Creating Memories in Young Children

Hello and apologies for the huge amount of time since the last post! But now to jump back into things:

The New York Times just published a fascinating article by a pediatrician about how kids' memories work, and from what ages. A lot of this was just general overview, and you're probably already familiar with the basics. There were a few things that I thought were pretty suprising:

First, in studies comparing Chinese children with Canadian children, the Canadian children were able to remember a year further back and to remember more. The article suggests that this might reflect some type of difference in how parents talk to children and in "what kinds of stories and experiences are emphasized in the two cultures."

Secondly, the article suggests that two qualities predicted whether a child was more likely to hold on to a particular memory:

1. If the child mentioned emotion when describing a memory.
2. If the memory was described with sequence and cause understood.

These points suggest that parents could actually have an influence on their child's ability to form memories from an early age, by asking their children questions and creating stories that put memories in logical, sequential and emotional contexts. How cool is that? As a parent, you put so much effort into creating wonderful experiences for your children. Now it appears that you can also help your child to translate those experiences into lasting memories.

If you're interested in reading (a lot) more about memory and cognitive development in young children, we suggest the following 3 volume encyclopedia which provides a great discussion of the link between language development and memory in infants and children.

 

I've been looking for a shorter, more user-friendly resource on this topic, but find that books in this area tend toward the more academic side of things. If you know of a good book or website that covers early memory development, please let me know!

Magnetic Wallpaper

I came across this on Pinterest and just had to share--designer Sian Zeng has released a line of magnetic wallpapers. 

They are all based on her Woodlands wallpapers which also come in a non-magnetic variety.  You also receive 5 complimentary magnets with each purchase of magnetic wallpaper (which you should, because it's PRICEY).

The only "magnetic wallpapers" that I've ever seen before were little sheets that were made for lockers. I don't remember this stuff being around when I was in school, but I wish it had been--I just love magnets.

Unlike the locker paper, however, the Sian Zeng wallpapers are not themselves magnetic.  It sounds like they just use some kind of magnet-receptive underlayer and then apply the wallpaper over it. I don't see how this couldn't work with any wallpaper, or why you couldn't just install the underlayer and then paint over it--the possibilities would be endless! I've heard mixed reviews about the magnetic paint--apparently it works if you put enough coats on, but the finish isn't very smooth, and it is only magnetic enough to work with very strong magnets. Maybe this would be a better option if you're looking for the same effect?

What's Going on in There? A Book for Curious Parents

Sorry I've been delinquent in posting! We just moved into our first real house over the weekend, which is very exciting, but which also means that life is completely chaotic right now. Blogging has had to take a backseat to unpacking boxes, hanging shelves and curtains, and generally trying to pull things back together. Unfortunately, I still don't really have time to put together a full post, but I wanted to let you know about a book that I've been reading and that I think is incredibly interesting.

It's called What's Going on in There? and it's by Dr. Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist and mother of three.



The book offers a pretty comprehensive (but easy to follow) overview of current scientific knowledge about infant and early childhood brain development, and talks about how that knowledge can influence parenting decisions. I think it would be a great read for any parent curious about what's going on in their baby's brain, and who wants to know more about how their actions as a parent can influence their child's development. I'm pasting the book description from the publisher below.

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As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And just as important, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained--and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better--to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses: 

• how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch
• the critical prenatal factors that shape brain development
• how the birthing process itself affects the brain
• which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development
• how boys' and girls' brains develop differently
• how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain

 Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.

Bookcase Dollhouse

Talk about great ideas! Check out this blog post from Honest to Nod that explains how to make a dollhouse out of a bookcase. The post includes step-by-step instructions, and this is the end product:



It looks very simple to make, and obviously the bookcase could be used for other things later (like...well, books).