Preschool educators have known for a long time that young children 0-5 need to have concrete learning experiences, so it comes as no surprise when researchers say that infants and toddlers derive little benefit from watching videos such as “Baby Einstein”.
Children need to have hands on experiences in their early learning years. They use all their senses to learn when they investigate an object or toy, and during that investigation they actually learn about attributes like shape, texture, density, smell and function while they’re “playing”.
Children are involved in millions of such interactions with their environment when they play, all of which create the millions of connections in their brains that inform them about the properties of the world in which they live. This sort of learning simply does not occur when a child is “involved”in the sedentary act of watching a video. The problem is that they are, in fact , not involved.
I have spent the last thirty plus years at Children’s Country House building an environment rich in sensory stimulation. There is a yard with sand, dirt and grass, and animals with fur and feathers. We provide trays filled with water, rice or even flour. Our classrooms are filled with a myriad of games, puzzles and blocks to manipulate. Everyday we provide a different assortment of experiences that will give the children the sound experiential basis for developing their intelligence.
I can say without hesitation that our Children’s Country House environment has helped develop children’s minds and bodies.Recently it has been such a pleasure to have parents who began their educational experience at Children’s Country House at ages 2 through 5 bring their own children to our school so they can have the same solid beginning as learners that thier parents had.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I amnot sure about baby einstein however studies have shown that the most important period of a child’s life is their first five years. Children are capable of learning from a very early age, so it is ideal to expose them to a nurturing and educational environment during those years. By providing an environment that is fun-filled, safe and stimulating, you can ensure that your child gets off to a great start.
While adults typically think of play-time as a form of entertainment, it can actually teach your child a great deal about themselves and the world around them. Believe it or not, playing peek-a-boo is actually beneficial for your child. The earlier a child develops these skills, the more significant the long term impact will be.
Self-esteem, confidence, coordination, problem-solving skills, and social skills, are but a few examples of the benefits that can be gained through play. Self esteem can be enhanced by responding affectionately to your child’s actions
Lets ensure that all the child gets this early child education which will enhance in brain development
Revathi Sankaran´s last blog ..Activate Your Right and Left Brain |Balancing Techniques|Brain Facts
I think toys like the Wii are an example of kids not actually getting the real hands on interaction they need. It seems too convient to “pretend” play sports and “pretend” to work out.