Missouri Humanities Council e-News | July 2009 | View Online  

Attention, Please!

By Julie Douglas

A trio of unrelated experiences attracted my attention this month. Oddly enough, all three had to do with that very thing:  ATTENTION.

First came an ad that played before a movie at the theater.  I don't remember what the computerized voice was trying to convince us to buy, but I perked up when she said, "Welcome to NOW." With those words she had put a frame around that very moment in time.  By drawing my attention to NOW, my senses were heightened and I became much more aware of the sights, sounds, and scents around me.

The second incident came as my husband and I watched an old silent movie called Warning Shadows.  It had been a long time since I had watched a silent film (no, I was NOT a child when they first came out).  What struck me more than the exaggerated body language and facial gestures was the fact that I had to pay close attention if I wanted to follow the plot. There were no subtitles to explain what was being said, no cues other than the picture and background music to guide me through the story.  Even the identity of certain characters was left to speculation, and I found myself constantly making educated guesses about what might be happening.

The last serendipitous event occurred while visiting an exhibit by Olafur Eliasson in Chicago.  A long, lighted hallway leads into the exhibit. At the entrance to the hallway is a sign inviting the viewer to "Take your time!"  Our guide pointed out that many visitors simply hurry down the hallway and miss an amazing experience.  Looking at the harsh yellowish lights in the empty hallway, I couldn't imagine what there would be to see if I did, indeed, take my time.  But, as we got to the middle of the passage, a bizarre change caught my attention.  Suddenly, the color in the group’s clothing and skin and hair drained away and we all looked like characters in a black and white television show.  Our group stood, mouths wide open, reacting to the shades of gray that replaced every color. The guide explained how the yellow lights tricked our eyes into seeing things in black and white and gray. But to me, the more interesting fact was that some visitors actually went through this exhibit without even noticing what had happened!

By now, you might be wondering what all this has to do with reading to young children.  We know that reading and telling stories benefits a child in a boatload of ways.  But let's consider just these three things.

1. Welcome to NOW.  When a child (or adult!) is engrossed in a good story, the distractions of the world can fall away and allow the child to focus her attention. You’ve seen this in action. It’s why we use phrases like "on the edge of my seat" and "listening with rapt attention."   By sharing a book with a child, you are coaxing the child to focus on right now.
2. Pay Attention.  When a child is really caught up in a story, you don't have to say things like "pay attention!"  A good story invites him to grab hold and hang on, contemplating each detail so that he can ride the story arc through to "and they all lived happily ever after."
3. Take Your Time! What do we miss when we hurry? What escapes our attention simply because no one has pointed out that there is something to really see here?  When we read and talk about a book with a child, we are acting as a guide.  We can gently nudge her towards noticing a detail in an illustration, or ask a good open-ended question that sets her off in search of clues.

What better time than the dog days of summer to take time to really explore a book?  See what you can discover about an old favorite by paying closer attention to the illustrations or the way the author uses rhythm or rhyme.  Or, check out something different than your usual fare and immerse yourself in the NOW of a new experience.

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Also in This Issue:

• "Virtual Reading Room" on The Civil War in the Ozarks
• See Thomas Hart Benton in His Studio, July 25, K.C.
• Sac and Fox History on "History Detectives" July 27
• Steps Toward Better Museums

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