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Credit: Gareth Wild via storyful.com
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The clip
above is of a toddler methodically disposing of important family items by
shoving them through the pet door. While I am sure the family is happy to have
solved the mystery of the disappearing TV remotes, this toddler’s fascination
with the pet doors is its own mystery.
This lovely
young scientist is conducting a series of experiments that not only inform her
brain about three dimensional shapes fitting through holes, but also help to
develop her thinking skills for future learning.
This is what
play is all about. Play not only helps a child to understand the world, it also
develops executive function skills that are necessary for problem solving. In
this clip the toddler is practicing focused attention, she is remembering which sizes fit and which do not, called divided attention,
and she is working on something called cognitive flexibility.
The PBS
show NOVA: Bird Brains reported that scientists in one experiment found birds left to play with shapes
and containers developed flexible thinking that allowed them to solve complex
puzzles for peanuts. The birds that had not been allowed to play typically gave up on the
puzzles and abandon the peanut reward. Here is a clip from that show:
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PBS NOVA
Bird Brain
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The lesson
for us as parents is to remember that God designed the brains of children to
grow and learn while they are moving, playing and experiencing their world. We
want to be careful to not stop this process. Children need to be up and about,
inside or outside, playing, exploring, and practicing trial and error. If we stop them because
we want to “teach” them a skill, keep them quiet with a screen, keep the house
perfectly clean, or keep them a bit too safe, we will interrupt that process.
Children
need to play. It is the single best thing for brain development, language
development, and emotional development. It is also the best way to prepare your
child for school or any other kind of learning.
So put away
those screens. Send your children outside. Let
them entertain themselves. They are developing brain skills.
