The peak of brain development is between the ages of 3 and 7, when children are responsible for creating and understanding language, and the parts of the brain that connect words are more active. Parents often feel that after their children enter this stage, they will be able to understand the words, be able to communicate with us, and even argue with us, becoming a "little talker". At the same time, children are also very fond of asking "why", which brings a lot of questions to parents. Although these problems can be annoying at times, it is a necessary stage for a child's development and an opportunity for them to take a qualitative leap.
At this stage, children need to complete two important developmental tasks. First of all, at the age of 2 to 2 years and 6 months, they need to use words to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Secondly, at the age of 3-4 years, they need to begin to form associative skills, the ability to initially begin to think logically. According to psychologist Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children between the ages of 2 and 7 enter the pre-arithmetic stage, and their self-awareness develops rapidly, believing that everything has a spirit. Therefore, the reason why children become fond of talking and asking why is that their cognitive and verbal skills are developing at a high rate.
Children love to talk and ask questions, so we should communicate with them more. However, when we talk to children and answer questions, how to stimulate their thinking, judgment and imagination becomes the key. Dr. Greenspan, an expert in infants and toddlers, advises us to be our children's playmates, debaters, opinion seekers, and collaborators, and to consciously communicate logically with our children. We don't need to be a child's encyclopedia, the answer to each question is not important, it is more important for the child to get the answer through the thought process.
1.Use questions to force children to think actively: children are naturally curious, and we usually give direct answers to unknown things. However, if we change our approach to affirming our children's ability to ask questions and then encouraging them to think about the answers to them, we can stimulate our children's ability to think. When a child asks why the ground is wet, we can ask, "Why do you think it is?" And guide the children to observe the clues around them, and guide them to find the cause of the problem and the solution.
2.Play a supporting role in your child's imaginary games: Three or four-year-olds are imaginative and often create a variety of imaginary games. As parents, we can actively play a supporting role in our children's games, allowing them to play the roles of director, screenwriter, costume and star. Such games can develop children's social skills, language skills, and problem-solving skills.
3.Let your child's opinion be valuable: After the age of 2, your child begins to fight for the right to make decisions. We can take the initiative to ask for our children's opinions and really value their ideas. Even if the results are not satisfactory, we should respect the child's decision. This will give children a sense of being capable and thoughtful, which will stimulate their self-confidence and judgment.
In addition to the above skills, we can also provide a suitable learning environment for children to fully develop their thinking skills, judgment and imagination. Here are a few suggestions:
1.Rich and diverse learning resources: Provide children with books, toys, materials and other rich and diverse learning resources, so that they have more opportunities to touch, explore and think. These resources can stimulate children's interest and develop their observation and awareness of problems.
2.Create a relaxed learning atmosphere: Create a relaxed learning atmosphere for your children and encourage them to ask questions and express their opinions. Instead of giving answers in advance, give children the opportunity to think, analyze, and solve problems, helping them develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
3.Encourage your child to try new things: Encourage your child to try new things and challenge their thinking and judgment skills. For example, ask your child to try to solve a puzzle, participate in a team game, or do some simulation of a scenario that requires judgment and decision-making. This can exercise children's decision-making and judgment skills, and develop their self-confidence and independent thinking skills.
Finally, as parents, we should always pay attention to the growth and development of our children, and give them enough encouragement and support. Every child grows at different rates and in different ways, and patience and understanding are paramount. Believing in their potential helps them discover and develop their thinking and judgment skills, allowing them to become independent and creative people.