Why do kids learn so rapidly?

 

Why do kids learn so rapidly?

In their early years, most young children can pick up languages quickly and learn a vast quantity of information. How do they manage to achieve this?

They fluctuate from being a wobbly mess to racing through the hallways in a single day. Sometimes their nonsense suddenly transforms into complete sentences. Youngsters surely pick up new abilities fast, all the while learning how to successfully navigate a strange, unfamiliar world. Adults, on the other hand, may take years, if ever, to acquire a new language or become proficient in certain aspects of mathematics.

So why do kids pick things up so quickly? Is it only a matter of necessity, or can a child's brain process new knowledge more quickly than an adult's?

There are some misconceptions about how children learn, according to Debbie Ravenscroft, a senior lecturer in early childhood studies at the University of Chester in the U.K., who wrote to Live Science in an email. "It is a common way of thinking that 'children are like sponges' and have the magical ability to learn new skills faster than an adult, but there are some misconceptions here," she said. "Age affects a child's cognitive development, and children typically do lower than their older classmates in most domains. There are, however, circumstances in which being young offers a benefit, and these tend to revolve around their first years."

This benefit is largely attributable to neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain's capacity to create and alter connections, pathways, and circuits in response to events. Children's ability to swiftly learn — and, if necessary, unlearn — routines, strategies, and behaviours is a result of neuroplasticity. Before a child becomes five(opens in new tab), when much of what they encounter or experience is novel, this capacity is most constant and quick.

 

According to Ravenscroft, "This [rapid learning] is related to a number of factors, including plasticity, their encounters with adults, their environment, and their biological need to explore." Children spend their time in childhood catching up with adults' more advanced abilities.