Re: How Children Learn

From: Nina Sazer O'Donnell
Email: nsazerodonnell@gmail.com
Date: February 13, 2006

Comments

Hi Diane:

You are so right! Unfortunately, learning and even the words "brain development" often lead adults to think about cognitive development only. This might be the result of their own experiences and/or it may be that because we can see the results of cognitive learning in a different way than other competencies, we default to it. But research is clear that cognitive learning really can't be separated from social and emotional learning.

As adults, we should know that we have a hard time doing well on cognitive tasks when we are socially uncomfortable or emotionally upset.

When young children are with teachers and parents who understand how to integrate social, emotional and intellectual learning, they do much better in all domains.