| Teaching Children | | | | |
| | | | Concreteness: How do you make an abstract |
| "You can't do that, you'll give your baby | | | | idea easy to remember? As adults we have a |
| shaken baby syndrome." My mom then went into | | | | difficult time understanding abstract ideas, |
| a fifteen minutes lecture on how tossing my | | | | just imagine how difficult it must be for a |
| baby in the air was damaging my kid. Not | | | | child to understand. When we teach with |
| wanting to permanently damage my kid I toned | | | | something physical that we can see, feel and |
| down my playing with her. My wife was | | | | touch then it is easier to remember. When |
| extremely glad to see that her baby wasn't | | | | teaching numbers to children it is often |
| flying through the air. In order to stop me | | | | easier to use blocks to teach them how to add |
| completely, my wife asked the doctor if it | | | | or subtract. |
| caused shaken baby syndrome. Much to her | | | | |
| dismay the doctor informed her that there was | | | | Credibility: How do you get your children to |
| no reason to fear. With this great news my | | | | believe your ideas? Luckily, most children |
| baby can again touch our ceiling. If you look | | | | naturally believe their parents. It's not |
| on the internet, most sites will state that | | | | until they reach the dreaded teens where they |
| it will damage your kid. How do stories like | | | | start to think that they know better than |
| these spread so easily while the important | | | | their parents. This is the time when it is |
| ones die? | | | | most critical to make your ideas credible. |
| | | | The Heaths show that vivid detail add a level |
| Chip and Dan Heath book "Made To Stick" | | | | of credibility that otherwise wouldn't |
| explains how a parent can help make the | | | | endorse your story. |
| important ideas stick. One of the main tasks | | | | |
| of a parent is passing on important | | | | Emotional: Why do a lot of mothers believe |
| information that we have learned as adults. | | | | that tossing their kids in the air is going |
| Knowing how to teach our kids will greatly | | | | to damage their child? Is it based on facts |
| help our ability to communicate effectively | | | | or emotion? I'm extremely impressed how much |
| with our children. "Made To Stick" | | | | my wife sacrifices for our child. I can |
| discusses six ideas that will make your | | | | understand why she is a little protective of |
| teachings a "succes". | | | | her child. Stories that play on her emotion |
| | | | as a mother will stick compared to one that |
| Simplicity: Make your ideas simple! That | | | | just give cold hard facts. |
| doesn't mean that you can only teach simple | | | | |
| concepts. It does mean that you should only | | | | Stories: Can any one doubt the power of a |
| teach one concept at a time. "If you say | | | | story! To this day, I love hearing stories of |
| three things you say nothing at all." | | | | my dad flying helicopter missions in the |
| Children have a great desire to learn new | | | | navy. Some of the best children's books use |
| things. If it is muddled with several ideas | | | | stories to portray a message. Why not use the |
| then they won't remember any of them. | | | | same tactic when teach our children? |
| | | | |
| Unexpectedness: Have you ever watched a bad | | | | We live in an informational era. The amount |
| movie to the end just to see how it turns | | | | of information that is available to kids |
| out? The Heath brothers explain how our | | | | today is amazing and scary. Being able to |
| brains hate the idea of a knowledge gap. This | | | | instill correct ideas that will provide a |
| is why we watch a bad movie to the end or | | | | guide through our kids lives is on extremely |
| stay up late to see how the book ends. | | | | important task as a parent. That is why it is |
| Creating a knowledge gap for you children | | | | important to learn how to make ideas stick. I |
| will help them want to understand ideas. Try | | | | recommend that every one read "Made to |
| moving a piece of metal with a hidden magnet | | | | Stick". |
| and watch as they try to figure it out. | | | | |