Children know…
“Papi, you forgot to paint it.” This was my 4 year old grandson’s comment when I poured milk into his pinched clay cup. I intentionally unglazed the outer surface so the texture of the clay could be felt. This was his first time using it. My goodness, he is already aware of such small differences. We adults underestimate children’s perceptive nature. From an early age, they are forming their worldview starting from touching it.
He and his identical twin brother have been exposed to pottery(earth) since they were two as their small fingers and palms could grab and hold onto objects with some control. “Let their first touches of the world be that of earth not the lifeless form of plastic.” That has been my motto. Children of today living in an urban setting are robbed of their encounter with nature already starting from the dinner table. Plastic is everywhere from the frantic daily life of an urban dweller. We don’t even bat an eye how unusual this scene might be. It’s everywhere from their pre-school lunch to fast food drive throughs. But when they visit me which is often, they get to use their toddler size pottery I make for them. I watch them hold the small bowls in their hand cradling it with care while eating. They drink their milk like an adult with their one hand so proudly.
His comment of, “You forgot to paint it,” comes from the fact that up until this point, all the work has been glazed(to him its paint) with a shiny surface inside and out, but this time I gave and unglazed one. He immediately noticed the difference and when he said it, my response was, “Isn’t that wonderful? It feels different doesn’t it?”
These young minds already know the difference. They are actively grasping the world around them through their sense of touch. I can only wonder what a loss it may be who never get this visceral encounter. A world that is just shiny colorful plastic can be disorienting. Plastic afterall has no sense of balance with size, weight, and texture to the reality of nature. Human’s hands evolved to appreciate the tiniest subtleties, yet most of our children today put those capabilities into a dormant state unknowingly. I worry the unknown subtle psychological imbalances it creates.
I don’t need to read or wait for some scientific research to know that a world filled with plastic is unnatural and unhealthy for humans, especially the young children growing up.
Bryan Ohno
