How thinking like a 5-year-old can enhance learning…

Friday, April 19, 2024.

Revisiting Childhood Cognitive Abilities…

Young children possess a cognitive talent that often eludes most adults: the ability to pay attention to everything around them.

While adults learn to focus their attention and block out distractions, there is value in occasionally embracing distractions to notice and learn more…

Insights from Professor Vladimir Sloutsky

According to Professor Vladimir Sloutsky, co-author of a study on this topic, children's curiosity and inclination to explore everything contribute to their ability to spread their attention, even when asked to focus. He explained, “We often think of children as deficient in many skills when compared to adults. But sometimes what seems like a deficiency can actually be an advantage."

The Study's Findings

The study involved both adults and children watching a series of shapes appearing on a screen. While adults performed slightly better at spotting the shapes they were instructed to look for, children excelled at noticing changes in non-target shapes, which they were supposed to ignore. Professor Sloutsky noted, “Children are extremely curious and they tend to explore everything, which means their attention is spread out, even when they’re asked to focus."

Implications of Distributed Attention

Professor Sloutsky explains that children's distributed attention, although not as focused as adults', allows them to notice and remember more. He continued, “The ability to focus attention is what allows adults to sit in two-hour meetings and maintain long conversations, while ignoring distractions. But young children’s use of distributed attention allows them to learn more in new and unfamiliar settings by taking in a lot of information.”

The Value of Childlike Curiosity

Embracing a childlike curiosity can be beneficial for adults, especially in novel or challenging environments. Adults can enhance their learning and adaptability by being open to distractions and taking in more information.

In essence, thinking like a five-year-old, with an open and explorative mindset, can lead to more profound learning experiences and a broader understanding of the world.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

RESEARCH:

Plebanek, D. J., & Sloutsky, V. M. (2017). Costs of Selective Attention: When Children Notice What Adults Miss. Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617693005