Stories

British child psychologist John Bowlby wrote that “life is best organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base.” What a good description of childhood.

When children know they are loved, valued, and cared for, they have the secure base that is so important for healthy development and growth. Parents and other family members are the primary sources of this security, but the school setting is very important as well. Charlotte Prep provides another secure environment for children, which means they can then fully engage with life in affirming and powerful ways.

As Bowlby notes, engaging in daring ventures is an important part of a well-lived childhood (and this applies to adults as well). What, exactly, is a daring venture? For children, it is as simple as exploration. Perhaps it is trying a new food. Or auditioning for the play. A family trip to a new place can be a daring venture, as can learning how to ride a bike. Because children are just beginning to explore the world and their place in it, daring ventures abound. A child with a secure base will view them as exciting and enlivening because there is little to fear. One can venture forth with confidence and joy. What a wonderful way to experience childhood!

As we begin this new school year, let’s commit ourselves to the happy work that entails giving children what they need: a firm foundation and a secure base from which to engage with life. This security will serve them well now and in the future and imprint an adventurous spirit on them, which is a gift they will likely treasure for the rest of their lives.