In celebrating Earth Day this past weekend, we were urged to do more for our environment so that we can all enjoy healthier, safer lives. A great dictum--I think we can all agree. But when it comes to our children, I'm of the mindset we should be doing less, not more, to enhance their quality of life.
For the past decade, it's been thrust upon those of us already stressed out with the challenge of raising a 21st century kid that we should be doing MORE, not less, for our children. More scheduled activities, more organized playdates. More waiting lists for preschools. More mind-boggling stimuli for newborns. Chief among these, of course, is the "Brainy Baby" explosion--the idea that if we want to truly optimize our child's capacity for learning (and of course, as good parents, don't we?) we're going to throw those Mozart-blasting headphones on our bellies, we're going to pop in a "Baby Einstein" video while the kid's still in the hospital, waiting for discharge. For isn't it true, we've been told, that there's only a very small window of time and if we don't "buy in" our child will be forced out?
Lo and behold! Blessings to Sara Mead, who takes this idea of the "0 - 3" window of opportunity to task in a recent report cited in the Education Sector:
"While neural connections in babies' brains grow rapidly in the early years, adults can't make newborns smarter or more successful by having them listen to Beethoven or play with Einstein-inspired blocks. Nor is there any neuroscience evidence that suggests that the earliest years are a singular window for growth that slams shut once children turn three. To the contrary, the social programs with the strongest evidence of positive long-term impacts, including high-quality preschool programs, take place outside the zero-to-three window."
Yep, that's right, folks! "Adults can't make newborns smarter or more successful" by blaring Beethoven's Fifth. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to hear this! As someone who so often feels called to defend Lucy's simplistic life (she loves playing with rocks in the dirt and will sometimes "collect" them in an old yogurt container we call the "Rock Hunting Pail"), it was admittedly a relief to hear that someone else--an expert, no less!--thinks the same. After all, the best I can hope is that in addition to fostering a lifetime habit of curiosity and intellect, my daughter's self-esteem is so strong she won't rely on validation from outside sources.
Like her mother!
For the full article, click here: Brainy Baby Bust
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