Smart Babies Essay Example

grow into toddlers, they receive actual lessons on reading and math using flashcards or other instructional methods.

Realizing this concept, I quickly came to the realization that being a hothouse child is not enjoyable. It feels like being confined in a prison of intellectually stimulating activities and pressured to excel in studying the subjects that your parents want you to learn about. Unknowingly, this takes away the opportunity to have a childhood filled with play, fun, and real-life experiences. While there are advantages to be gained from this approach and teaching children to become intellectuals is a commendable goal, parents should always consider the limitations and abilities of their own child.

It is important for parents and educators to understand how much of these activities may be excessive. Merely showing flashcards to children and having them recite the words does not necessarily mean that they can read. The ability to recognize the words is likely due to memorization and becoming familiar with the routine, rather than true reading comprehension. The children are not actually reading the words, but rather memorizing their appearance and becoming accustomed to their sounds when the teacher pronounces them.

Although this outcome is somewhat positive, it can lead children to focus solely on those words. Personally, I agree with exposing children to classical music, especially during the critical years when their brains are developing. This exposure begins as early as when their sense of hearing develops in the womb. Various research and experiments have shown this to be an effective method of stimulating a child's brain. According to an article in Time magazine by Peter Gumbel,

the most widespread and debated claim is that Mozart can enhance brain power.

Scientific support for the notion that listening to Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos can enhance spatial reasoning was first documented in a 1993 Nature article. This study involved college students who performed better on a mental paper unfolding test after listening to the first movement of the Sonata. Frances Rauscher, the main author of the study and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin, further investigated this theory using laboratory rats. The rats were exposed to the same piano sonata while in utero and for two months after birth before being tested in a maze.

The rats in this study were divided into different groups. One group was exposed to white noise, another to silence, and a third to a repetitive piece by American composer Philip Glass. The group that listened to the repetitive music was able to navigate their way out faster than the other groups. Personally, I have also found that listening to this type of music makes me feel calm and helps me think clearly. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights believes that play is crucial for the optimal development of children and has declared it a human right. Unfortunately, the children in institutional care are unable to enjoy this right due to their busy schedules.

In my opinion, parents should understand and meet the real needs of their children instead of insisting on activities that are not appropriate for their young age. Children need to feel safe, know that they are special, and have a balanced experience of freedom

and limits. Providing a healthy, loving, safe, and emotionally balanced home environment can fulfill all these needs.

The children should be able to explore and enjoy our complex and wonderful world using their own senses. They should discover knowledge and life lessons with their parents by their side, guiding them rather than forcing them. They should have the joy of learning new things without being confined by flash cards, videos, and CDs. Through writing this paper, I have learned that there is no need to rush. There is always a perfect time for everything. Development is a continuous process that does not end at a specific age; it continues as long as one remains open to endless possibilities and opportunities.

Super babies or genius babies are truly remarkable. However, it is unnecessary to impose our desires onto children solely for the sake of feeling pride in having an intelligent child. In doing so, we may unknowingly hinder their potential and compromise the bright future we envision for them. Instead, we should strive to comprehend them, provide unwavering support, and shower them with the love and care they require as they grow into individuals who will ultimately bring us immense pride.