Melting Hearts
Melting Hearts is a contemporary illustrated fable—a story about a Gentoo penguin named: N'Too.
Adventurous, funny, and curious about the diversity and the nature of the planet. But in his journey, one deep thought is calling out of his heart...HOME.
What you're missing is what you've always have had.
"Don't regret the journey; don't forget who you are and where you are coming from".
This children's picture book is the first in the series from "The Collection Fables". Educational and sensitive, it is perfect for young children and for "new readers" with special notes and references, an excellent tool for the parents to support their teaching approach.
A young penguin misunderstood by his family decides to travel the world to become independent and discover new lands to find friends. He will discover loneliness, but, he will gain wisdom.
If you say "penguin", you will immediately think ", Um...so cute"!
It also treats important topics about facts, values, and morals in an educational and psychological approach.
Analysis
The central theme of the fable is expressed at the end when the hero admits: "There's no place like home"!
A popular citation reflecting the journey's retrospect is universal and essential. This journey itself is a symbol of "the rite of passage" between childhood and adulthood—his change of behaviour when he sees you cannot necessarily find true friendship in a crowded place. But when you take a step back, think about what he truly needs in his life. A learning step about the difficulties of the responsibilities while growing up.
Although he doesn't take the time to think about the risks and consequences (Children do not have the perception of responsibilities or consequences yet), he's decided to leave his family, not because he doesn't love them anymore, but by impulsivity complaining about being cold. Even though his family hasn't changed, he realised his family is unique because he took the time to think and decided to return on his own.
During his journey, the character has visited two distinct places with extreme conditions:
First visit: the heat / the emptiness / can't swim.
Second visit: the smoke / crowded / overrated.
The smoke represents the indiscriminate force due to climate change, the repeatedly bodily functions, the fragility, and the innocence of the young penguin.
Sadness diverts his attention to his quest: discovering new worlds and friendships. But sadness and homesickness become stronger in all his disappointments during his visits.
And in trying to forget sadness, we tend to remember thoughts of comfort and happy thoughts...from our deeper side, our roots, our home.
N'Too is learning that we don't necessarily find true in a crowded land. The story ends with the thought of the world's wealth and home values.
In life, we tend to stay in our "Zone of comfort". This is why we tend to be more performant when we are more stressed. It helps us to face new challenges when growing up.
Imagination is also scientifically proven to be good for your health.
Curiosity helps to feel less stressed but also understand others.
Discovery is bravery.
Widen your horizons
But the feeling of satisfaction when accomplishing something new, or at least trying to get close to it, is grand! And so, our spirit gets stronger with time.
Especially when we learn new things.
What's important here is to find the right balance and understand where we are coming from and where we are going.
What we want to achieve and how important it is to open ourselves to the world without forgetting our desires and needs.
But "YOU CAN'T BE SOMEONE ON YOUR OWN"!
With the people you choose to be surrounded with, you take control of your destiny. But for that, children come to wisdom through open-mindedness,and being willing to explore the world and experience by themselves.
Global Warming, climate change
It's Ok to explain things about the environment. The complexity and dangerous side of the world. Even though these explanations can be sad, it's all about the truth. Your child might be upset or, once again, unfortunate. But they won't blame you for telling the truth. They will understand that you are not responsible. They should know, be informed about what is going on and give them some "knowledge and power sense", which is how important it is not to lie to them in a practical teaching approach.
Our schools are, of course, a vital teaching role. But they are also encouraging and motivating in their future positive actions towards the environment. Especially for our youngest students, for early knowledge,and being informed of the historical and the evolution of the concern's facts.
How do eyou xplain science?
Firstly, it is essential to understand how climate change starts and understand the atmosphere protects us and the environment on Earth. The levels of oxygen and natural gases that surround us.
Then, explain how the levels have increased and how the weather conditions have changed.
Finally, all kinds of powers we burn create some gases released into the atmosphere. It's difficult for children to understand that gases aggravate the climate. Most of the time, they need to compare with images as examples. In that case, we can imagine the gases as the steam created when you are cooking or after a shower...The heat from the steam demonstrates well how the climate changes when the Earth warms up.
I was explaining this through an activity.
You could place an ice cube in a large water container and mark the water level. And once the ice has melted, remark the new level of water. Visualising the results may help to realise the impact it causes at a higher level. The effects of global warming may create feelings of helplessness and semotivation for a change. (But, as for us, over information and constant reminders risk desensitising the subject in our children's minds).
Explain to them that climate changes could be hot but at the wrong time of year. And raining in some places or not enough in others. It could also cause more wildfires, flooding, melting glaciers, tsunamis, and stronger storms.
The solution.
Naturally, this can be scary for children, but that doesn't mean we should display the whole thing. But it's simply important to protect the planet ,so they feel more responsible in the future and like they're making a difference now for their future.
Turn off the lights.
I was walking instead of taking the car.
Don't overuse water.
Recycle.
TThe minorthings to make them responsible and make a difference.
Penguins and Climate change
It's not big news, but climate change is a fact, and we are responsible for it. The recent extension is explained mainly by global Warming that reduces nutrients and the fish in the water and commercial exploitation in the oceans. The gases and the warm weather bring more water vapour into the atmosphere and melt an incredible amount of snow, leading to less fishing, hunting, breeding, and failing to nest. Some species can NOT handle adapt to changes in their living conditions.
They are, however, some exceptions!
The Gentoo population amazed us with their flexible behaviour adaptation as they can manage to find some compromises. When they can't find some krill, they are looking for some larger fish of prey. When the nest fails, they're breeding again...
When a child runs away
First, your child is not "running away" to be wrong as a toddler. Or it doesn't mean they are trying to defy you on purpose, and it's more like a sense of great independence and a game. They don't have the notion of the risks, the consequences, or the pain it may cause you.
When a child runs away, it doesn't necessarily mean that a child is trying to escape severe issues at home or school. It can happen to anyone, even for less severe problems, and just loneliness, misunderstandings...could be enough.
When they run away from home, "escape" is the answer to fight against anger and sadness. But facing the problem and trying to find a solution to it is even worse to do.
The cry for attention!
Should I talk to my child about running away?
When they are too young for a long conversation, you may find it more beneficial to try new games.
Stay close: Of course, your child is not a dog on the leash, but try to find an open and safe space where you and your toddler can see each other. And when it's time to go, you don't have to yell at them and start running... And if he/she doesn't listen to you, turn around, stop looking, and possibly, sit down. When your child notices that you are no longer interested, he/she will return to you to get your intention. But, once again, let's use this trick when you're sure it's a good place.
Ready, Set and GO: Show where they can run, run with him, and play hide and seek. Why not race? Running is fine, and it's all about knowing to trust at the right place at the right time. But also, finding the limits... "let's run together from here, till the gate" or "ok, sure, you can run, but the bush is the limit". Show all the areas so that the child will see all the choices.
It will be easier to learn to police themselves and be more responsible.
When they tend to misbehave, it's usually because they're bored. And so, they want to find something surprising further until they find something good enough to get their attention, even just for a few minutes.
Being responsible: Going outside is challenging for them. And they know it, "What are we going to do? What are we going to see? "Our behaviour is always different from your house and outside. So don't be scared to use this opportunity for you and your child to test their ability and pride.
Let's not forget to let them know how proud we are that they understood everything. How big they are now. That you appreciate when they are listening when you call for them.
Let's go home: Going to the park can be SO stressful, especially for the parents. But "threatening" a child you will go home because they broke the rule won't help understand what they did was wrong. Home is supposed to be a refuge, a place to play, and he/she will see it as a reward, and so, when he breaks the rule, he will get a bonus...
Kids run away because they don't want to face something, including emotions they don't want to deal with.
Remember, kids, run away from problems they can't handle. It's in our culture, and we often see running away as a way to achieve a sense of power and independence.
Homesickness
Homesickness is fear of change, rejection, failure, failure... Most cases of homesickness seem to me to be associated with a child's fear that they do not "have what it takes" to survive without a family: " Although it is psychological, homesickness can have some natural physical manifestations: ranging from mild nervousness to appetite loss to stomach aches.
Being away from home can be scary and sometimes sad. Our children want to have fun with their friends, but once they're away, they may miss their old habits and bed. This is what we call being homesick.
Leaving home is a universal developmental milestone.
How to fight this?
Bring something from home with you (a homemade bracelet, a photo...) and Keep Busy!
No Place Like Home
When you're homesick, you're not sick in the usual way, like when you have a cold. Homesick means you're upset, sad, and maybe scared. You might cry when you're homesick. You can even have a headache or stomachache because being upset can sometimes make your body feel bad, too.
It's hard to be homesick. You're caught between two things you want - to have fun with your friends and to be back home where you feel safe. But don't be upset with yourself. A lot of people get homesick, even grown-ups.