Subject: Children (A Perspective Worth Considering)

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

Kahlil Gibran (1883 – 1931) Source: The Prophet, 1923, On Children

Image source for K. L. Jones’ artwork.

If you like Japanese children’s animation, you will want to check out a selection of Studio Ghibli film clips, along with video clips and plots summaries at Lukira.com. In particular I appreciate “My Neighbour Totoro” for the depiction of life in the countryside in Japan. The animators have presented many of the nicest aspects of life in rural Japan, including the daily routines of a traditional farmhouse or country home.

My first visit to Japan took place when I was ten. I was dazzled by the Sanrio products found at Kiddyland in Omotesando – in particular by the Kiki and Lalaotherwise known as Little Twin Star.

I also couldn’t help noticing the appealing sweetness of cartoons on TV such as Candy Candy, a 1970s cartoon.

“I’d give all wealth that years have piled,
The slow result of Life’s decay,
To be once more a little child
For one bright summer-day.”

Lewis Carroll, “Solitude”

Image source: dailyphotolog.blogspot – location now unknown

If you are a teacher of young children, you cannot help but like the Family Circus cartoon strip.

The Family Circus website.