What do you get when you put a bunch of 16 month-olds in high chairs and surround them with apple sauce, pudding, and soup?
A mess, of course. Also, words.
Researchers at the University of Iowa, I presume wearing waterproof ponchos and a sense of humor, found that toddlers learn words better when they’re allowed to throw, squoosh, smoosh, prod, and eat the associating non-solid item, especially if they’re in a highchair at the time.
Lead researcher Larissa Samuelson, associate professor in psychology at the UI, explains to parents with sizable paper towel budgets:
“It may look like your child is playing in the high chair, throwing things on the ground, and they may be doing that, but they are getting information out of (those actions).”
In other words, if they throw it, they learn it.
SPLAT! Pudding.
SQUOOSH! Oatmeal.
SPLASH! Milk.
“Playing with these foods there actually helped these children in the lab, and they learned the names better,” adds Samuelson, who refers to the media of these toddler masterpieces as “non-solids.”
Sadly, there was no word on what you’ll learn about the washability of your wallpaper.
