"Who Are We Food To?"

He had just finished his lunch....Soon, it would be nap time, an important ritual in this kindergartner’s  life..... As he entered the small kitchen, he asked me the question that seemed to come out of nowhere.  ...“Who are we food to?”

Our youngest had been looking at me as I put some chicken into the freezer.  ...  I explained what I was doing and why. ... (That simple act could have, possibly, triggered the insightful question) ... It was another moment, like so many, that was rife with provocative and profound questions of an inquiring four year old mind. ... As always, I was caught off guard. ... He and I together again, in these introspective moments, Monday to Friday, while his two older brothers were in school. (in grades two and three).

I began my answer with the usual bears, lions and dinosaurs . ... “Those animals would probably eat us, if they found us alone in the forest”, I responded. ...  Answering a child's question is simple.  The correct answer is not important. ...  Being validated and acknowledged is what matters most to them, to us, to anyone......A child's self worth is tied to any interaction with a caring adult...  In a few minutes, the child will forget your answer and his question and be thinking about the next one. He will remember, however, how he was treated and felt when he last spoke. His words mattered. That is what counts, each and every time.

Engaging in conversation with a child is the gold standard for learning for him and you. ... Children will rise to the level expected of them, in behaviour and in speech. ....   The adult  will always set the tone. ....  Putting words into their mouths, also, helps to challenge the young brain in ways that might not happen otherwise. Giving them new words to pronounce gives them a mental and physical workout while leaving an indelible mark on the brain for next time. 'Picture' books can also aid immeasurably in helping a child hone his speaking, vocabulary, reading and thinking skills. ... Each time the book is ‘read’, it becomes a different story for the child and you. Then the questions begin and the probing continues. ... The child begins to form another picture in his mind about the cast of characters in the book without words. ... Curiosity runs rampant. ... The asking of questions has no end. They are limitless and have no boundaries.

“Who are we food to”? became one of the many questions our youngest would ask during the revelatory period in his life. ... Asking me to read was also another favourite leisure time activity for all our boys. During this time, our youngest had fallen in love with the book and movie hit from the 1950’s, entitled, “The Creature From the Black Lagoon”. It soon became such a family favourite that reading it eight or nine times, in one sitting, using many different voices to an excited audience of three, was becoming a family tradition. Now, that creature could have very easily eaten all of us, if given the chance.