Psychologist, Jean Piaget, in 1952, would call kids as "little scientists." It was children's untiring effort to look for explanations that led Piaget to call them as such.
A recent study published by Frontiers in Psychology further supports Piaget. It was found in the study conducted by Margaret Shavlik, that children like storybooks that explain the function of the world around them. Causal storybooks, according to the study, were seen as more interesting by the children who were part of the study.
The study in Austin, Texas
Shavlik is a doctoral student and research assistant at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. She conducted her study in Austin, Texas, among 48 children who are aged 3 to 4 years old.
There were two sessions for the study. During these sessions, the researchers read two books about animals. These books were: "Biggest, Strongest, Fastest" and "What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You?" Both books were illustrated and written by Steve Jenkins, and though both are causal books, they differ in the kind of information provided.
"Biggest, Strongest, Fastest" had only factual descriptions and not the explanatory type of description of the features of the animals. On the other hand, "What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You?" showed an explanation about an animal's survival and the connection of an animal's body part or behavior to such.
After reading the books, the persons who read it to them ask the children which they prefer or is their favorite. Forty-four percent (44%) picked the causally rich book, while twenty-nine percent (29%) preferred the less causal book.
What does this imply?
Dr. Dipesh Navsaria of the University of Wisconsin believes that when children seek explanation and later on understand it, the more that they feel they are part of the world.
Shavlik also thinks that if children prefer these kinds of books, parents and caregivers will choose to provide them with such. This instance, in turn, could increase the urge to read together and later on develop early literacy.
So, which books?
According to an owner of an independent bookstore in Georgia, the types of causal books that may spark interest to children are anything that explains even the simplest phenomena. For example, a book about how a little act of kindness can change another person's day, maybe very interesting to a child or a toddler. This type of books helps children think more critically about the world.
The Importance of Reading
When reading, the child and the parents also create a bond. This bond is not only special because of the time spent together, but also because this is a step in early childhood literacy.
Dr. Navsaria also said in a CNN report that the curiosity of a child is being fed by the information that they get, and how they get the answers to their questions. This nature of a child, according to Dr. Navsaria, can affect someone's adulthood.
He also adds that if reading is their way of doing so, doing so at a younger age, then this can help develop different areas of learning.
