Todays children

I read something the other day that triggered thoughts about young people and how they display from an early age their strengths, interests and talents. It is our job in society and as adults to nurture that and encourage them to develop their potential. The story I read was of a young James Clerk Maxwell who at 3 years of age demonstrated the curiousity that was to make him a career in science. What early talents do we see in young people around us and do we develop them?. I am always touched by the baptism service in a local church which asks the congregation to acknowledge and accept their responsbility to help develop and support the young baby or person who has just been baptized. That is quite a responsbility. Finding ways to encourage children's love of learning is a great investment in the future. It is a commitment and investment that many different faiths make and take seriously. How seriously do we take it? In our everyday actions and words do we set a good example and do we encourage our young people? The other day near my house an adult threw down a can of juice in the street despite being close to a bin. Happily ,when asked to, he picked it up and put it in the bin while his son looked on. Do we set a good example. Many times have I heard teachers tell of the behaviour they encourage among pupils at school only to see it shattered by the bad behaviour of adults in front of their children. Fist fights at sports days over who won when teachers are trying to teach children that there are ways to resolve conflicts and that they should play the game and accept that someone else might be better. What an example to set. 'We shape tomorrow's world by what we teach our children today.' Who encouraged your learning as a child? What did they do that worked for you? How can you apply that to encourage a young person today to shape a better tomorrow?