Teaching Timmy

Let me introduce you to Timmy. He is a three year old cutie who just amazes me by how he learns. Timmy was at my house recently and he runs up and down the hall way to my room to show me objects that he  finds around the house. Everything just amazes him and he is enthusiastic to share it with anyone who will  give him the attention. Timmy's curiosity leads him to venture all around the house and away from this mother, yet occasionally he would be worried that she would leave him.

As I observed Timmy I was witnessing a the dual display of the 'wonder and worry' mechanisms. While Timmy was being naturally curious he was also keeping an eye out for danger and  threats.  In the article,
Wired to Wonder by professor of psychology Todd Kashdan discusses how curiosity and threat detecting systems work together to equip us with optimal decision making skills. 


What happened next demonstrates that under threatening circumstances the combination of both curiosity and its worry counterpart allowed excellerated learning. In this case Timmy learnt very quickly how to open a door. Prior to this Timmy would  continuously demand my attention, grabbed my hand and lead me towards the door to open it for him. At first I did not  mind but Timmy kept returning, close the door behind himself and later annoy me to open it for him. After the fourth time I refused to open it for him. Instead I demonstrated how he would open the door by showing him the hand movement as I opened an imaginary door. Timmy's curiosity had spurred creativity and he knew the context of my acting. As he became worried about he's mum leaving he made the choice to learn. 


He watched me, then thought about it  and even moved his hand the way he had observed me doing it. On his first attempt he was not successful -pulling on the handle without turning it. I showed him again this time emphasising how to turn the handle. On his second attempt he was close but was frustrated, even fearful that his mum had abandoned him. There was little chatter between the parents outside indicating to him threatening situation. On this third attempt Timmy opened the door. After jerky movements he was able to do what he had seen. Observation learning allowed  him opening this door. In other literal sense this type of learning will open many other doors for him in the future. 

One reason children are such fast learner is because they allow themselves to be curious, over being cautious.Timmy's urge to explore overpowered his worries and demonstrates that  although our brains are hard wired to worry  it is important also let ourselves be curious. Being curious creates opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills. In observing Timmy, I noticed the fine balancing act between the worry-wonder mechanisms. While curiosity creates new situations, the threat detecting system is there to prompt us to act accordingly and make that new situation into an memorable experience.

So always be curious and embrace uncertainty, because our worry-wonder nature blesses us to be great learners.