Reliable info on early learning?
July 8, 2009 7:48 AM Subscribe
I have always been fascinated by children's amazing ability to learn new things FAST and now that I have a child of my own doubly so. So I am looking for evidence-based information (preferably in books) about 'early learning'. Languages come to mind first but it could be anything fun and/or useful.
To be clear (and perhaps put your mind at ease): I am not interested in pushing my daughter to do anything she will not enjoy!
Definitely read Maria Montessori's The Absorbent Mind.
posted by trip and a half at 7:56 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by trip and a half at 7:56 AM on July 8, 2009
This book was very interesting - it goes into a fair amount of depth on brain development in the early years of life.
posted by true at 7:58 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by true at 7:58 AM on July 8, 2009
Years ago I heard an interview with the authors of The Scientist in the Crib that was really wonderful. I haven't read the book myself, but a friend of mine did and she loved it. I think it's what you're looking for: an exploration of how babies learn, not a "how to make a super-genius" book.
posted by carmen at 8:00 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by carmen at 8:00 AM on July 8, 2009
You probably want to learn about critical period, language acquisition device and nativist theory.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:35 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:35 AM on July 8, 2009
I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for, but my friend has been taking her son to baby sign language classes. I can't speak for its effectiveness but she was quite thrilled a few weeks back when her son started signing for "water" and "thank you". He just turned 1 year old.
posted by like_neon at 8:42 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by like_neon at 8:42 AM on July 8, 2009
Response by poster: This is all great info. The books, theories and the sign-language classes (hilarious and superinteresting at the same time), really useful...
Any personal experiences with trying / failing / succeeding to teach your baby / toddler something?
posted by dinkyday at 8:57 AM on July 8, 2009
Any personal experiences with trying / failing / succeeding to teach your baby / toddler something?
posted by dinkyday at 8:57 AM on July 8, 2009
My girlfriend, with a masters degree in English Language Learning, points out that there's a whole sub-field in her alma mater's education Ph.D program studying early-childhood language learning, so you might have good look searching in academic journals. They're often pay-for-access, but if you have a college/university nearby, you might use their online access to journals. A lot of the terms mentioned here already (critical period, etc) would be good search terms.
posted by Alterscape at 9:11 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by Alterscape at 9:11 AM on July 8, 2009
I'm sure this is all good information. This said, I know of at least three people (two of them children of friends, one a good friend's younger sister) who didn't even get around to talking until they were well into their fourth year (ie: three years old). All three are now mature and, if anything, of above average intelligence.
I know of a fourth child, twelve now, who didn't start reading until he was ten. His parents never forced the issue and he was in a non-coercive education environment. He can now read and comprehend pretty much anything you put in front of him.
Nature does have a way of taking its course.
posted by philip-random at 9:20 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I know of a fourth child, twelve now, who didn't start reading until he was ten. His parents never forced the issue and he was in a non-coercive education environment. He can now read and comprehend pretty much anything you put in front of him.
Nature does have a way of taking its course.
posted by philip-random at 9:20 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Since you are looking for evidence-based information, assuming that what you mean by evidence based is what researchers mean be evidence based, Scientist in the Crib is your best bet.
As for personal experience, well, what works with one child may or may not work with another. Every child is different. That said, personal experience as well as tons and tons empirical evidence points to talking. A lot. And not directives, but conversations with your child. About what's going on in the world, descriptions of things, interactions between objects, etc. One of the biggest reasons for differences in academic achievement across different social groups has to do with the amount of language that the child was exposed to before arriving in school.
posted by jujube at 10:55 AM on July 8, 2009
As for personal experience, well, what works with one child may or may not work with another. Every child is different. That said, personal experience as well as tons and tons empirical evidence points to talking. A lot. And not directives, but conversations with your child. About what's going on in the world, descriptions of things, interactions between objects, etc. One of the biggest reasons for differences in academic achievement across different social groups has to do with the amount of language that the child was exposed to before arriving in school.
posted by jujube at 10:55 AM on July 8, 2009
The National Research Council put out a book about 9 years ago called How People Learn. A little dry but it gives a pretty good overview of the psychology and pedagogical techniques.
posted by mr.ersatz at 11:01 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by mr.ersatz at 11:01 AM on July 8, 2009
You might be interested in the constructivist/constructionist theories of Jean Piaget and his protégé Seymour Papert.
posted by thejoshu at 12:13 PM on July 8, 2009
posted by thejoshu at 12:13 PM on July 8, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:51 AM on July 8, 2009