Ants & The Imagination Lesson

Watching ants in row is always a fun thing to do… especially when watching it with kids...

“Mommy, look! There are lots of ants!”
“Leave them alone, Honey, don’t disturb them.”
“Why are they marching like this, Mommy?”
“They are moving. See, they used to stay there and now they are moving to the other place.”
“Why they move?”
“Eee… they found a new better home, maybe?”
“Hey, they march in such tidy row!”
“Yes, ants are very discipline. They also always work together and very diligent. We, human, are supposed to learn from this.”
“Learn from what, Mommy?”
“Well, learn from ants. Discipline, diligent, and teamwork.”
“This one is not discipline, Mommy, it goes out from the row!”
“Not that it is not discipline; it is checking the situation for the others, Bunny, see if it’s safe to continue the journey.”
“Oh…”
“Will you go out from your row, Honey?”
“Yes, if it’s to check the safety for my friends!”
“Wow, you are a great leader! Make sure you do it safely.”
“Yes, Mommy. Hey, this big ant is carrying a rucksack on its back!” (imagination is on)
“Wow, the rucksack is in such bright color!” (following the imagination) “Mommy rather choose a blue one. How about you, Darling?”
“I always love red, Mommy. Look! This little one is pulling a trolley bag!” (higher imagination!)
“Oh yeah? Strong although it’s little. It might eat a lot. Will you eat more to gain more energy, Bunny?”
“Of course, Mommy! I am as strong as Hulk!”
“This one doesn’t carry anything.”
“Maybe it is ill, Mommy, so it is free not to carry anything.”
“Hey, you are so understanding. It could be lazy.”
“No, just now Mommy said ants are diligent, so if it is not carrying something, it must has reason.”
“Ehm… yeah, maybe you are right. High understanding, hah? Look! Look! That one is carrying a freezer, this one carries stove, the other in the middle row carries sofa, followed by the one behind, carrying king-size bed!” (imagination goes wild, this time in the mother’s side)
“Mommy, you went too far… They are only ants.”
“???”

Teaching kids can be from any sources. It is a funny thing to realize that despite of their high imagination (which we, parents, always want to catch up with), actually they are realistic, they know the difference between ‘just an imagination’ and ‘reality’. Make sure not to go too far, otherwise you end up “???”