A local pediatrician on the cognitive science of the "ah-ha" moment—and why protecting your child's scientific imagination is the truest metric of early learning.
How do we know when our kids are really learning?
Look for the surprise.
Learning is most evident when there is a gap between what a child expects and what they actually experience.
When a four-year-old predicts that a big magnet will be stronger than a small one, and they are wrong, that "Surprise!" is a vital assessment moment.
It intrigues them and sparks their scientific imagination.
This is how Albert Einstein claims he started his journey—with a simple compass his uncle gave him at age four.
As parents, our job is to provide just the right balance between risk and success so our kids feel competent.
When kids feel competent, they feel they can move forward and deal with the occasional setback.
This is far more effective than standardized tests, which often just categorize kids without helping them learn.
Look for ways to surprise your child's brain today.
Give them reasons to represent their world through drawing, construction, or writing.
Let’s focus on inspiration and trust rather than just drills and pencils.
Dr. Camilla Gupta is a board-certified pediatrician at ABC Pediatrics in Corpus Christi, TX.
Visit her main website to book a prenatal visit, transfer care or book an appointment.