This week two of my children have been given hearing aids by the marvellous NHS. It’s been striking that adults have tended to greet this news with a sympathetic sigh, whilst children have tended to exclaim ‘awesome’ and get down to the business of seeing what they can do. And the wearers of the aids? These boys, aged 4 and 10, think they are simply fantastic!
This has reminded me that children don’t always perceive things in the way us grown-ups do.
So let’s move away from hearing to another sense – sight. Back in 2012 I crouched down next to our beloved hearingly-challenged toddler in order to make myself heard above traffic noise whilst waiting for the Green Man, and was unexpectedly bowled over by the view…
…wow, the world is BIG!
Kind of exciting, kind of scary, kind of …. different from my usual adult perspective!
This revelation inspired the launch of Waist-High World – a collaborative photography project between me and my offspring. Basically, they take photos, and I marvel at how familiar situations look completely different when seen through their eyes!
Like all the best things in life, Waist-High World is first and foremost a fun project, but it also gives the kids a sense of freedom, importance, pride and creativity. And it’s given me a whole new understanding of the How and Why behind the workings of their amazing minds!
Last spring we had the opportunity to go on one of the trendy new London buses. I suggested the children take photographs to record the moment, but it turns out they were looking at smaller details than I had expected – stairs, floor, seats!
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Suburban street scene September 2012
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- Batemans Garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Batemans garden, September 2012
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- Rocamadour, France, August 2013
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- Found a frog, summer 2013
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- Lake edge, summer 2013
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- Train, August 2013
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- Hampton Court, August 2013
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- Hampton Court, August 2013
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- Hampton Court, a 5 year old’s view, August 2013
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- Hampton Court, August 2013
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- New London bus floor, 2014
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- New London bus seats, 2014
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- New London bus stairs, 2014
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- New London bus, 2014
