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LITTLE GENIUSES AMONG US!
Imagine that you're a four year-old child sitting in a brightly lit room all by yourself. A researcher walks in and promises two pieces of your favorite candy if you do not eat the one sitting in front of you, until he returns. Smiling, he promises to return soon. The door closes and you're left to contemplate your choice. What would you have done?
If you'd been like most kids, you'd have eaten that tantalizing piece of candy sitting in front of you. Oh, sure you would've tried to wait a little bit. No doubt you would have squirmed and fidgeted in your seat. But, eventually temptation would‘ve forced you to give in and you'd have tried that candy. If you come clean, you know that's the truth.
But, what about the kids who resist and wait? Are they special? Researchers are beginning to believe so. Having tracked the kids into adulthood, a startling correlation has been discovered. Kids who were able to wait at that young age overwhelmingly outperformed their peers during their academic careers. Many have gone on to prestigious universities and have shown a knack for problem solving in their respective fields. Is advanced critical thinking simply a God-given gift then?
That question can still be debated until the cows come home. But, researchers do point out that advanced reasoning ability is plainly evident in even such a young age.
Before you go running off to test your kids however, know that not all kids who resist turn out to be geniuses! Some just plain may not like that kind of candy. Genius or not, they won't eat it if they don't like it! Even if they like it and are able to wait, promise still needs to be nurtured and a good support environment is key. But, if your child does resist, it may mean he has special gifts!
How do these kids do it? Kids who waited typically played little games to keep their minds off the candy. Some counted numbers or sang their abc's. Others turned around and refused to even look at the candy. When asked how he'd managed not to have eaten the candy sitting before him, little Justin Clark replied, "Whenever I felt like taking the candy, I would turn around and sing a song I knew, because I wanted 2 pieces of candy." Now, that's genius!
Questions
Choose the best explanation…
- "To squirm or fidget" means to:
- "A tantalizing piece of candy" is one that:
- "A correlation" is:
- "To show a knack for problem solving" means that:
- In the article, the phrase, "To come clean" means to:
Are the following statements about the article correct?
1. The question, "Is advanced critical thinking a God-given gift," cannot be answered at this time.
2. According to the article, all kids who were able to resist eating the candy did so by turning around and singing songs.
3. Most people, including probably yourself, would have eaten the candy.
4. Kids who don't eat the candy during the experiment will grow up to be geniuses.
5. If kids don't like the candy, they can't grow up to be geniuses.