Hello fellow Earth Tribers!
This month, I recently spoke about how a child's reading journey begins not with alphabets, phonics, and word recognition, but actually through picture reading.
We've all been there as parents, reading a book to our toddler when suddenly something catches their eye, and they drift away from the story entirely. We may think this means they are not focusing or not grasping the concept of reading, but it is actually quite the opposite.
Reading is, in many ways, a tool that allows us to tap into our vast imagination.
So when your toddler begins describing the pictures, creating their own stories, or pointing out details that interest them, they are actively engaging with the book and using their imagination.
It is incredibly beneficial for little ones to identify what they see in books and describe it in their own words. This process builds vocabulary, strengthens comprehension, and develops confidence. If you would like to encourage your little one to read more often, I highly recommend placing colourful, descriptive books that they can easily understand within their reach.
It is amazing how, when we follow our children's natural rhythm, they tend to grow and expand in all the ways they need to. As adults, it can sometimes be difficult to step back and simply let our little ones lead, as we have so much we want to teach and share with them. But often, when we do, they move forward in incredible strides.
This month, I also touched on a more controversial topic: clothing and self-expression. I mentioned that it should be okay for men to wear skirts as a fashion choice if they wish to, as many cultures throughout history have embraced similar forms of dress. In African, Indian, Scottish, Polynesian, Roman, Greek and so many more cultures, men wearing skirts, robes, and draped garments was entirely normal. Skirts were not originally created as exclusively feminine clothing but have largely been marketed that way in today's world.
I raised this topic as an invitation to move away from a consumerist mindset that allows marketing to dictate who we should be and how we should dress. When we do not allow children to express themselves freely in healthy and harmless ways, we can unintentionally create adults who feel suppressed and disconnected from who they truly are. Am I saying that skirts are the answer to freeing men? Not necessarily. Rather, I am suggesting that as a society, we should question why the few men who choose to wear skirts often receive such strong reactions. Our words and responses impact others, whether we realise it or not.
Personally, my sons love wearing Hawaiian leaf skirts, their traditional Indian attire - which can resemble skirts - and, of course, the tutus they are constantly dressing up in.
If one day they choose to wear a skirt or two, I would like to think they live in a world that will not shun them for something that is entirely their own choice.
Self-expression is deeply personal. We are all unique and different in countless ways, yet we are all human. My hope is that when we encounter things that challenge our perspectives, we respond with curiosity, compassion, and love - even if they are not choices we would make ourselves.
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