A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be curious, and to fight tirelessly for something.
– Paulo Coelho

Early childhood directors have told us they often gift a copy of Deb Curtis’s wonderful book, Really Seeing Children, to new staff members. It’s filled with inspiration and information, but most of all encouragement to enjoy the pleasures of spending meaningful time with children. Here is an example of her writing:

“One morning a number of my toddlers crowded around the mirror, smiling and laughing as they saw each other’s reflections. At one point they seemed to share a moment of total connection, which sparked exuberant laughter and dancing around in a circle…

“Research shows that children laugh approximately 200 times a day, whereas adults laugh only 15-18 times. People who laugh more are healthier, experience less stress, are less likely to be depressed, and may even have an increased resistance to illness or physical problems. The children seem to be on to something that we adults have lost…

“My observations of children support the research that shows that laughter is less about humor and more about creating social connections, where people build feelings of camaraderie and pay close attention to each other.”