Dr LeCrone
05-21-2006, 09:52 PM
Research has proven that children can learn at a much earlier age than was previously thought possible. Media coverage in magazines and television shows have encouraged parents to begin teaching their very young children academic, athletic and even technical skills.
In some instances, parents have demonstrated that their children read at a very early age, solve math problems and use computers, as well as swim and perform other athletic skills.
While no child should be discouraged from learning at any age, some parents have become obsessed with this early learning hoping to label children as gifted or genius. Families have actually competed with other families to see which could produce the “smartest” child and illicit comments of amazement from educators and friends.
Some of these children who have been pushed into activities too soon have developed signs and symptoms of too much stress. Some have begun to have nightmares, physical symptoms like stomachaches and some have shown evidence of emotional problems, such as withdrawal and depression.
Most infants and young children will let us know when they have had enough to eat, by turning their head away from the spoon, closing their lips tightly, or as one of my young sons did, slapping the food out of his mother’s hand, much to her surprise and displeasure.
In this same manner, it is possible to determine when a young child is interested in pursuing a certain learning activity by the interest he displays. Forcing them to look at a book, or trying to make them learn to count before they are ready, may leave the children frustrated and uninterested in pursuing the same task at a later date.
By the same token, simply parking a child in front of the television and creating an electronic babysitter is a waste of the child’s potential for growth and development. More importantly, it deprives the child of the opportunity for human contact and interaction.
Parental involvement with a young child in any activity has a two-fold purpose. It helps the child develop a desire to learn and it helps the parent observe the readiness for learning.
In day-to-day living, these simple activities can be learning experiences:
Baking cookies with the assistance of a child can teach finger dexterity measurement, procedure and cooperation.
Shining a pair of shoes with a lively discussion of the process and the purpose of the task stimulates the child’s imagination.
Telling the child stories. Many adults have fond and very positive memories of sitting around a campfire with their parents or grandparents and listening to stories. They may remember when dad built a sandcastle while telling the story of King Arthur and his Knights. When the child was asked to round up the sand for Arthur’s table, the story came alive and became unforgettable.
Teaching an appreciation of history and nature. Accounts of the early settlers of Waco and the Indian village near the Brazos River are fascinating to young children and are here waiting to be explored.
Time spent together with the show of affection and love during these imaginary adventures can create lasting positive learning experiences.
The important ingredients for learning and for creating a healthy psychological environment are within the reach of any parent.
They are:
Creating security within the child;
Giving the child a definite knowledge of being loved;
Spending enough time with the child in each developmental stage;
When early childhood learning is properly paced, it can strengthen the bond between parent and child. It teachers the child that learning for the joy of learning is still the best motivator.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984
In some instances, parents have demonstrated that their children read at a very early age, solve math problems and use computers, as well as swim and perform other athletic skills.
While no child should be discouraged from learning at any age, some parents have become obsessed with this early learning hoping to label children as gifted or genius. Families have actually competed with other families to see which could produce the “smartest” child and illicit comments of amazement from educators and friends.
Some of these children who have been pushed into activities too soon have developed signs and symptoms of too much stress. Some have begun to have nightmares, physical symptoms like stomachaches and some have shown evidence of emotional problems, such as withdrawal and depression.
Most infants and young children will let us know when they have had enough to eat, by turning their head away from the spoon, closing their lips tightly, or as one of my young sons did, slapping the food out of his mother’s hand, much to her surprise and displeasure.
In this same manner, it is possible to determine when a young child is interested in pursuing a certain learning activity by the interest he displays. Forcing them to look at a book, or trying to make them learn to count before they are ready, may leave the children frustrated and uninterested in pursuing the same task at a later date.
By the same token, simply parking a child in front of the television and creating an electronic babysitter is a waste of the child’s potential for growth and development. More importantly, it deprives the child of the opportunity for human contact and interaction.
Parental involvement with a young child in any activity has a two-fold purpose. It helps the child develop a desire to learn and it helps the parent observe the readiness for learning.
In day-to-day living, these simple activities can be learning experiences:
Baking cookies with the assistance of a child can teach finger dexterity measurement, procedure and cooperation.
Shining a pair of shoes with a lively discussion of the process and the purpose of the task stimulates the child’s imagination.
Telling the child stories. Many adults have fond and very positive memories of sitting around a campfire with their parents or grandparents and listening to stories. They may remember when dad built a sandcastle while telling the story of King Arthur and his Knights. When the child was asked to round up the sand for Arthur’s table, the story came alive and became unforgettable.
Teaching an appreciation of history and nature. Accounts of the early settlers of Waco and the Indian village near the Brazos River are fascinating to young children and are here waiting to be explored.
Time spent together with the show of affection and love during these imaginary adventures can create lasting positive learning experiences.
The important ingredients for learning and for creating a healthy psychological environment are within the reach of any parent.
They are:
Creating security within the child;
Giving the child a definite knowledge of being loved;
Spending enough time with the child in each developmental stage;
When early childhood learning is properly paced, it can strengthen the bond between parent and child. It teachers the child that learning for the joy of learning is still the best motivator.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984