There’s a new study out that suggests that preschoolers are actually more gadget savvy than college students. Researchers put a group of preschoolers into a room and asked them to turn on a music box that was activated by placing clay shapes in the top. They did the same thing with a group of college students. The preschoolers outperformed the college students handily.
The study concluded that children are more open to problem solving. They don’t get stuck doing a task one way. Turns out their minds are a little more fluid–and that we lose that skill pretty quickly as we age {the study mentioned that even just one year later, kindergartners did not perform as well}.
I thought it was a pretty interesting article. I mean, even though we’ve had the same t.v. for 4 years now, I still don’t know how to work the remote and have to have one of the kids turn it on for me. 🙂 No matter how many times they show it to me, I just can’t seem to remember how to use it. I even had to laugh when the article said that adults will continue to use the same method to problem solve even when it’s not working. I’ve totally done that, I’ll just keep doing the same thing {hitting the same button} over and over, getting more and more frustrated. I know it is ridiculous, but I can’t seem to come up with any other solutions.
So, what do YOU think? Have you noticed that kids seem to adapt more easily to new technology? Have you ever wondered why?
~Mavis
Miriam says
I think the thing that helps keep our minds ‘fluid’ is to think of solutions from other people’s points of view. I come up with some crazy solutions to problems because that is what I like to do, but also because I keep everyone in mind. Perhaps for your remote problem. Think, “What would my kids do?”
Stacey says
I always turn to the kids, our own as well as others’, for any help with technology. I think it’s because that’s all they’ve known, unless there’s something in their vitamins now.