Page 78 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1867

PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE No. 1866
ISSUE No. 1856
PERSPECTIVES JAVANAN
JAVANAN
Dr. Alan A.
Modarressi LOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Clinical and A SOCIOCULTURAL AND MIND AND BODY OUTLOOK
Neuro-Psychologyst In this column, we examine the mental health issues in the context
of social, culture, and physiological concerns of the Iranian community

HELPING YOUR KIDS TO BECOME his lunch box are alike and how they that’s the worst thing that could hap-
are different.
pen because we are wired to express
This 20-minute daily practice
BETTER PROBLEM SOLVERS makes kids ‘better problem solvers,’ ourselves and art is an amazing me-
dium,” she says.
With the understandable desire
Ways of Cultivating Problem-Solving says Johns Hopkins child develop- for their kids to be successful, many
ment expert Susan Magsamen.
There are lots of daily tasks —
Skills in Your Children eating vegetables, doing homework, parents only want their children en-
gaging in subjects that they feel can
brushing teeth — that kids might be monetized.
esearch shows that in the instance, ask him to: not understand, or care, are ben- “We’ve created these pathologies
course of your child’s day, Imagine all the different ways to eficial. But forming these habits are in our culture about wasting time,”
Rdozens of questions like get to school (walking, flying, driv- necessary for them to become well- says Magsamen.
these arise: “What’s inside this ing, swimming!). adjusted adults. Leaving some space between
box?” “How can I get into it?” name everything he can think of Though, there is one less-talked- school and sports and extracur-
“How far can I throw this ball?” that’s red. name everything he can about activity that is crucial for child riculars isn’t wasting time, though.
“What will happen if I spill all of the think of that’s round. development: engaging with and “Providing that time and space al-
crayons out of the box?” “I wonder Imagine all the things he could creating art. lows you to figure out what you like
if my teddy bear floats?” “How can make out of clay or paper bags or “Children who are using the arts and don’t like and what you think is
I get these pieces of paper to stick to even an empty box. are better problem solvers,” says Su- beautiful,” she says.
that piece of paper?” “Why does my These are good examples of san Magsamen, co-author of “Your Providing that time and space al-
block tower keep falling over?” thinking problems that have many Brain on Art: How the Arts Trans- lows you to figure out what you like
By asking these questions, your right answers. Research has shown form Us.” Magsamen is also the and don’t like and what you think is
child is identifying and figuring out that the ability to think fluently has founder of the International Arts + beautiful.
ways to solve them, and trying out a high correlation to school suc- Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neu- Engaging with art doesn’t have to
her ideas. Every time she experi- cess later on. Another part of cre- roaesthetics at Johns Hopkins Uni- mean enrolling your kids in classes.
ments with and investigates things ative thinking is “flexible” thinking, versity School of Medicine. It can be economical and low-pres-
in her world, such as how far water “They are building stronger pre- sure. In fact, it can be as easy as just
will squirt from a sprayer and what’s which is the ability to see many pos- frontal cortex skills like executive going outside.
inside a seedpod, for example, she sibilities or to view objects or situ- function and memory. They are able “Looking up at the clouds and
ations in different ways. The next
is building her ability to solve prob- time your child pretends a pot is a to regulate their emotions better.” finding pictures in the clouds, called
lems. This is also true when she se- And they don’t have to do it for pareidolia, that’s a really amazing
lects materials for building or when hat or a spoon is a microphone or all that long to see long-term effects, activity that kids love,” Magsamen
she learns to resolve an argument speculates on all the reasons that a she says. says.
with a friend or sibling over a toy. child in a picture might feel sad, he “To start, integrate 20 minutes of “Kids love novelty and surprise,
If we look at this process more is practicing his flexible thinking. some kind of art experience every- and they are super curious. Where
closely, we discover that problem Critical, or logical, thinking is the day, whether you are a maker or be- are places you can take kids where
solving involves both creative and ability to break an idea into its parts holder,” she says. “We think it starts there is awe, and surprise and won-
critical thinking. Both are necessary and analyze them. The math skills of to regulate the nervous system in a der? Once you’ve got that and you
to figure out the solutions to prob- sorting and classifying, comparing way that changes how we feel.” see their energy raise, then you can
lems of all kinds. similarities and differences, are all ‘We are wired to express our- move them toward activities that are
Creative thinking is the heart of parts of critical thinking. Whenever selves’ going to continue to build on that.”
problem solving. It is the ability your child looks at, say, two glasses Both parents and kids often stop Even certain television programs
to see a different way to do some- of juice and tries to figure out which prioritizing art when it becomes a that prioritize storytelling can be
thing, generate new ideas, and use one holds more, he is practicing this skill that they don’t consider a legiti- part of your child’s engagement
materials in new ways. Central to kind of thinking. To encourage it, mate career avenue, says Ivy Ross, with art. As long as it’s accompanied
creative thinking is the willingness ask your child: co-author of “Your Brain on Art” by other experiences.
to take risks, to experiment, and how many different ways he can and the vice president of hardware “It’s about time and balance,”
even to make a mistake. Part of sort his blocks. how many different design at Google. Ross says. “There’s taking in story-
creative thinking is “fluent” think- ways he can make a building out of “Judgment comes in or a teacher telling and music, then there is mak-
ing, which is the ability to generate the blocks. how the building would says, ‘no that’s not the way you draw ing with your hands and feeling. It’s
or brainstorm ideas. So ask your be different if he used blocks of only a tree’ and it shuts down these kids’ almost this diet you want for your
child “wide-open” questions! For one size. how a bottle of juice and desire to make art, and, ironically, child. This well-balanced diet.”
DANESH FOROUGHI, PH.D. Alan Modarressi, PhD, QME

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY13680 Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Marriage, Family & Child Psychotherapist, MFC23455 Qualified Medical Evaluator
Certified National Board of Addiction Examiners #4974 Certified Psychophsychologist
Tel: (310) 940-3642 Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management

15720 Ventura Blvd., Second Fl. #224 Encino CA 91436 (818) 501-6080 (562) 861-7226

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