My 3-year-old daughter is currently sporting her own fashion statement - a red long-sleeve t-shirt, a pair of patched jeans, light pink running shoes, and a fuchsia sun-dress complete with crinolines to top the ensemble.
As it turns out, my morning commute gave me a good reason to give her autonomy and to expect her to take some responsibility. On my way home from taking my sons to school this morning, I caught a great story on NPR about the importance of implementing decision-making at preschool age. A long-term study following a group of people in New Zealand from birth to age 32 found a strong and significant relationship between self control at ages 3 and 4 and success as an adult. Children showing more self control at that young age were more likely to be healthy, fit, happy and financially successful. Those showing lack of impulse control at preschool age were more likely to be in debt or have bad credit in their 30s, to have run-ins with the law, and to have trouble holding down good jobs. Wow.
The timing of this article couldn't be more perfect for me. I have just embarked on teaching a series of yoga classes at Yoga Loka focusing on the chakras. The inspiration for this series is the book 'Eastern Body, Western Mind' by Anodea Judith. It discusses not only the energies and functions of each chakra, but also describes the stages of life in which they undergo their primary development. We have worked with Muladhara chakra - our root of support and securty, and with Svadisthana chakra, our ability to be motivated by and enjoy pleasure. Coming up this weekend (February 19) we will be moving on to Manipura chakra: our center of will, self-discipline, and self-confidence.
According to Anodea Judith's work, development of chakra 3 begins around 18-24 months of age, and continues until around age 4. This is a time when the child is beginning to assert his or her personal will (anyone who as been parent to a 2-3 year old knows this first hand!) This is also when we start to learn that delaying gratification can reap larger rewards than acting on impulse. See the connection? The Duke university study headed by professor Terrie Moffitt found that while it was possible to teach self control later, the most effective and easiest time to build this ability was around age 3 or 4... precisely the time when Manipura chakra is undergoing active development.
Each chakra is associated with a birthright, and the birthright of Chakra 3 is 'the right to act'. By giving our children the opportunity to take on appropriate responsibility and make decisions at a young age we encourage healthy development of chakra 3. Now there is published evidence that developing a healthy 3rd chakra at preschool age gives us the ability to act appropriately and successfully later in life. Yet another reason to get my kids to clean up their own rooms!
For more information and experience of the chakra system, attend my Chakra Yoga vinyasa classes at Yoga Loka Reno Saturday AM 10:30-12. To go deeper into the chakras and their development and function, join me April 2 and 3 for a Chakra Yoga intensive (see Yoga Loka workshops and scroll down to April for details).
