Researchers say parents should combine words with gestures to help their children learn
As children return to school, new research from the University of Iowa shows how parents can help their kids learn while literally being on the same wavelength.
New research from the University of Iowa suggests that parents can enhance their children's learning by combining speech with hand gestures during interactions. Neuroscientists found that when adults use both verbal instructions and gestures, their brain waves synchronize with their child's, leading to better problem-solving abilities.
Associate Professor Ece Demir-Lira, the study's corresponding author, emphasizes that it's not the amount of time spent with a child that matters, but the quality of the interaction. The study involved 42 parent-child pairs working on a puzzle, and results showed that combined speech and gesture guidance led to increased blood flow in both the parent's and child's brains, particularly in areas related to perception and problem-solving.
This synchronized brain activity was less pronounced when parents relied solely on speech or provided no guidance at all. The researchers believe that gestures help convey spatial information that words alone cannot, making the learning process more efficient for children.
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