This month’s column was inspired by Emilie Head (pictured) aged two years old. She discovered a fallen branch on the ground of our local park and felt so sad that it was broken, she just had to get down and give it a hug.

After talking to mum – a reception teacher – we agreed that pre-school children do not need ‘stuff’ as much as they need ‘life’. For little Emilie, this was simply the space and time to simply ‘be’ in the park and to explore the fallen leaves on the ground – so brown and crunchy, and smelling of dirt... brilliant!

A branch can become a climbing frame or a pony
Once recovered from its traumatic experience, the branch swiftly became a climbing frame, a balance beam and a pony! Emilie then tried to lift it and discovered it was heavy, so she had to work really hard to try and move it at all. She discovered that the branches were covered in mosses, broken bark – which was rough to the touch – and yet more of those crunchy, autumn leaves. This was the first autumn Emilie was old enough to explore and discover.

Learning new words and experiencing new feelings
During this interaction I observed her learning new words, experiencing new feelings and knowing that mum was close by to keep her safe. She could explore freely, losing herself in her own thoughts and really ‘diving in’ to the fullness of her senses – sights and sounds, touch and smell, all rounded off with an ice-cream for taste.

Mum is a reception teacher and only has Wednesdays off, so I felt quite privileged to share a few moments of their precious time together. So many parents have to make tough choices about childcare, but as I witnessed, rather than feeling full of guilt at making difficult decisions, it’s important to make every moment count. Mum will forever have those gorgeous memories of her daughter’s first experience of the beauty of autumn, and she was also blessed to witness the first stirrings of her daughter’s innate compassion for others – what a gift!

Check in with your children
This season, whatever your children’s ages, why not take a few moments to really check in with ‘what is happening right now’? For me it is watching my 16 year-old daughter working really hard towards her exams, being self- motivated and committed to her own progress – what a joy! For others I know it is seeing their children bloom as they begin school, or leave for university and take those first steps towards independence.

Thus, my call to arms this season as we creep towards winter is waste not a moment, for they are all full of magic. As parents we are gifted the precious opportunity to learn from our own children, to be reminded of our own innocence and recapture our innate enthusiasm for life. Together, in the quiet moments of adulthood, we can remember, reflect and be heart-warmed by the blessings we received as parents, no matter the bumps in the road.

Today, my teacher is little Emilie Head, aged two, who reminded us all what it is to be human and full of potential, full of love and full of promise.