This is Kristin, the author of our second entry on chapter 5. She continues our discussion on some of the misunderstandings about the young child's learning that are introduced by Elkind. She looks pretty determined in this picture, don't you think? You'll see in her entry that she's also pretty determined about what's best for children. Enjoy! I find it devastating that adults are feeding children ineffective and even harmful practices for learning. It appears that many adults are simply uninformed with regards to the development of their child’s brain. Parents can become so wrapped up and obsessed with teaching their children everything as quickly as possible that they do not realize the negative impact on the child. They feel as though they need to teach their 3-year-olds mathematical equations, or their 2-year-olds how to read, or else their child will not be smart enough. Infant and young children’s brains are not mature enough to handle this pressure and intellectual stimulation, and I believe that forcing all of this information upon them is only taking away what should be their right to learn through play-oriented activities.
Out of the three main misunderstandings about how young children learn outlined in the chapter, the misunderstanding that I found the most disturbing, was the “Little Sponge” theory. I understand that brain growth is occurring at an outstanding rate during the first few years of life, but why are we trying to cram such a vast amount of information into it that young children are simply incapable of holding? By shoving computer games, television screens, and other electronic games that are misrepresented as educational in infants’ faces, we are only reducing their opportunities to engage in play, which is the most effective way for their intellectual development to skyrocket. Elkind explained it perfectly when he stated, “Infants and young children are not little sponges who readily absorb all information thrown at them. They take more time to process information than adults do, and at a lower level of abstraction and complexity” (p. 98). I could not agree more! As adults, it is difficult for us to truly comprehend how exactly a child is seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, and touching the world. It is important for adults to understand that children’s brains are obviously not as developed as ours are, therefore they are unable to view things from our perspectives. Young children notice more in the environment than we give them credit for.
Elkind explained that the four major types of play, which are mastery play, innovative play, kinship play, and therapeutic play, are essential for young children to achieve new learning experiences. Observing kinship play has always sparked my interest. “[Kinship play] is between two children who are complete strangers, yet behaving as if they were longtime friends” (p. 112). Almost anyone who has been around children has viewed this type of play, and I was surprised to learn that there is an actual term for it. Occasionally, I visit Woodward Park in Fresno for picnics, biking down the trails, and okay, I admit it…feeding crumbled bread to the ducks that wander all around the place. There are children to be seen everywhere around the park, which is where I can remember identifying kinship play. At various large picnics, I have watched children from all walks of life play ball or tag together – children I do not believe knew each other prior to arriving to the park that day. I find it fascinating that children are so open and drawn to playing with someone who is essentially an absolute foreigner to them. However, within minutes it is possible for them to become best friends.
Really?! You FEED the ducks at Woodward Park?! I'm shocked! ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I also enjoyed learning about kinship play, as this is not a concept that I was familiar with prior to Elkind's discussion of it. It's so true, though...children are drawn to each other like magnets. Even slow-to-warm-up children like my youngest niece, Lacey. At around 18-months to about 3-year-old, she would intently observe unfamiliar children playing near her, and it was clear that she longed to join them. Her parents would coax her, and provide the opportunities, but not force her, and as she's matured into the active 4 1/2-year-old she is now, she has become a child who constantly reaches out to interact with new children. If only adults could do that so easily! She's definitely gaining important skills through those interactions.
Kristin, I agree how some parents rush their kids to learn things that are not always age appropriate for their development. I also like that you mentioned how some parents have a difficult time understanding that their child is a separate individual from themselves. Every now and then, it is hard for adults to recognize that children do not see things from the same perspective as they do. At the school site where I am now we are always reminded that the toddlers see a world that sometimes we do not pay much attention to. This takes me back to what Elkind said about young children seeing a world separate from what we see. I sometimes catch myself doing this when a toddler is trying to explain something to me but I have no clue what they are looking at. At times, I have to stop and tell myself that what they see can be a learning experience to them whether I see the same thing or not.
ReplyDelete~Christina A.~
Kristen,
ReplyDeleteI agree, when you said some parents become obsessed with trying to teach their children more than they can handle. I have been around kids that have been pressured beyond their cognitive development and, in my opinion, suffered from low self-esteem and guilt. I feel sometimes children are losing their childhood. They are dealing with more pressure than I, myself, can recall as a child. I do agree that play is the best form of education for children. Play is important, but it has to be the four major types you explained. The play that is most effective in a child's development will not come from a computer or a television screen.
-Jessica Taylor
It’s interesting that the majority of parents, including myself, are in a rush to inform or teach their children, and in the process forget that children can learn just as much from play. We can be so caught up on making sure they’re up to date on the newest and brightest in regards to computer applications and electronic learning games, instead of taking the time to play with and teach our children ourselves we’re letting technology take care of it for us. I’m guilty of doing this too, my children starting playing computer games as soon as they could “touch” the mouse and I spent tons of money on the newest Reader Rabbit and Jumpstart games. Eventually, I noticed they were bored with the games and had more fun going to the park, playing in the yard and going to the library. It was the same stuff I did and enjoyed as a kid.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter really confuses me. For those of us who are parents, we are encouraged to read to our children while being pregnant. This is supposed to help them recognize their mother's voice. Some mothers listen to Mozart while they are pregnant to enhance their baby’s development. So why can’t we introduce them to "age appropriate" learning toys? Are television shows like Dora the Explorer or Blues Clues really pushing children to learn too much? I really think children are smarter than we think. Elkind makes some good points regarding children and play. At the same time, I disagree with some of his ideas. For instance, The "Watch Me” theory (p.91) says that children can’t learn by watching or imitating. I think they can. My 18 month old son uses my electronic dictionary to pretend that he is texting. Although he doesn't know he's texting, he holds it and moves his thumbs back and forth across the keys. It is hilarious! He's watched his 14 year old sister and me do this countless times. He does the same with the Wii remotes. He knows that if he pushes enough buttons, there is supposed to be a reaction. Either children can learn by watching, or he’s a genius. I'd personally like to think he's a genius. Leslie Kelly
ReplyDeleteKristen, you made some really good points in your entry. It seems like parents today are more interested in getting their children up to date on technology rather then let their children’s imagination grow. I’m sure everyone wants their children to know how to become skilled with the use of technology, especially in a world where technology is so valued, but children will have time for it later on. During the first couple of years is when children learned the most and I think sometimes parents misinterpret it by cramming everything into a child’s brain without thinking how the child might feel. Although computer games and other electronic games may help a child learn, that child won’t get as much out of it as if an adult is interacting with the child. Play is what a child really needs to help him make sense of the world. Children can learn so much more if a parent is actually engaging with the child then watching and listening to a computer screen.
ReplyDeleteMaihoua Lee