Kooky

Signs and Wonders has always been interesting. Why don't more people come?!?! Yesterday there was a combination field trip, exercise, and puppets!

The children's film shown was very entertaining, even though it was a very different style of pacing. If there's one theme that I can say I've learned so far this year, it's that movies can truly be made out of anything, and Kooky* did a great job of making the characters come to life in the middle of a wonderfully innocent story about a boy who just wants to be reunited with his stuffed animal.

*note picture for correct pronunciation

A very interesting point that was only brought up briefly in the discussion I want to talk about more here. As the 2 main characters are driving along, Kooky sees two dragonflies being intimate with each other. After being scolded for leading them into the awkward situation, Kooky asks "If we don't talk about it, then how am I supposed to know what I see?"

This was certainly not the theme of the film, nor did they really mention it again, but I think it's very important to understand, and reminds me of the discussion we had after the "When Life Departs" film. There is a certain point when sensitive subjects need to be introduced to kids, if only so that they don't develop an inaccurate understanding. There are plenty of other sources that would give you more detailed analysis about when and how this might be done—I'm not the expert on that; that's not the point. The point is, that it does matter. I know a girl in high school who told the story about how she became a mother much too early because her parents hadn't spoke to her at all about such things.

When it comes to the question of whether or not you should expose them to other beliefs, my personal opinion is all about timing. I believe it's very important to develop such a good relationship with children that they can comfortably ask the hard questions that will lead to better discussion. In that case, it's better to tell them your belief early, so that you can later explain that other people believe differently. This seems to be the only way to instill in them a solid belief they will eventually accept as their own.