Since the late 90s of the last century, schools and families have shown interest in developing the cognitive abilities of toddlers. Faced with the idea of turning children into geniuses at an early age who can also excel in different disciplines, there are numerous methods without a scientific basis that guarantee optimal results in a short time.
Most of these methods have no scientific basis and their effects have not been proven.
Kumon and Doman
One of the most famous, and one that has encouraged more families to invest time and money, is the Doman method. In the 1950s, Glen Doman, a Philadelphia neurologist, developed a method of teaching reading originally intended for children with traumatic brain injuries. At first the center was located in Philadelphia. Families from all over the world traveled there every six months looking for solutions to their children’s problems, from learning difficulties to disabilities due to brain damage, at a cost of 9,000 euros per visit.
The method became popular, and in the late 90s it was strange not to find a kindergarten that did not have BIT intelligence, another aspect of the method designed to promote the cognitive development of the youngest students. Today, this method has fallen into disuse and is no longer used in almost any school.
However, many schools are easily infiltrated by educational practices, although in most cases they do not directly harm the child, but come at a significant financial cost and an incalculable loss of time that could be devoted to methods or programs that have scientific justification. especially in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Another of the methods that still exist today is the Kumon method. Invented in 1954 by math teacher Toru Kumon, this method aims to maximize a child’s potential and passion for learning. At first, the methodology focused on mathematics, then it also included teaching reading, and now it already has its own methodology for learning English.
Despite much criticism, it is easy to find Kumon academies in some cities.
Tomatis Method
Another example can be found in the TOMATIS method, a neurosensory stimulation program. Its goal is to improve listening and communication skills. Alfred Tomatis was an otolaryngologist dedicated to studying the close relationship between voice, brain and ear.
According to its creators, TOMATIS can help both patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders such as dyslexia and even autism. A 2004 review of research indicates that the Tomatis method does not treat or improve his vocal or communication problems.
Other researchers found in 2008 that patients who took one of their courses did not improve any more than patients in a control group who received a placebo.
Method tomato
This method, which has recently become popular again thanks to social networks, is not just a method, but a way to manage study or work time. It’s about dividing time into short blocks of about 25 minutes, during which you can devote yourself intensively to a specific task, punctuated by short breaks.
The name comes from its inventor, the Italian Francesco Cirillo, because he used a tomato-shaped watch to measure these intervals (tomato in Italian).
Although little research has been done, there is some research showing that short, regular stops or breaks increase productivity and reduce mental fatigue. From a cognitive perspective, setting specific goals and prioritizing tasks helps focus and a sense of accomplishment.
Unmet family needs
The desire of parents to compensate for the difficulties of their children with neurodevelopmental or behavioral disorders favors an urgent search for solutions. Many families end up spending large sums of money on pseudo-therapy, which is not at all conducive to the development of the child’s abilities.
None of the methods presented in the article have scientific evidence of their effectiveness. That is, there have been no rigorous studies demonstrating how the use of the Doman method, bits intelligence or the Kumon method produce significant changes in the intellectual abilities of the child. Similarly, there have been no studies showing improvements in motivation, attention, or memory in children trained with this method.
It is very important that before starting therapy, parents consult with specialists to check the scientific validity of the method in question.
Lidia Arroyo Navajas, Professor of the Faculty of Education, International University of Valencia
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.
Source: RPP
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