Do you remember what it was like to open a present when you were little (I mean very little, before you decided that the only thing that mattered when you were given a present was how fast the paper could be torn off)? Do you remember all the new and interesting things that were part of the process? Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to be reminded at a recent first birthday party or perhaps you recall watching a little on their first Christmas.
In my experience the process is normally quite a long winded one; first the wrapping is explored, particularly colourful bits are point out & commented up (in a language known only to those of pre-speech age) and then package is tested for its noise-making potential.
Once these initial procedures are complete it’s time to find a a way into the present (often at the persuasion of an onlooking grown-up!) and the tearing of the paper begins. This process again can take sometime; it’s important to admire the different shapes of torn paper, listen to the sound that’s made as you scrunch the paper and clap your hands around it … not to mention the taste test for each bit!
Eventually the present appears. … and if it’s in a box so much the better; you can make so many noises by hitting it in different ways and if the box is big enough to sit on then it could be a car, a boat, a plane… or simply somewhere far more comfy that the floor to sit…. and then yes, then it’s time to explore the present… 🙂
It’s a wonderful thing to watch & recount but what can we learn from our littlies…. (and I’ll give you a clue, it’s not eating wrapping paper!) … what about opening our eyes a little wider and exploring and enjoying what we so often take for granted?
Try this… next time you do a task that you’ve done many times before (like walking to the bus stop, opening the paper, making the tea) pretend it’s the first time you’re doing … take your time and explore a little, use all your senses (where appropriate!) … I think you’ll be surprised at what you notice and enjoy.
