“Egocentricity as an asset?”
This is the notice box.
Kids can be absolutely exasperating to adults. Sometimes it seems they are so self-centered that they forget anyone else even exists!
However, such egocentricity was given to them in the first place for very good reasons, like their very survival.
Think about this. The very first time a baby cries because he is hungry, he is crying out of an egocentric drive to survive! And that’s a good thing…in the outset.
When he cries, that baby doesn’t care whether his parent is dead tired, hungry, or in the middle of a game of bridge. That baby wants food, and he wants it NOW, and will make life miserable for everyone around until he gets what he wants.
We instinctively forgive babies for that kind of behavior, but when it continues into year 2, 3 or more, it becomes a problem.
The trouble is, we usually go about correcting it in ways that are self-defeating.
- We criticize the behavior.
- We use sarcasm to slow it down.
- We even try to punish selfishness out of their lives – but, with little success.
Egocentricity overbalancing an awareness of others.
Nearly all religions and philosophies include elements of this idea in their teaching. The difficulty is in getting this mindset into children early on.
That, in fact, is what this series of articles is about!
By helping children be more aware of others, their egocentricity is brought into balance.
And, the way to help children to find that balance is definitely NOT by scolding, lecturing about it or punishing it, but by using the tools we have already explained.
Simply put, the most effective way to help children reduce unhealthy self-centeredness is by helping them include others in their thinking as part of everyday living.
Next month’s article is especially important, because it shows how our very rules of English grammar are an important part of helping children balance between their own wants and needs and a healthy awareness of others around them.
