A Change In Perspective
For young children, adults greatly alter the public space around them. Everything is up for younger children. Adults tower over them, looking down on them from their space up high. A scolding parent looms over a child, and she can feel small and helpless from her perspective closer to the ground. Their small stature puts them in a position where they are unable to see and explore the world around them when surrounded by adults.
As someone who works with children, I have become keenly aware of the young child’s plight. Though I’m average height for a man, to a young child, I am King Kong. I make every effort to lower myself down to the child’s level, by kneeling or sitting next to them. In crowds, a boost up onto the shoulders or up onto a chair allows the child to see what everyone else sees. In church, I recommend parents sit with their children close to the front or allow them to stand in the pews when everyone stands. This allows the child to see what is happening in the service and allows them to experience the worship service with the rest of the congregation.