I don’t think anyone would argue that education is a good thing. It ought to begin early, giving head-start advantages. But how early? Researchers at MIT are looking into the cognitive and behavioral implications of such a question and are finding that a formal educational system with youngsters may actually inhibit the development of creativity, exploration, and problem solving skills.
The study in a nutshell: two groups of pre-schoolers were shown a toy with multiple “hidden” featu
res. The first group was shown the toy then instructed on how to use it. The second group was shown the toy and encouraged to explore its features on their own. The study showed that group two, the exploration group, played with with the toy longer and found more of its hidden features then the first, formally instructed group.
I guess the question now is how can some of the needed instruction coexist with foster creatively
and informal play?
To read the article, click here
