The learning methods and training details of Harvard's top students

Chapter 45 Excellent children need space to grow up freely (1)
(Harvard representative: Seidelz) In fact, every child is a genius, because every child has infinite possibilities. A child's talent is like Ali Baba's treasure, which requires us to open the closed door and put When the talent is released, the difference in the future of the child is here.

—William James, psychologist and Harvard professor
【Wonderful Guide】

Biography of Seidelz
William James Seidelz (1900~?), whose father is the famous psychologist Boris Seidelz, studied under Dr. James, the father of American psychology education.

Little Seidlz received enlightenment education at the age of 1 and a half; he was able to read and write fluently in his mother tongue at the age of 3; he began to study science at the age of 5, and soon obtained excellent results in the medical license examination; he entered elementary school at the age of 6, at 9 am He was still in the first grade. When his mother picked him up at noon, he had already been assigned to the third grade. He graduated from elementary school that year. He wanted to go to middle school at the age of 7, but the school refused to accept him because he was too young. Math class, and let him assist the teacher to correct other students' math homework.Not only that, but he also wrote textbooks on astronomy, English grammar, and Latin grammar during middle school.Before long, he dropped out of school.

Many people came from all over to test him.For example, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology tested him with a difficult problem that he had a headache when he was studying for a doctorate in Germany, but he didn't expect him to answer it quickly.This year, he was only 9 years old.

For the next two years, he was still homeschooled. At the age of 11, he was admitted to Harvard University.Soon after enrolling, he was able to explain mathematical problems such as four-dimensional space, which surprised the professors.When he was 12 years old, he was good at advanced mathematics and astronomy that even many scholars felt headaches, and he could also recite famous works such as "Iliad" and "Odyssey" in Greek.He is proficient in ancient Greek, and when reading the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, etc., he is as easy as other children reading "Robinson Crusoe".He is also proficient in linguistics and theology, and at the same time he is familiar with logic, ancient history, American history and other books, and is familiar with American politics and constitution. At the age of 15, Seidelz graduated from Harvard University, and then studied for a doctorate in the school's graduate school.

【Character Story】

free-growing genius

Little Seidlz received voluntary study since he was a child. If he didn't want to study, his father Seidlz would never force him.The fact is that every time he learns a piece of knowledge, little Seidelz always feels happy and asks to learn more knowledge.

Not only did Seidlz not keep his son locked up in the room, but he often took him out into nature.It can be said that Seidelz's education has always been completed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Whether it is mathematics, physiology or physics, he gradually mastered it in a state similar to playing.

His education is based on relaxation, freedom and pleasure.He pays great attention to protecting the child's free personality, and tries to avoid restraint and depression from both physical and mental aspects; he believes that children's sensitivity to music exceeds vision, so he attaches great importance to children's music education, and uses music education to develop children's IQ and emotional intelligence.

Seidlz often customizes games and toys for his son, covering painting, music, modeling, language, performance, intelligence, sports and many other aspects. These games and toys hide some secrets of knowledge, waiting for the naughty kitten After discovering the weirdness, Dr. Seidelz made the best use of the situation and gave lectures.

Seidelz let his son dismantle the clocks and instruments at home, and carefully answered the "ridiculous" questions that Seidelz seemed to be unruly.Little Seidelz was terrified the first time he went on the swing. "It's like this. As far as I know, everyone is terrified when they go on the swing for the first time, and so is Dad," Seidelz said encouraging Seidlz, "When I first got on the swing pedal You are more scared than you, and you don’t dare to shake when you stand there. You are much better than me, and I believe you will be able to swing very high in a few days.”

In the end, little Seidelz overcame his fear.

Seidelz used the example of a swing to illustrate that when a child feels fearful about doing something for the first time, encouragement will keep him going, while hitting or laughing at a child's fear will only drive a poisonous wedge into the heart , Even if it is pulled out, there will be scars.

【Harvard view】

give him a space

Every child has his own dream.Reality is important, and dreams are also important.Dream is a liberation for children, it will make children enter the world of freedom from the shackles of reality.Annihilation of children's fantasies is tantamount to turning everything in reality into a bondage and inhibiting children's healthy growth.

Like plants, children also need spiritual nourishment.Freedom is the most important nourishment for children's growth.And some parents are often worried about some naive imaginations of their children, and often control some instinctive needs of their children with good intentions, but in the end they do bad things with good intentions.

Russell said: "If the imagination is kept alive in childhood by age-appropriate stimuli, it will be more active later when it is functioned in a manner appropriate to adults."

Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University, former director of the Fairbank Center for East Asian Studies, and sociologist Fu Gaoyi liked making handicrafts when he was a child, and often hid in his room to make various gadgets.

Every time, when Fu Gaoyi finished making gadgets and showed them to his parents, his parents always said to him impatiently: "Don't do boring things all day long, study hard!"

Once, the parents took Xiao Gaoyi to his uncle's house as a guest, and his mother found some very unique gadgets hanging in the living room, so she asked Xiao Gaoyi's uncle, "Where did you buy such unique decorations?"

But Xiao Gaoyi's uncle said: "This is made by Xiao Gaoyi's cousin Jack." Jack also smiled embarrassedly.

Xiao Gaoyi said to his mother: "Mom, I can also make such a thing, do you believe it?"

My mother couldn't help but feel a little ashamed when she thought that some of the gadgets that Xiao Gaoyi usually made were thrown into the storage room by herself.

After returning home, Xiao Gaoyi carefully made a few small gadgets, and his mother did not throw them away, but hung them on the wall. Since then, Xiao Gaoyi has created more and more small creations.

Childhood is a critical period for cultivating children's creativity, and the level of children's creativity mainly depends on whether parents can give children a sky to grow freely.

According to the survey, children in loose and free families tend to have strong thinking ability and creativity, while children in authoritarian and depressive families or excessively restricting freedom often lack creativity.This is because children in authoritarian families often do not have the right to speak freely, cannot fully express their ideas, and therefore lack creativity.

Only in a family atmosphere with freedom and sunshine can the personality of children be respected, and the relationship between family members will be equal and democratic.If there is something, parents should discuss it with their children and find a way together.If the child's opinion is more pertinent, parents should let the child express his opinion freely and follow the child's suggestion. This can encourage the child to actively use his brain and cultivate his creativity.

[Easy interaction]

1. By reading Fu Gaoyi's story, what kind of inspiration do you have for educating your children?
2. In normal family life, can you give your children a space to grow up freely?

3. Do you think a relatively relaxed family environment is better for raising children; or a stricter family environment is better for raising children?
【Parent-child total product】

Xin Yuntian, a girl from Harbin, is famous for being admitted to a university at the age of 14.However, she never went to school for a day, nor did she take part in any type of cram school. Science was taught by her mother, and liberal arts was taught by her father, but she easily scored 560 points in the test.

Compared with other children of the same age, she is free and happy.Xin Yuntian sleeps until she wakes up naturally every day. She usually studies the main subjects in the morning and studies according to her interests in the afternoon.In the evening, I watch some science and education films, historical films, etc., and my parents usually teach her to skate, swim, and dance.The children in the compound are willing to come to her to play, because they know that Xin Yuntian is always on call, and her parents never stop her.Her father said, "Although grades cannot determine everything, I have realized a truth from educating children myself: learning should be a happy thing, not a chore. Don't force children to do this or that, but let them Children experience the joy of learning, learn in joy, and grow in learning.”

【Harvard view】

Release the wings, let the children grow and imagine freely
In children's nature, there is a desire to explore the strange world outside. There are countless "whys" in their hearts, and they want to understand the true colors of this wonderful world.If adults treat it with a habitual attitude and a disapproving attitude, the child's wings to explore the strange world will be gradually imprisoned.

At a party celebrating Children's Day, the host said: "Parents, please take a few steps back and give your children a free space to see how our children behave when their parents are not around." The parents tentatively stepped back one step, two steps, and three steps, then laughed and refused to retreat any more.And after a while, the children were tightly surrounded again, and from time to time loudly reminded the children in the team to pay attention to this and be careful of that... The standing adults formed a human wall, covering the children airtight.

Today's children carry too much love, which sometimes forms a thick barrier around the child, hindering the child's free activities.Every parent has placed unlimited expectations on their children, and they have worked hard for their children. The purpose is nothing more than to enable children to become talents and careers in the future, and gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive society in the future.But what kind of children can better gain a foothold in the future society?Is it a child raised in the arms of parents?Is it a child who lives under the wing of his parents without his own opinion and personality?no.Every parent understands this truth, but in practice, they often "hoop" their children too tightly because of too much love and too high expectations.They can't let go of their children, and they dare not let go of their children's "wings", even if it is a few steps away.Why is our children's autonomy getting worse when the living environment and educational conditions are getting better and better?As parents, have we ever considered such issues while loving our children?

There is a very interesting story:
The teacher asked the students: "There are 10 birds on the tree, if you shoot and kill one, how many are left?"

This is a traditional brain teaser question. People who are not smart enough will honestly answer "9 left", while smart people will answer "no one left".But one child answered in this way.

He asked back, "Is it a silent pistol?"

"No."

"How loud was the gunshot?"

"All the birds can be heard clearly."

"Is it illegal to shoot birds in this city?"

"No offense."

"Are you sure the bird was really killed?"

(End of this chapter)