MIND-BLOWING FACTS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY IN CHILDREN PART 5

 25. Game playing can develop a positive attitude towards mathematics for children

Mathematics can easily become a tedious and dry subject, full of repetitive problems, formulas, and exams. But when teachers add games to the curriculum, student’s attitudes about math change dramatically. According to Leicha Bragg’s research from Deakin University, she noted that game playing helped change children’s perspective on the subject of math.

More kids were able to articulate positive emotions surrounding math, as well as an increase in confidence about different concepts. There was more energy for math, more motivation, and ultimately more success. It seemed that playing math games helped to alleviate the tediousness of repetitive problem solving.

 

26. Children who participate in laughing activities experience increase in memory retention

Do you remember the last time you had a good belly laugh? If you are fortunate enough to have laughter as part of your everyday life, you can probably easily remember what triggered it. Laughter is evidence of an engaged body, mind, and heart, increasing the likelihood that you are able to recall what triggered the positive emotion.

Laughter not only increases a child’s capacity to remember the humor, but it also gives a feeling of security and contentment.

Pam Schiller and Clarissa A. Willis, both PhD authors, speakers, and curriculum specialists, put out an article that highlights this fact. They note that laughter not only increases a child’s capacity to remember the humor, but it also gives a feeling of security and contentment. It is important that teachers use funny songs, games, or silly phrases to start a lesson.

This positive beginning sets up the lesson for success.

 

27. Children who use electronic books show more cooperation and retain more information

As technology speeds ahead, the learning environment and classroom is rapidly changing. Books especially, are going through a digital overhaul, as more and more texts are available online and in ebook format.

In a Scroll Essay called The Effects of Electronic Books Designed for Children in Education, students who used e-books with sound effects, narration, music, and video were able to find and recite more information than the children who used a traditional printed text. The use of the e-book also enhanced group cooperation and gave the students more opportunity to interact.

In essence, the e-book was more conducive to group activity than individual private reading.

 

28. Boys engage more in exploratory play while girls engage more in dramatic play

Browse the aisle of a toy store, and most people can identify toys that are marketed towards girls versus boys. Although there is benefit to exposing both boys and girls to a wide variety of toys, research still notes that boys are drawn more to exploration, and girls are drawn more to dramatic play.

The Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences put out an article on gender differences that converged on the same bottom line. Boys tend to be more assertive in their interactions and games, whereas girls are more intuitive and relational as they play.

Though this is the norm, it is important to note that teachers shouldn’t automatically assume that each gender isn’t capable of playing in the other way. Instructors should acknowledge these differences, make room for each gender to play as they are naturally wired, while encouraging them to try out methods that they may not naturally be comfortable with.

 

29. Phonemic awareness and alphabet recognition increase children’s chances of reading achievement

As soon as a child is two years old, they can begin to recognize letters, numbers, and the association of sounds that go along with them. These pre-reading skills are an early indicator of a child’s ability to read and enjoy literature as a child, teen, and adult.

According to Scholastic Research and Results, there are a lot of pre-reading skills that are necessary for literacy, but two stand out as most important; phonemic awareness (understanding the sound a letter makes), as well as alphabet recognition. Even though reading is a visual skill, activating the ear to recognize the different sounds of each letter is the foundation on which reading is built.

When a child doesn’t make these connections, a lifetime of literary frustration is sure to result.

 

30. Getting in rhythms helps children grasp fractions

Fractions aren’t the easiest concept for a child to learn. However, it is a foundational mathematical principle that is necessary for future advanced mathematics. But there seems to be a connection between music and fractions that is proving to be beneficial.

In an article from the SF State News, educators have noticed that clapping, drumming out a beat, notations, and chanting help students understand the concept of fractions. In music theory, notes are identified by halves, eighths, sixteenths, etc. and students have a visual way to begin placing fractions in context.

The results show that students who use music and rhythm to teach fractions score notably higher on math exams that those that don’t. So get out your drums and your hands, and begin clapping your way to a better understanding of fractions.

 

31. Daydreaming boosts brains

Daydreaming is often seen as wasting time and sometimes a lack of the ability to focus. But recent research found the opposite is true.

Among its many benefits, daydreaming has been associated with longer attention span, increased resolve, creativity and even higher IQ.

Perhaps this explains why some of the brightest minds in the world are born daydreamers – Einstein being a prime example. In fact, Elizabeth Blackburn, Australia’s first female Nobel prize winner, said, “I think you need time to daydream, to let your imagination take you where it can … Just do that some of the time, because I’ve noticed [that] among the creative, successful scientists who’ve really advanced things, that was a part of their life.”