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Reflection Paper on the documentary “Smart Babies”The film focused on the popular issue concerning parents and children these days that is,creating a genius or producing smart kids. The hot housing technique advocated by Mr. Domanof the Better Baby Institute in Philadelphia is particularly considered and analyzed in the video.The hot housing program involves continuous exposure of a child to materials that theysay will provide mastery of a subject. Basically, they focus on Maths, Reading, PhysicalDevelopment and Music. These materials mostly include flash cards, pictures and classicalmusic CD’s. On how they do it, it seems like everyone else begins with the flash cards. For instance, the parents would like the child to master or memorize all the presidents of the UnitedStates of America, she would regularly show the pictures of the presidents and say their names.It should be done on a regular basis everyday even if the child may not seem to be paying muchattention. This can be done even with babies. Their argument is based on three claims. First,they argue that the more you stimulate the brain, the larger it grows and the more knowledge itcan accommodate. They also claim that there are critical periods to learning and that if you donot take advantage of this period (birth -6 years), the child is less likely to learn more skills.Lastly, they believe that providing an enriched environment increases synaptic connections in the brain which they believe is an indication of high intelligence.These claims however, were somewhat refuted when children who went through hothousing as a toddler were again asked to identify the pictures they used to memorize when theywere still young. Most kids failed to do so. Aside from that, the Better Baby Institute could notname a child genius who is a product of their hot housing technique.
 
Personally, I believe on some of the guiding principles that hot housing holds. I, too, believe that toddlers should be exposed to stimulating environments because they learn primarilyusing their five senses. However, focusing on flash cards alone may not be enough. True, thechild does memorize them and it does seem fascinating when they identify each picture one after another but beneath it all, rote learning is the only skill developed. What do they need thoseknowledge for? It’s very trivial for a child to learn all names of different tankers or war crafts.They don’t need those in their everyday lives as a child more so as a grown up. Of course, hothousing does not limit learning through flash cards but does hot housing also address theemotional aspect of the child’s development? Children learn in different ways. What about kidswho do not respond well to the learning strategies promoted in hot housing program?The hot housing program is quite similar to the Kumon program. Kumon enhancedarithmetic skills through repetition. The child answers pages and pages of written exercises on a particular topic for weeks under time pressure. Speed, accuracy and memorization are themeasures of mastery-very much like the hot housing program. However, I’ve seen many kidswho only get frustrated when enrolled in Kumon. For kids who are not so good in memorizationor for those who don’t really have the knack for math, the program creates pressure and tensionmaking learning a bit harder than it already is. This is also possible with the hot housing program.I think the interests and readiness of the child should also be considered. Parents should provide the necessary stimulation to learning through the child’s environment at home and thenobserve what will amuse the child then assist the child in his discovery. The environment mayinclude toys that feature high-contrast colors, hidden surprise sounds (such as ball chimes,
 
crinkles, jingle bells or squeaks) and those that have multiple levels upon which the toys can beused and enjoyed.The room should be designed to help encourage sensory awakenings and explorationthroughout infancy. Durable, thick picture books are also recommended as well as theinteractive books that teaches tactile skills. Experts say that the best materials are designed to provide opportunities for open-ended play and grow with the baby, providing enjoyment and keydevelopmental benefits through several stages of infancy. Here is a given example. A “veryyoung baby may enjoy looking at and reaching for the high-contrast colors of the fabrics in hisLamaze Stacking Rings. A month or so later, he might relish shaking the rings to hear thedifferent sounds. Then, a month or two later, he may want to stack them freeform and knock them over. Still later, sequential stacking by size will provide stimulation as well as fun andenjoyment for hours on end!”The “stimulating” environment is should “get baby going” – to motivate him or her toexplore and “do.” Playthings that support this environment do more than simply entertain. Theyencourage skill development, expand an infant’s world and help further the natural progressionfrom newborn to infant to toddler. On the other hand, flash cards used in the hot housing program are too simple, two-dimensional and less manipulative.Recent research tells us many parents are glad the notions of infant flash cards andclassical music “training” from birth are considered passé. Most of them would however admitthat they want to make sure they provide as much stimulation at as early an age as possible tomake sure they don’t “miss something” as they help their infants grow and develop.
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