What is it that disarms most self composed adults when confronted with the wide eyed stares of young children. Apart from the oxytocin that will kick into our inner most desire to nurture, there is something about holding eye contact in a non threatening manner that becomes instantly calming to the human spirit. Interestingly when we try eye gazing (with positive intent) with other other adults it is usually uncomfortable at first........yet if you make it a practice with a willing partner it becomes extremely meditative and relaxing, as studies have shown our brainwaves literally become entrained......a story for another time. Meanwhile, with young children we are charmed by their openness, their vulnerability and their absence of judgement or labelling. They are happy to connect just for the sake of it, because intuitively they know it is a healthy human response. As adults in the developed world connections don't come so free and easily, a large part of our emotional brain longs for this return to innocence, the simplicity of feeling connected to our fellow humans without fear that we should be a certain way to be accepted.
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