President Obama's proposal to provide free E-books reflects naive psychology since there are already free books available through school and local libraries. What is needed is for parents to read to toddlers and to speak with rather than to their children (i.e., explain why something shouldn't be done rather than saying, "Do it because I say so."). The latter interactions depress the development of a crucial cognitive ability, a child's capacity for abstract thinking, as psychologists have known for fifty years. These parenting behaviors are the cheapest--and most effective--preschool education that a child can receive.
Unfortunately, attributing a child's developmental issues to the parenting they experienced isn't politically correct these days. Well, perhaps someday science will prevail.
Unfortunately, attributing a child's developmental issues to the parenting they experienced isn't politically correct these days. Well, perhaps someday science will prevail.