In the past 10 years, the topic of early child development has become one of the most discussed among parents, teachers in psychologists. Someone thinks that the earlier a child begins to learn to read, write and count, the more successful he will be in the future. And someone is sure that earlier development is speculation on the love of children and the gadfly once again get into the wallet of the parents. But where is the truth?
Loving and caring parents want their children to be happy, healthy, and successful. And for this they are ready to make every effort. Someone takes their children "from the cradle" to classes on the development of intelligence, speed reading, mental arithmetic, someone from the very birth teaches the baby to swim and perform gymnastic tricks. There is another category of parents, educators and psychologists who believe that the best way to develop a child is to give him plenty of play before entering school. Which one is right? And what are the pros and cons of early development?
Cons of early childhood development
- Less time for spontaneous games. It is spontaneous play that is often called a mirror reflecting the child's inner perception of the world. In the game, he learns to interact with other people, regulate his behavior, and imagine. The child sees this world from his own point of view, but taking on a new role in the game, he begins to look at the world in a different way. And this is an important stage in its development. It is not worth neglecting the fact that a cognitive motive arises in the child's play, on the basis of which educational activity is built.
- The negative impact of early intellectual development on the emotional sphere of the child. Children whose parents, from an early age, focus on learning about the world with the help of the intellect, often have problems in the emotional sphere (mood disorders, behavioral disorders) and sensory development.
- Decreased brain plasticity. The neurophysiologist was able to prove that with age, the human brain changes its neural networks, that is, in the process of growth, a child solves the same problem using different zones. A child who has received a difficult task that is not relevant for his development solves it with the help of those parts of the brain that he has already matured, that is, not in the most effective way. And at an older age, he would have solved it in a different, more effective way. And it will be more difficult for him to retrain.
- Excessive loads. Children, from an early age overloaded with various developmental activities, often have symptoms such as poor sleep, enuresis and many other somatic diseases. It is important for parents and teachers to see the result of the lesson, which is often imaginary. For example, a child a year with the help of cards and rote memorization can know 100 animals and 100 plants, the names of all the great rulers and the multiplication table. But why does he need this knowledge if he still does not know how to systematize and apply it? And if these activities lead to nervous overstrain - then why are they needed?
Pros of early development
- John Protsko, a psychologist at the University of California, found through research that children under 3 who attend early childhood development classes perform better in intelligence.
- Children who can read, write and count well and have some knowledge of the world around them, of course, are often more successful at school than their untrained peers. They easily master the elementary school curriculum, delight teachers with their correct answers, and parents with good grades. And success in school often affects a child's self-esteem.
What to do? Often the problem of many parents is not knowing the measure, as a result of which they simply go to extremes. Either the child is simply left to himself, or attends 5 circles and classes a day.
It is important to take into account the interests of the child, listen to his desires and take into account his individual characteristics of development. Early development should include not only the intellectual component, but also the emotional sphere, the physical condition of the child.
