Spatial intelligence is crucial for success in many fields, ranging from science and engineering to construction and graphic design. Can we improve spatial skills? Experiments say yes.
Outdoor learning benefits kids in many ways – reducing stress, lifting moods, & boosting concentration.
A developmental guide to preschool math lessons for the science-minded parent.
The need for evidence-based education When should kids start school? What should we teach them? How should we teach them? Where should we teach them? Research can help us answer these questions. And we should pay attention. When schools adopt the wrong programs and practices, money gets wasted. Students may get steered in directions that … Continue reading
© 2008-2013 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Intelligence-boosting products are big business: Books, toys, DVDs, software, games, and educational programs designed to make your child into an intellectual prodigy. Many of these products come with claims–explicit or implicit–that their usefulness is supported by scientific evidence. Are they really? Sometimes. For instance, as I’ve noted … Continue reading
© 2008 – 2012 Gwen Dewar, all rights reserved What do babies know about numbers? Back in the 20th century, people assumed that infants lacked “number sense.” But today’s cognitive scientists have overturned the old ideas. Experimental research reveals a fascinating new world of baby cognition, one in which babies can recognize the approximate difference … Continue reading
Someday, educational video games may revolutionize the way we teach our kids. Are there any good games available now?
© 2009-2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved The benefits of board games for kids? Some are obvious. Kids enjoy playing them, and board games are opportunities for families to play together. In addition, social scientists have argued that games teach lessons about getting along with others (Kamii and DeVries 1980; Zan and Hildebrandt 2005). … Continue reading
© 2009-2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Teaching critical thinking? You might wonder if kids will work it out for themselves. After all, lots of smart people have managed to think logically without formal instruction in logic. Moreover, studies show that kids become better learners when they are forced to explain how they solve … Continue reading
© 2008 – 2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Can we design better preschool science activities? Activities that stimulate curiosity, teach science concepts, and avoid overwhelming or boring children with lessons that are developmentally inappropriate? In the article below, I review the advice of educational and cognitive psychologists about preschool science education. But if … Continue reading
This preschool science experiment is designed for kids who have already had experience playing with mud — both mixing mud and drying out mud. For best results, try this experiment after your child has explored the properties of dirt and mud. Materials Multiple dirt samples (sand, topsoil, dirt-and-gravel, etc.) Dried leaves or grass Sticks Buckets … Continue reading
© 2011 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Kids benefit when we teach them critical thinking skills. What’s the best way to do it? Studies suggest that explicit lessons in logic and reasoning are effective, so much so that they may actually improve a child’s IQ. But few kids encounter such lessons, even in high … Continue reading