Can Young Children Be Experts?

Have you ever considered a child an expert? This is usually not two words that you see together. After doing a Google search for Children experts. I found that the sites were about adults being experts about children.

One particular site that I viewed ended up being a site that had continual pop ups. Other sites were selling educational toys that adult "experts" were recommending to the children. This made me wonder if the "experts" were the ones developing the toys or if they had actually had any children's advice on what toys would be best for them. One site even had "How experts Discipline their children".



Children Can Be Experts in Their Own Lives

Children are experts of their own lives and in their environments. Children have a way of communicating their own unique perspective of their world experiences. Children are capable of making decisions that are at times even better than the adults in their lives making decisions. One example of many is of play area under construction for some children who were between the ages of 4 to 5.

Using a picture showing the play area, the adults recommended to put in grass in the play area assuming this would be the best surface for the children's play area. The children chose concrete over the grass.

When the adults asked the children why their reasoning of the choice was to have concrete instead of grass. The children let the adults know that grass hid broken glass, dog excrement and drug needles. Concrete could be kept clean and any dangers could be easily seen.

When Can You Start Communicating with Your Expert?

Even from birth children know how to communicate their needs and wants. What adults see as random crying and sounds is far more organized and developed. Babies are craving social activity and interaction.

Children are capable of communicating in their own unique ways. It is up to the adults to "translate" and use the information to best support their children. Many adults do not "listen" to young children believing the child does not have a lot to give.

Be creative in communicating with the child there is many ways besides verbalization back and forth between child and adult. Use different tools to help in your communication such as stuffed animals and cameras.