If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Think about it. Logically speaking, of course it still makes a sound. Sound is vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear. Even if no one is listening, the question does not ask if it can be heard it asks does it make a sound. With that in mind, if a child speaks in a crowd of adults but no one is paying attention, does he make a sound? Like the first question the answer is obviously yes, but then we see that the second half is also true. He may make a sound, but is he heard?
One of the most misunderstood and valuable sources in our world is children. Why? Children hold the key to unlocking every door, overcoming every conquest, challenging every opposition, and creating the unthinkable. How? Children have something that we adults have lost after many years of hearing the phrases "You can not", "You will not", "You're Wrong", and so many more. As adults we have learned the evils of the world and that if you want to be successful you must not step on anyone's toes. This is pretty much requires us to be a telepathic genius like Professor X and even he steps on toes sometimes (or technically rolls since he's in a wheel chair). Children are never afraid of stating the obvious but unsaid. "You smell funny", "Why did that girl hurt herself with so many piercings?", "Why did that man draw a silly picture on his arm?", "Why is she so scared, doesn't she know Jesus will protect us?", and so on. Children are not afraid to say anything. Whether it is mean, true, or both.
Why is it so hard for us to wear our heart on our sleeves? The reasons kids cry, scream, and jump for joy all the time is because they don't want to contain their emotions. With a kid, when you ask how they feel they'll tell you point blank. Even if point blank means "You're stupid." While some kids are just rude, most are simply honest. Unlike adults who feel the need to step around toes to keep from hurting people's feelings or making things awkward, kids are the toe smashing champions that do the most awkward things like running around the yard buck naked just for the heck of it.
As for adults, we can't even confess when we have feelings for another person let alone tell people how we feel 24/7. Why is that? I have no right to lecture my audience because I do the same thing. But I do wonder, why it is so terrifying for us?
Fiction authors use kids in adventure novels as heroes for two reasons (probably more, but I'm going to list two). One, kids are open to new ideas and adventures. As adults if someone came up and told us we were the son or daughter of a Greek god or goddess (I'm a HUGE Rick Riordan fan) we'd tell them they needed to lay off the booze and weed and get real. Kids however are open to new ideas, maybe to a point of ignorance at times but still. Kids are naturally believers, while adults need proof. Two, kids have a pure innocence that projects hope to the readers. Whether they're fighting a dragon, holding the sky, climbing a mountain, or saving their parents from inevitable peril, when we read about kids doing these things it's inspiring. I mean come on, if you read about a twelve year old saving his best friend from being eaten by a Cyclops than you'd feel like you could do anything.
Perhaps it is fiction, but authors write for many reasons, one of which is to inspire other people with their work. I promise you there is not a writer in the world (and if I am wrong feel free to slap me) who would be angry if you said their work inspired you. Whether it's a fictional story about a girl volunteering as tribute for a post apocalyptic death match to save her sister or a non fictional story about a person who abused drugs and alcohol their whole life only to find escape through God. Just about every story is inspiring, unless it's one of those special 'adult' books that love the intimate details (who knows, maybe for you but not so much for me). However, think about a story about a 34 year old man saving a woman from drowning in comparison to a kid saving a woman from drowning. Both are inspiring and should be thanked for their selfless deed, but when we hear a kid do something inspiring it makes us want to do something inspiring that much more.
Have you ever sat down and had a conversation with a kid? Like an actual conversation, not baby talk or a condescending discussion but an actual conversation. Kids are smarter than you think and they have an untapped potential view on the world that is inspiring. I work with kids a lot in children's ministry, and let me tell you that when an adult sits down and talks about common interest like books, movies, video games, or life in general, you see their eyes light up and their hearts jump for joy.
We can't talk to babies because they haven't yet learned how to form words or how to express how they feel other than crying. But we have a new name for toddlers, kids, and teenagers for a reason, because as they develop through life they learn how to make smart decisions, communicate properly, and talk on a higher intellectual level. As kids grow older they gain experience through being bullied, ignored, teased, praised, hurt, loved, and even betrayed.
When I was a kid, I was always more mature than kids my age (mainly because I was use to being with older kids and even elderly people, so I knew how to entertain myself sitting still or playing the big kid games) but this always made me kind of an outcast. I never really did anything wild and crazy in high school like TP a house, egg a car, or really do anything against the rules. Granted I wasn't a perfect angel (though some people annoyingly accuse me of being so) and I did a few stupid things as a kid, but never anything wild and insane like most people. I never went to parties where there was alcohol or drugs (nor was I ever invited) and I've never really been spontaneously irrational because I always think of what the repercussions of my actions will be. I was different as a kid, but when adults looked at me all they saw was a high strung teenage girl who knew nothing about love or life, a smart or shy and awkward kid who they thought might be mute, or something else.
No I don't want a pity party, (don't make me kick you in the shin) but this is what all kids go through. They want adults to listen to them and not act like they already know what they're about to say and what the answer is. I remember an incident in elementary school that happened because every adult thought they knew the whole story, but failed to ask the kid what their side of the story was.
"He's just a kid, he doesn't know anything." You're wrong. Kids know a lot more than we give them credit for. So next time instead of writing off a kid as just a stupid robot monkey that eats, sleeps, poops, and whines until ***POOF!*** they magically turn into an adult, take the time to listen to kids. They're smart, creative, brave, and kind. If you give kids a chance and just listen, I promise you'll be surprised by what they will say.
Philosophers may argue centuries over whether the chicken came before the egg, whether the glass is half empty or half full, and even whether a tree makes a sound when it falls and there is no one around to hear it. But it doesn't take a genius to know that if a kid talks in a room crowded with adults he does in fact make a sound. The only question is, will you be willing to listen?
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