Do we have to go to the School? That is an interesting question from Steve,
who asks me if he really has to go to school? So, What do you think? Does he? What? Well, younglings, I cannot answer that question
without telling you how school and training work in nature. In the world of nature, skill means survival. Yes, you heard right. My dear nature can sometimes be quite cruel,
so it is very important to prepare for life without parents who watch over us. And we cannot learn a skill without lear
ning. That’s it! Learning! Today we will explore how younglings spend
their days learning and playing, all in preparation for life. And the younglings - that's you! Children! Please don’t mind me calling you that. Our story begins with one of my neighbors:
a mother tit. Bird Mary... and her chicks. Although no bird is born able to fly, the
flight instinct is strong from birth. Do you know what instinct is? Oh, an unknown word! Here's an example. Even when they are young, chicks begin to
flap the
ir wings. And nobody told them what to do, they were
simply born for it. Just like you, dear children, nobody told
you that you must walk and run, but you want to, it's the instinct to move. Because of that instinct - when their feathers
for flight develop, chicks are ready to leave the nest, with a lot of encouragement from
their mother Mary, the tit. The first time birds leave the nest, their
attempts at flying are clumsy and usually not very good. Mother Mary can gently push those young ones
who are reluctant to leave the nest. Under her or father's eye, the clumsy attempts
at flying become more precise. Birds learn the skill of flying in stages,
from the first falls from the nest to realizing that landing won't be so hard if they spread
their wings to slow the fall, until they learn to flap their wings to move further and enable
flight. And when they master flying, they learn to
take off and land. When birds grow up, they become true masters
of flight, capable of taking off, landin
g, hovering, and making sharp turns. The days of falling and flapping their wings
are long forgotten. Especially that moment when they first stood
on the edge of the nest. See, it's similar to your school, isn't it? And listen to what I heard from grandmother
Tuska, an old and proud lioness: Just like you, lions learn a lot while they are young,
and play is their most important, school lesson. Young lions, or cubs, start walking at two
weeks of age, and can run when they are a month old. "Althou
gh it may seem like they are just having
fun, every move they make has a purpose. And what do you think how? Well, they play by following each other, for
example, playing 'hide and seek'. What does that remind you of what adult lions
do? Yes, when they go hunting, they must learn
to hide and stalk. Cubs play and wrestle, all to develop the
basic skills needed for later life when they will have to hunt on their own, or fight with
other lions, or other animals. "When they are only 6 weeks old, cub
s already
begin to learn about real hunting. They carefully watch their mothers and other
lionesses in the pride. And why mothers, what do you think? Yes, who said that??? That's right, well done - in the lion world,
mothers are the main hunters! Fathers help, too. So, while the cubs watch the older members
of the pride until they reach 16 months of age, play helps them learn everything they
need to one day become real hunters. Wait wait, now I realized something - they
start walking at 2 weeks,
run at 4, go to hunting school at 6… those weeks are like
your, human years! There, that's their school, play! But that play is not just fun; it's serious
training. While the cubs play, they practice hiding,
stalking, speed, and strength - all the skills they will need in the wild. And all this time, they remain under the watchful
eye of their mothers, who protect and teach them. It's like your parents and teachers watch
over you. Cubs will stay with their mothers for about
two years, then they
will join the pride's hunt. Through play, mistakes, and learning, they
will become powerful hunters, ready to take their place in the wild. So you see, your school is not much different
from nature… I would say you benefit a lot from your school
and kindergarten, including various trainings, clubs, creative workshops, and language learning. Because, they prepare you for life, like young
lions and birds. And I like that it's a big game for you, because
you are still children. The only difference
is, no other animal will
eat you if you make a mistake, the worst thing that can happen is that you get a lower grade,
but then you have a chance to improve… Hmm, you humans have set it up well… Maybe I could learn something from you. Thank you for listening, I hope now you know
the answer to Steve's question. And feel free to write to me if you are interested
in something, if I know - I will answer. If I don't know, we will explore together. Yours truly, Troll Mitros.
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