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The Secret to Raising Smart Kids: Scientific American
If you have children (or are just curious), here's a link to a dense but ultimately very revealing article about children and how we shape their attitudes. Here's an excerpt:
Our society worships talent, and many people assume that possessing superior intelligence or ability—along with confidence in that ability—is a recipe for success. In fact, however, more than 30 years of scientific investigation suggests that an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings.
The result plays out in children like Jonathan, who coast through the early grades under the dangerous notion that no-effort academic achievement defines them as smart or gifted. Such children hold an implicit belief that intelligence is innate and fixed, making striving to learn seem far less important than being (or looking) smart. This belief also makes them see challenges, mistakes and even the need to exert effort as threats to their ego rather than as opportunities to improve. And it causes them to lose confidence and motivation when the work is no longer easy for them.
Praising children’s innate abilities, as Jonathan’s parents did, reinforces this mind-set, which can also prevent young athletes or people in the workforce and even marriages from living up to their potential. On the other hand, our studies show that teaching people to have a “growth mind-set,” which encourages a focus on effort rather than on intelligence or talent, helps make them into high achievers in school and in life. If you have children (or are just curious), here's a link to a dense but ultimately very revealing article about children and how... more -
Furry Robots Rock!
The animatronic band that mesmerized a generation of kids at Showbiz Pizza
(and haunted a few nightmares) is back, and they're covering bands like
Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, Against Me, and more. The animatronic band that mesmerized a generation of kids at Showbiz Pizza ... more -
No playing allowed
Children are being denied adventurous play because their parents are nervous about exposing them to risk, a new survey suggests.
The UK-wide poll, commissioned by Play England, found half of 7-12 year olds have been stopped from climbing trees.
It also showed 21% of those surveyed had been banned from playing conkers, and 17% were not allowed to play chase.
The ICM poll interviewed 1,030 children and young people aged 7-16, and 1,031 adults during July 2007.
Play England, which says it promotes free play opportunities, insists that parents "constantly wrapping children in cotton wool" can harm the children's development.
The poll found showed 51% of children aged 7-12 were not allowed to climb a tree without adult supervision, with 49% stopped from climbing trees altogether because it was considered too dangerous.
'Life skills'
According to the research, 70% of adults had their biggest childhood adventures outdoors among trees, rivers and woods, compared with only 29% of children today.
It found children's experiences of adventure are confined to designated areas such as playgrounds (56%), their homes (48%) or theme parks (44%).
Adrian Voce, director of Play England, which is part of the charity National Children's Bureau, said playing was "an essential part of growing up".
"Adventurous play both challenges and excites children and helps instil critical life skills," he said.
"Constantly wrapping children in cotton wool can leave them ill equipped to deal with stressful or challenging situations they might encounter later in life.
"Children both need and want to push their boundaries in order to explore their limits and develop their abilities."
The survey was carried out to mark Playday, the annual celebration of children's right to play, which is co-ordinated by Play England.
Hundreds of events will be taking place across the UK on Wednesday 6 August to celebrate Playday. Children are being denied adventurous play because their parents are nervous about exposing them to risk, a new survey suggests. ... more -
Thrill Rides at Playland
From the world's famous wooden roller coaster to the Hellevator. You have to hold on with all your might and even then you still fly out of your seat. From the world's famous wooden roller coaster to the Hellevator. You have to hold on with all your might and even then you still ... more
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The Lego Secret Vault: Lego Secret Vault Contains All Sets In History
I have to confess that life hasn't been very good lately. Work around the clock, not enough free time, trying to have kids and crashing badly... all while moving to a country I don't particularly like, away from my best friends and family. Maybe that's why visiting Lego's Memory Lane—the secret vault guarding almost every Lego set ever manufactured—touched me in a way I didn't expect. This wasn't amazement or simple awe. I was already astonished to no end by the tour of the Lego factory. No, this was something else, something bigger than the impressive view of the 4,720 Lego sets inside this lair. These weren't just simple boxes full of bricks. These were tickets to ride a time portal to emotions and simpler days long forgotten.
I didn't know that when I was curiously ogling the oldest sets, from the 1950s. Jette Orduna—the curator for the Idea House, Lego's history museum set in the old family house of the owner, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen—was explaining the first Lego sets, obviously enjoying my enthusiasm. "Here's the wooden box that some shops around Denmark had, usually hairdressers or general stores" she would say while carefully opening it for me to see its contents, simple red and white bricks without tubes, some of them with windows on them, "they contained individual Lego bricks. Back then, parents bought them regularly to their children, so they could keep expanding their Lego system." Then she would turn her attention to another set, as I kept asking what was this or that. "Yes, it's called 'electronic' because this train could be activated by whistling," she would explain, whistling herself.
I was just enjoying it like an archeologist. Her explanations, the cool box designs, the quick evolution of the first years... I was amazed by the ingenuity of it all, curious about the origins of the myth. But that was it. Just simple curiosity. Until we got to the 1970s.
Knowing my previous comments, Jette went straight to one of the shelves, at the end of the long aisle. She looked up and down, her lips pressed together, concentrated in finding something. While she was doing this I was filming around, eyes wide open, thinking "oh, is that?" and "nah, that can't be... can it?" my excitement growing by the second. It was then when she took out a large rectangular box with yellow sides, saying "a-ha! Here it is."
I turned around and I saw what she had in her hands: the Lego Space Galaxy Explorer.
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Follow the link for the rest of the story. I have to confess that life hasn't been very good lately. Work around the clock, not enough free time, trying to have kids and cr... more -
"Happiness is.. not having the children"
people invest so much time and money in their children, and focus on the fleeting moments of joy they bring, rather than on the long periods of boredom and irritation, that most continue to believe children will bring them happiness, says Professor Gilbert.
Credit: Sydney Morning Herald people invest so much time and money in their children, and focus on the fleeting moments of joy they bring, rather than on the long p... more -
Breastfeeding Increases Intelligence
Scientists suggest.
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Playgroups could 'cut leukaemia risk'
A study by the University of California has discovered that children who attend daycare or playgroups reduce their risk of the most common type of childhood leukaemia by around 30%.
The research focussed on 14 individual studies involving nearly 20,000 children, of which 6,000 developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
It is thought early infections in small children may help the body fight off the disease that triggers leukaemia. Scientists believe that for the majority of childhood leukaemia strains to develop, there has to be an initial genetic mutation in the womb, followed by a second trigger, such as an infection, during childhood.
The research also looked at the social implications that could be attributed to the development of leukaemia in young children. A study by the University of California has discovered that children who attend daycare or playgroups reduce their risk of the most co... more -
Online Lite-Brite
Miss your old Lite-Brite? Well, it may not make up for the fact that you foolishly threw away the one you owned as a child, but at least now there's an online version to keep you company wherever you go. Miss your old Lite-Brite? Well, it may not make up for the fact that you foolishly threw away the one you owned as a child, but at le... more
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Childhood Memories
This is not your parents poetry. This style of poetry is the same that is showcased on "Def Jam Poetry". It's called Slam Poetry and every year there is a national competition held. This poem is to be featured in "The After Effect" the documentary being shot in Las Vegas. This is not your parents poetry. This style of poetry is the same that is showcased on "Def Jam Poetry". It's called Sl... more
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Womb hormones 'lead to anorexia'
Women are usually much more likely than men to have the eating disorder, but a University of Sussex study found men with a female twin were more at risk.
This suggests the hormones released to aid female development may be key.
Commenting on the Archives of General Psychiatry study, a UK expert said other factors in childhood and adolescence remained important.
A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that in pregnancies bearing a female foetus, a substance is produced, probably hormonal, that increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa in adulthood
It is estimated that up to 90,000 people will be receiving treatment for eating disorders in the UK at any one time, with many other cases going undiagnosed.
No-one is sure why women are more prone than men. Some experts suggest that the pressures of modern society are partly to blame while others look at brain changes much earlier in life.
Research into twins is a way to examine the factors involved, as the single most important period for brain development is during the months of pregnancy.
Dr Marco Procopio, from the University of Sussex, worked with Dr Paul Marriott from the University of Waterloo in Canada to look at information drawn from thousands of Swedish twins born between 1935 and 1958.
Overall, as expected, female twins were more likely to develop anorexia than male twins.
The only exception was among mixed-sex twins, where the male was as likely to develop anorexia as the female.
The researchers wrote that the most likely reason was because of sex steroid hormones released into the womb during pregnancy.
"A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that in pregnancies bearing a female foetus, a substance is produced, probably hormonal, that increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa in adulthood.
"Because the male half of an opposite-sex twin pair would also be exposed to this substance, it could account for the observed elevated risk in males with female twins."
Susan Ringwood, from the Eating Disorders Association, said: "There is a lot of research now into the effects of hormones on brain development.
"This is an interesting study, although it's important that we also look at other factors such as perception of body-image in childhood and adolescence." Women are usually much more likely than men to have the eating disorder, but a University of Sussex study found men with a female twin... more -
Childhood Bracelet Found in Chicken
Aaron Giles lost a bracelet at the age of four. Now, over twenty five years later he has rediscovered it in the most unlikely of places. Aaron Giles lost a bracelet at the age of four. Now, over twenty five years later he has rediscovered it in the most unlikely of plac... more
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The Little Pianist
Explore the life and soul of a frog that plays the piano on the streets of Barcelona.
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Ball Kickin'
Remember the memories of yesterday when you played kickball during recess? Well, every Sunday head down to McCaren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to hang out and kick some balls. Remember the memories of yesterday when you played kickball during recess? Well, every Sunday head down to McCaren Park in Williamsbu... more
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The Art of Sticks
A look at the work of artist Patrick Dougherty, who uses found sticks, branches, and trees to construct huge sculptures. The Art of Sticks focuses on his current project at Cornell University. A look at the work of artist Patrick Dougherty, who uses found sticks, branches, and trees to construct huge sculptures. The Art of ... more
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In the Woods with Julian
A rotoscoped animation made from unscripted footage. My little brother tells us what it's like to be a tree.
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Online Speak and Spell
How awesome is this? You can play the Speak & Spell on this website. I miss my childhood a bit too much sometimes.Games
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Childhood
