Childhood is a period of rapid, fundamental growth. During this period, kids learn to walk, talk and perform basic self-care. Mental stimulation is crucial: In extreme cases of nutrition and sensory deprivation, children may suffer from failure to thrive and fail to meet critical development milestones such as sitting up and walking, according to Steven Dowshen, M.D., writing for Kids Health from Nemours. Providing kids with sensory activities can help kids develop normally, or prevent or minimize damage from developmental disorders.
Improved Memory and Academic Performance
Students who chewed gum during 14 weeks of math classes scored 3 percent higher on standardized math tests than students who did not chew gum, according to research conducted by Craig Johnston and at the Baylor University College of Medicine and reported by the "Los Angeles Times." Teachers reported that the students who chewed gum required fewer breaks and maintained better attention during class. The students also earned better grades than their non-gum-chewing peers. The increased physical stimulus of chewing gum may increase blood flow to the brain, Johnston hypothesized.
Doodling may also improve memory functioning, according to research conducted in England by Jackie Andrade of the University of Plymouth. In a test of 40 adults, Andrade found that participants who were allowed to doodle while listening to a monotonous phone message were better able to recall details from the message than participants who were not, "Newsweek" reports. Students who doodle during class may be better able to concentrate, especially if they have difficulty focusing on the material, Andrade speculated.
Addressing AD/HD
Mental stimulation may ease the symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or AD/HD, says child psychologist Robert Myers, writing for Empowering Parents. According to Myers, the brain possesses "neuroplasticity," the ability to generate new cells or alter the function of existing cells. Games and exercises can help kids with AD/HD concentrate better and reduce AD/HD symptoms.
Research by Sydney Zentall at Purdue University concluded that children with AD/HD were under-stimulated by their environments, which explained why Ritalin was often effective in treating AD/HD symptoms, reports Thomas Armstrong in his book "ADD/ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom." According to Myers, "incidental learning," a holistic learning environment that includes visual stimulation and even background music, could provide an alternative approach along with medication and other therapies to improve learning in children with AD/HD.
Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders
Early intervention is essential for children who fall along the autism spectrum to achieve the best possible long-term outcome, according to Mary Gavin M.D., writing for Kids Health from Nemours. Whether through one-on-one instruction or in a structured classroom environment, mental stimulation, including speech-language therapy may provide a tool to mainstream children with autism-spectrum disorders into a regular classroom, Gavin writes.
Incorporating a variety of sensory experiences into a child's everyday existence is especially important to address sensory integration disorder according to Bonnie Blagojevic and colleagues, writing for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies in Maine. A rich sensory environment also benefits children without developmental disorders by enhancing the normal development of sensory integration, the researchers state.
References
- Los Angeles Times: Chewing Gum Raises Kids Math Scores
- Newsweek: Doodle Zone
- Empowering Parents: 5 Simple Concentration Building Techniques for Kids with AD/HD
- ASCD: ADD/ADHD Alternatives in the Classroom", Thomas Armstrong, 1999: Chapter 3 -- Strategies to Empower, Not Control, Kids Labeled ADD/ADHD
- Kids Health: Causes of Autism
- University of Maine: FACTS: Young Children and Sensory Integration -- Planning for Success, Spring 2003
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