If the brain needs to be exercised to develop at its genetic potential, then does curiosity create a positive feedback loop that makes the child more interested in obtaining answers that inevitably lead to more questions, all the while growing the brain to be more capable of understanding complex answers? Or is it more like a nutritional deficiency, in which too little is harmful, but getting more than what's needed does nothing beneficial? Perhaps there are diminishing returns, but always a positive effect on the brain?
What great questions! I wish I knew. I think there is something to the idea of a feedback loop.
Some parents here have children who seemed to learn something without being taught. Do you ever lament that your child could have learned that thing earlier, if only they had someone to teach it to them?
I'm about 75% sure I could have taught DD to read earlier if I'd really tried. It might have been nice, only because DD got as lot easier once she could read! However, there is just so much baggage around this issue culturally and of course, you definitely don't want to turn them off by overdrilling. My DS shows the same signs of being very ready to learn to read. I THINK he might learn earlier than DD, based on a more persistent interest in sounding out, but time will tell. Anyway, I'm not teaching him either, though if he asks I will try.
