Children in the early-childhood period of development (age 3-6 years) are in Jean Piaget's "Preoperational" stage. One of the characteristics of that age is what is called concrete thinking. Concrete thinking is very literal thinking. Some examples:
Several years ago we were visiting some good friends who had an early-childhood son. I said to him, "Let's go in the next room and see what's on the TV." He jumped up and ran ahead of me and when I rounded the corner he was looking to see what was sitting on top of the TV.
A couple of months ago another friend posted on Facebook that she had told her early-childhood daughter, in a tone that only an irritated mother can produce, "Don't push me!" Her daughter innocently looked up at her and said, "Mommy, I didn't push you."
Yet another friend's daughter started crying when told that her mother was pregnant and that she and her brother were going to have a younger sister. When asked why she was crying, the daughter answered, "I just learned that every third child born in the world speaks Chinese. How we will be able to understand her?"
Yesterday was my grandson's fifth birthday. When he woke up yesterday morning and his mom told him to get ready to go to daycare he looked up with a puzzled look and said, "You told me that I would go to Kindergarten when I was five!".
A similiar phenomenon happens to people under the influence of hypnosis. I once asked a client I had hypnotized, "Would you tell me your name?" She answered, "Yes."
Sometimes the speaker/questioner has to stop and process the listener's respose in order to realize that they had indeed responded correctly... to the literal content.
March 2, 2010
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13 comments:
This blog reminds me of a day my nephew made me feel stupid. My nephew is 4 and a very smart little boy. My sister and I were talking about our childhood and making jokes. I was laughing so hard that I told her to stop or i was going to pee myself. My nephew came up to me, grabbed my hand, and said "Hurry" "Hurry". So i stood up and followed him down the hall. He led me to the bathroom and said "Here Nana. This is were you go pee." I turned and looked at my sister and we both died laughing.
Shawnda Berry
One time when my oldest son was about 3 we lived in a 2 story house with a spiral staircase and you had to be very careful going down or you would fall well one morning we were going down the staircase and i always told him to be careful or he would fall i get about 3/4 of the way down and i slip and fall the rest of the way down and my son is standing at the bottom watching me and when i get to the bottom of the stairs he tells me mommy your suposed to be careful then turns and walks off
This is so funny, but is also very true. I love it that kids say exactly what is on there mind and we as adults just think they say anything. But its just the opossite. they say exactly what they mean and what is asked of them.
I have two 6 year old twins cousins, one boy, Brandon and one girl, Brittany. When Brandon was about 3 years old we were playing outside and he was laughing so hard. He stopped and said, "Sarah you make my heart smile". I have never heard a three year old, nonetheless anyone, say anything quite like that. It made me laugh and it definately made me smile. Kids are so unique and so honest. If only people could be as honest as little kids are!
the post above is from Sarah Moschak :)
Hahaha that is hilarious! you have to love the funny things kids say...arent you glad we arent all concrete thinkers? it would be very difficult to give instructions :)
Sarah Raunikar
This is very true kids speak their minds I will never forget when my son who about 4 and my daughter was just a couple of months we were riding in the car and my daughter pulled her sock off and was putting it in her mouth my son just looked at her and said mom there is something wrong with her she is eating a sock see I told you we didnt need a baby especially one who eats socks. and sad to say he still tells me this when he gets mad at her..
Kirstie Ray
this is so funny but so true when my son was 3 he wanted some kool-aide instead of milk.I told him that he better empty his milk cup 1st ..he did just that all over the floor then said all gone =)
Awww these are cute stories. for the girl saying, "Mommy, I didn't push you." How can you stay mad at that. haha
When I have a comment and it has a literal meaning people say they don't get it and it is simply because they haven't listened to what I said.
So true! Kids are so cute and innocent! They mean what they say and there isn't anything better than honesty!
Is this just for early childhood development? I was just wondering Because, I see some adults that practice the same methods and they are not under hypnosis.
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