Why Do Kids Stick Their Tongues Out?
Ever wonder why kids stick their tongues out when they play? Or why your toddler wants you to read the same story over and over and over and over? (I can recite “Where the Wild Things Are” verbatim!) There are actual scientific answers to these questions.
Playskool “More Than Play” campaign answers these questions, and more, via these fun videos.
Additionally, the Playskool Play Panel answered a series of questions from Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations, several of which I thought some of you might find interesting, such as:
Q. If the brain can have only one thought at a time then how does a child do more than one thing at a time?
Whether adult or child, no one can do more than one thinking task at once. When we first learn to do something new, we concentrate on that task and shut out everything else that is going on around us. We have to focus. Then, as we do the task over and over, refining the skill, we can eventually do it without thinking about it. We call this automaticity. That’s one reason why kids say “again” and “more”. They love the experience, but they are also practicing the skill to the point where it becomes automatic and they no longer have to think about it! So…when something becomes automatic, your child can do more than one thing at a time!
Q. How do I encourage my child to problem solve through repetition rather than getting frustrated and giving up?
Everybody needs to feel the joy of success. Sometimes, the tasks we set for our children are too difficult, and involve doing more than one thinking task at once and can make children feel like the challenge is too frustrating. So, doing it over and over, when there is no “payback” doesn’t seem like a great outcome. Breaking each part of the problem down into achievable parts and doing each part over and over can encourage your child to feel a sense of accomplishment. Often this feeling leads to naturally wanting to try challenging herself to do more once she has mastered part of the problem.
Q. What is my baby learning when playing the baby drops it and mommy picks it up game?
Baby is learning so many different things. She is learning her hands can be used as a manipulative tool helping her get what she wants. She is developing strength in her finger muscles that will help her push, pull, grasp and hold, release and eventually control a writing tool. She is developing important foundational movements that help with all the movements our fingers do for us! She is also developing a tripod (three finger grip) and pincer grip (thumb and first finger). Both important grips that later allow us to hold and use writing and other creative tools as well as manipulate fasteners and tie shoes. She is learning how to pick up, hold and let go at the appropriate time and if mommy is happy to pick it up each time, well she is learning a new game too!!! As well, she is learning about cause and effect, experiencing and observing gravity and how it works! While interacting and playing with her parent, she is bonding and learning her mommy and daddy are there to help her as she plays. It’s all part of how families cement and work together!
Q. Are the left and right sides of the brain different?
Yes. The left hemisphere is responsible for organization. It is the details side of your brain and talks to you on a constant basis…”remember to pick up the cleaning on the way home”; “if I do the ironing before the meeting I may be late”. It categorizes detail and associates information with prior knowledge. It’s also the side of your brain that helps you understand what symbolic representation is (i.e., that the symbol “5” represents five fingers, etc). The right side is more concerned with creativity, emotion, and learning through doing (play and experience) rather than symbols. It thinks in the present moment and helps us feel the environment we are in through processing sensory information. Information travels between the two hemispheres via the corpus callosum and when this happens and we are using both sides (as we need to) we call this whole brain thinking.
Q. Does messy play develop fine motor skills?
It is one of the developmental foundational activities that help prepare the fingers for manipulative skill development. When kids engage in messy play it helps develop touch discrimination and an awareness of the joints and muscles in our hands and fingers, which assists with fine motor manipulation. Sensory experiences are necessary for the brain to learn and can help grow strong muscles in the fingers. It is also a trigger that can ignite creativity, is foundational for sophisticated problem solving later on, and helps develop skills that later will be used in the beginnings of learning how to write, and above all is lots of fun. Kids need messy play every day.
Q. Are there certain textures I should be exposing my child to at an early age?
As many different sensory experiences your child can have in the preschool years will help the development of fine motor skills. Some children prefer some textures and not others, however, different consistencies provide different learning experiences, so vary it all if you can. Feeling the fall leaves crumble in your hands, baking at home (with hands and fingers immersed), drawing with fingers and not the paint brush, playing in water, rubbing ice blocks on feet and hands, pulling wool or string between your little ones toes, making mud pies…anything you can think of that is gentle and enjoyable is great. And…its best to do it every day!!! As well as feeling all these wonderful sensory happenings remember to talk about them as well.(e.g., ” Wow those cookies smell great”; “How do they taste to you?”; “What sound do they make when you crumble them?” New language can be discovered at the same time!
Playskool’s More than Play campaign site offers information on what skills different Playskool toys can help your child learn. And if you want to learn more about how to facilitate your child’s learning, and how to be your child’s “First, best teacher,” then check out Parents as Teachers.
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