Stretching Childhood

I read a series of articles recently on the evolutionary divergence of humans from Neanderthals.  It seems we humans developed a much longer period for childhood, possibly the result of our sparse neural circuitry at birth requiring more time to grow.  Some anthropologists believe this fact is related to our propensity for storytelling, more specifically the stories told by a parent to a child.  The human shift from a strictly pre-wired genetic knowledge base to one supplemented by lessons learned from our elders, propelled humans ahead of Neanderthals in the race for survival and ultimately wide spread prosperity.

What resonated with me in these findings was the magic of storytelling to spark a child's imagination and sense of wonder, in addition to passing along a moral to be learned.  As a parent, I feel one of my greatest obligations to our children is a daily dose of prying open their minds in opposition to the onslaught of society closing them.  Anywhere I can find an opportunity to inspire, expand, challenge them to reach further, I seize it.

This past month, just such a thing presented itself.  We bought a used piano for our sons who had taken up music lessons.  And although it was very well built and the strings were in good condition, the price was a bargain because the exterior finish was sun beaten.  Rather than refinishing, my wife and I decided to let our sons paint it.  Assured by a piano technician it wouldn't affect the sound, we charged ahead, thinking the experience would give our sons a personal sense of ownership for the new piano along with a freedom of exploration rarely afforded children of such a precious object.

So, we began with a trip to the museum, to see a race car Andy Warhol painted in the 1970s, with hopes of planting a seed in their minds...

The following day drop cloths were laid, paints were brought out and the brushes started swirling.

The entire surface was soon covered, nothing was spared.

Vibrant colors following the lead of their creative hands and excited minds.

The paint is now dry and masking tape removed, all that's left for the piano is to play.  Fortunately, playing is a kid's specialty.  My job is simply to stretch the time out as long as I can, giving those neural circuits all the freedom in the world to branch out in a myriad of directions.