US Study: Reading and Play Support Children's Attention and Learning

A recent US study showed that reading, playing, and solving puzzles with children in their early years is associated with greater brain activity in areas linked to attention and social interaction, highlighting the importance of direct interaction with children to support their development and learning abilities.

Researchers at Northwestern University in the US, in a study published in the scientific journal "Brain and Language" on Wednesday, noted that they monitored children's brain activity while they participated with their parents in activities such as reading stories and assembling puzzles, and compared it with activity recorded while watching movies together.

The results showed that direct interaction with parents was associated with patterns of brain activity related to attention and social interaction to a greater extent than was observed during movie watching, indicating the importance of children participating in activities rather than just relying on viewing-based activities.

The study showed that these patterns appeared in children with different levels of language abilities, including children with autism or those experiencing language development delays, highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for interaction and shared play tailored to each child's needs.

Researchers pointed out that reading and playing with children is not limited to entertainment, but provides opportunities for communication, attention, and learning through direct participation with parents or caregivers.

The research team continues to study how brain activity synchronizes between children and parents during interaction, and how this relates to language development and mental health, and whether these indicators can be used to identify early on children who may need additional support.

The study highlights the importance of dedicating time to reading, playing, and conversing with children, as these activities provide opportunities for communication and learning in early developmental stages.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)