wish they could” (Berger 24). For children who may struggle in subjects or learn at a slower pace than others, this may lead to feelings of frustration or hopelessness. This is about the time when children start to dislike school and their grades begin to reflect their dislike. Because of this, it is important that fourth grade teachers are patient, understanding, and kind. Seeing first-hand a child struggling in school can be heartbreaking, but there is nothing better than seeing a child’s face when he or she understands how to do a math equation, gets an A on a spelling test, or wins first place at the science fair. The excitement of those students is reason enough to become an educator of fourth grade. To be able to make a difference in one student’s life is amazing, but to be able to reach many is extraordinary. It is important for fourth grade teachers to be role models for students, because during the fourth grade, students are starting to become individuals and are