The “golden window” that is rarely talked about
The ages of 2 – 7 years old is a critical period for brain development (which predicts academic and social success). Many parents treat early childhood education as a precursor to “real” education. However during this time, our brains absorb the most information of our lives. Skills like language development and musical abilities become exponentially harder to pick up afterwards.
How parents can support holistic development
Encourage a growth mindset
When children are 2 – 7, this is when their attitudes towards learning are most influenced- this is an optimal time to instill a growth mindset approach to life. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is a malleable quality that can be improved through effort. Parents should emphasize and support enthusiasm over results. A growth mindset not only inspires enthusiasm in learning, but also makes your child tackle challenges head on and learn from their experiences.
Let your child explore a range of interests
Generally, a diverse range of experiences and interests leads to well rounded individuals. Specialization can wait! Use this “sampling period” to the fullest. Children are capable of absorbing lots of information, so letting them experience more will result in a more diverse skill set. We should equip our children with the tools to be flexible thinkers- unearthing abstract and creative solutions from seemingly unconnected ideas.
The growing importance of interpersonal skills
Many parents focus on academic development at the expense of social-emotional learning. EQ is becoming the new IQ– and developing interpersonal skills like cooperation, communication, and empathy is crucial. Skills like empathy are best taught from a young age by acknowledging, labelling, and recognizing others’ feelings.
Empathy is also closely linked to logical thinking. Children need to take a rational and dispassionate approach to understanding others’ feelings and deciding how they can help. As a result, empathetic children are better at facilitating close relationships while inspiring productivity and connectivity in their environment.
Sources
https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-ages-2-7-matter-so-much-brain-development
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/boosting-babys-health-during-golden-window
https://opinion.inquirer.net/63987/golden-window-to-have-a-happier-smarter-child
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