How Play Helps a Kid’s Brain Grow | Jesse Ilhardt | TED

翻译人员: Yip Yan Yeung 校对人员: Grace Man

Fifteen years ago,

十五年前，

I walked into a classroom as a first-year preschool teacher.

我走进教室， 成为了一名幼儿园小班教师。

Ambitious and eager to impress,

我斗志昂扬， 很想做出一些成绩，

I created this Excel document

于是做了一个表格，

to track the things I thought mattered most for my students:

记录那些我认为对我的学生 最重要的一些事：

letters, numbers, shapes and colors.

字母、数字、形状、颜色。

Looking back, though, with what I know now,

虽然就我如今所知 回首往昔，

I wish I wouldn't have bothered with Excel or rote memorization.

我多希望当时没有纠缠于 做表格和死记硬背。

I wish instead I had leveraged the power of brain-building interactive play.

我多希望当时充分利用了 健脑互动游戏。

For years, we’ve known

长久以来，我们都知道

that play-based learning is far superior to rote memorization.

寓教于乐比死记硬背 效果要好很多。

Harvard's Center on the Developing Child tells us,

哈佛儿童发展研究中心

as well as countless other institutions,

和许多机构表明，

that play, and especially the back and forth interactions,

游戏，尤其是有来有往的互动，

the serve and return,

你来我往，

the alternating comments, questions, gestures

孩子和成人一起玩耍时

between children and adults when they play together,

轮流产生的想法、问题和动作，

that's what helps build neural connections in the child's brain.

有助于在儿童的大脑中 建立神经联结。

And in particular, they build the brain's prefrontal cortex.

尤其有助于 前额叶皮质的发育。

That's the executive control center of the brain.

前额叶皮质是大脑的 控制决策中心。

The part that manages emotions, solves problems, makes plans --

控制情绪、解决问题、 制定计划——

all things that children have to do when they play.

都是儿童在玩耍时 需要完成的任务。

So when we think of it that way, play is actually hard work.

这么一想，玩耍还挺难的。

If learning is like a workout for the brain,

如果学习可以看作 大脑的健身，

then play-based learning is the heavy lifting.

那寓教于乐就类似于举重。

And just as heavy lifting builds muscle,

如同举重可以增肌，

play-based learning builds the brain's architecture.

寓教于乐可以搭建起大脑的结构。

So then where do us as grown-ups come in?

那我们作为成年人 该扮演什么角色呢？

It's those interactions when a child says something

我们该加入这些互动， 孩子说了什么，

and a parent or teacher says something back,

家长或老师作出回应，

those interactions help the child to persist, to stick with their plan,

这些互动能让孩子 坚持自己的计划，

to keep rebuilding the block tower each time it falls.

就算积木小楼塌了也能 不屈不挠，重新搭建。

So it's the play paired with the adult interactions.

玩乐加上成人的互动，

It's like superfood for the brain.

就像是对大脑的超级食物。

The research community in supportive play is so resounding,

针对支持性游戏的研究 卓有成效，

I would expect to see children in nearly every household,

我觉得以后每家每户、

every preschool and kindergarten classroom

每间学前班和幼儿园 教室里的孩子

playing for most of their waking hours.

都能在醒着的大部分时间里 一直玩耍。

But that's far from reality.

但是这与现实相去甚远。

We don't see widespread uptake of play among parents or teachers,

我们没有看到家长或教师 广泛采取玩乐教育，

and sometimes we even see resistance.

有的时候甚至会有些抗拒。

So what's going on?

怎么回事？

What's driving us as parents and teachers to ignore the overwhelming research

为什么我们作为家长和教师， 一牵涉到玩耍，

就会选择无视丰富的研究成果？

when it comes to play?

After years of teaching preschool, coaching teachers, coaching parents

多年以来，我从事学前教育、 指导教师、指导家长、

and analyzing my own parenting,

分析我自己做家长的方式，

I've realized our best intentions are getting in the way.

我发现，我们不甘人后的心理 就是罪魁祸首。

We live in a comparison culture,

我们的文化就是凡事都要比较，

and we worry that our child won't be good enough.

我们会担心自己的孩子不够优秀。

Won't be good enough for the soccer team,

不够优秀加入足球队，

won't be ready for kindergarten,

没准备好上幼儿园，

won't be as smart as their classmates.

没有同学那么聪明。

And we worry that if our child doesn't measure up,

我们担心如果孩子落后于人，

it will be our fault.

那就是我们自己的错。

Our hyperfocus on our children and our students’s success is backfiring.

我们对孩子和学生成功的过度关注 产生了事与愿违的效果。

And it's exacerbated by two forces I see impacting

大多数家长和老师都会受到

两股力量的影响， 从而使事态更加恶化。

the large majority of parents and teachers.

First, the need for immediate gratification

第一，对即时满足

and quick results.

和立竿见影的渴望。

And second, our own discomfort with play,

第二，我们自身对玩乐的不适，

either because we don't have the time or energy,

有可能是因为我们没有 足够的时间或者精力，

or because we just don't know how to play anymore.

也有可能是因为 我们已经不知道该怎么玩了。

On the topic of immediate gratification,

说到即时满足，

I think back to that Excel document I created as a first-year teacher.

我想起了当小班老师时 做的那张表格。

That document was the manifestation of my anxiety,

那份文件将我的焦虑暴露无遗，

because often when we feel anxious or out of control,

因为每当我们感到焦虑 或者失去控制的时候，

we revert back to what we can control.

都会转向我们能控制的东西。

For parents and teachers,

对于家长和老师来说，

we often revert to fact-based teaching

我们总是会转而采取 基于事实的教育方法，

because we see pretty immediate results that affirm our efforts.

因为我们能看到 证明我们付出的即时成果。

Whereas we can't see the connections in the child's brain

但是我们看不见 孩子脑中的联结，

that fire when they finally get that wobbly block tower to stay standing.

在让摇摇欲坠的积木小楼 稳稳站住时点亮的那些联结。

The immediate result of something like our child learning a new letter,

那些即时产生的成果， 比如孩子学会了一个新的字母，

it gives us this dopamine rush that then sets off a flywheel effect

会让我们多巴胺飙升， 然后产生飞轮效应，

because as we see and feel the results of our work more and more,

因为我们越来越能看见、 感受到我们努力的成果，

we subconsciously begin to prioritize that type of teaching.

于是就会不自觉地 优先选择这种教育方式。

Recently, my staff was coaching a group of school principals

最近，我的同事在 培训一群校长，

on the importance of play.

告诉他们玩乐的重要性。

And one of the principals said

一个校长说，

that his teachers just weren't on board.

他的老师们干不了。

They said their students are too far behind to play.

老师们说他们的学生 进度太落后了，不能玩。

And those well-intentioned teachers,

这些本意是好的老师，

they were equating academic learning that their students needed

他们将学生需要的学业教育

with methods that would show quick, concrete results.

等同于那些立竿见影的方法。

They felt really proud and accomplished

他们为能够告诉学生家长， 他们的孩子那个月

when they could talk to the students' parents

and say how many letters and numbers they learned that month.

学了多少个字母和数字， 感到十分自豪、有成就感。

Because we as parents and teachers,

我们作为家长和老师，

we share this universal desire for our kids to do well.

都怀有让我们的孩子更好的愿望。

And we will pour our energy and resources into making that happen.

于是，我们会倾尽精力和资源 实现这个目标。

And that's showing up in our spending habits.

这在我们的消费习惯中也可见一斑。

Marketers are preying on it as they advertise the latest and greatest toys,

营销人员虎视眈眈， 借此宣传最新最棒的玩具、

flashcards, iPad apps for brain development,

识字卡、iPad 益智应用，

even kits that claim to teach your baby to read.

甚至是号称能教你的宝宝 如何阅读的工具包。

Seriously, babies.

说真的，宝宝哎。

And because we worry that our kids won't measure up, we fall prey to that.

由于我们担心孩子落后于人， 所以我们心甘情愿任人宰割。

The global market for educational toys surpassed 68 billion dollars in 2021

教育类玩具的全球市场 于 2021 年突破了 680 亿美元，

and is projected to reach 132 billion by 2028.

预计在 2028 年以前 可达 1320 亿。

But those smart toys,

但是这些智力玩具，

they're a far cry from the interactive,

和我之前提到的互动、 充满玩乐的学习方式相去甚远。

playful learning that I was talking about earlier.

That type of learning, the real gold standard of early education,

这种形式的学习过程是 早期教育真正的黄金法则，

it's not immediate.

它不是立等可取的。

It takes time and it doesn't lend itself to a checklist or an Excel document.

它需要时间， 而且不会依赖于某个清单或表格。

The second force I see negatively impacting play-based learning

第二股会对寓教于乐 产生负面影响的力量是

is that we, as grown ups, parents and teachers,

我们作为成年人， 作为家长和老师，

just don't always like hearing that play-based learning

就是不想听到寓教于乐

might require some of us.

需要我们的付出这样的说法。

Because that means it will take time,

因为这意味着我们得付出 我们自认为没有的

energy and skills that we don't think we have.

时间、精力和能力。

But not only is it worth our time, it can be done in really small doses.

但是，这不仅值得我们付出时间， 而且并不需要付出很长时间。

So take this simple example of bath time.

我们就举洗澡时间 这个简单的例子。

If I'm a busy mom who has a few extra dollars to spend,

如果我是个忙碌的妈妈， 有点闲钱，

I might pop my kiddo into the tub,

我可能会把孩子丢进浴缸，

remember that buying bath toys has been on my never-ending mental to-do list

几周以来，购买洗浴玩具一直 在我脑海中那长长的待办事项中，

for weeks,

so I whip out my phone

所以我掏出手机，

and I use that five minutes to go over to Amazon

在亚马逊上花五分钟

and buy the top-rated bath toys.

购入了评分最高的洗浴玩具。

And I'm not here to say that those bath toys are harmful for your child.

我不是想说 这些洗浴玩具对你的孩子有害。

They're not.

它们不是有害的。

But you're busy.

但是你很忙。

So what you do with that five to 10 minutes, it matters.

但是你在那 5 到 10 分钟内 做的事十分重要。

And you know what would be way better than scrolling Amazon

你知道有什么能比刷亚马逊和

and even better than those bath toys?

那些洗浴玩具更棒吗？

Three things that I can almost guarantee you have in your home.

我敢保证你家里一定有 这三样东西。

Measuring cups,

量杯、

kitchen sponges and you.

厨房海绵和你自己。

Because a couple household materials dropped into the bathtub,

因为如果把这些日常用具 放进你的浴缸，

and this mundane routine

这枯燥乏味的家务

becomes fun and surprisingly energizing bonding time

对你和孩子来说就成为了 更加有趣、让人振奋的联结时间。

for you and your child.

And bonus,

附赠一点，

instead of the manufacturer-designed toy telling your child how to play,

你没有使用那些教孩子怎么玩的 流水线玩具，

your child's brain has to do the heavy lifting.

而是依靠孩子自己的大脑 承担重任。

And that's that superfood for the brain.

这就是给大脑的超级食物。

Now, over the past 10 years coaching parents,

在过去 10 年的家长培训中，

I have heard over and over again

我一次次听到

that parents don't feel good enough at their job, at parenting.

家长感觉没有胜任自己的工作， 即为人父母。

And there's so much pressure on us,

我们承受了很大的压力，

and sometimes it feels like we're supposed to innately know

有时候感觉我们天生就得知道

how to get down on the floor and build our baby's brains.

如何亲身实践， 增强孩子的大脑。

And over the past few years,

在过去的几年里，

the social media world has exploded

社交媒体的世界里充斥着

with even more advice for parents and teachers.

越来越多给家长和老师的建议。

How to affirm children's feelings but still set clear boundaries.

如何判断孩子的感受 又保持明确的界限。

15 ways to use a cardboard box in your classroom.

将纸板箱用于课堂的 15 种方法。

And DIY Halloween costumes that are sure to win the school costume contest.

动手制作绝对能赢得 学校装扮大赛的万圣节装扮。

And as I rattle those off,

我列举了这么一堆，

I could just imagine the rolling eyes from parents and teachers,

都能想象到 家长老师的白眼，

and I share that frustration.

我也知道这有多么让人崩溃。

Because sometimes all the chatter

因为有时这些满天飞的信息

only makes us feel more pressured to get it right.

只会让我们更迫切地想要做对。

When it comes to our children's learning, though,

但是说到子女教育，

we don't have to be the perfect Etsy parent

我们不必成为完美的 Etsy 家长，

or the perfect Pinterest teacher.

或者完美的 Pinterest 老师。

We have to prioritize interactions and be OK with them being imperfect.

我们需要把互动放在第一位， 接受自己的不完美。

Because it may seem silly to admit that we don't feel good

因为承认自己不擅长和孩子玩耍

at playing with our kids,

似乎有点傻，

but as adults, it's not always intuitive.

但是对于成年人来说， 玩耍并没有那么容易。

Sure, most of us played a lot when we were little.

诚然，大多数人 小时候总是在玩耍。

We'd tie the blankets around their neck

我们会像超级英雄那样 把毯子系在脖子上，

and bound around the house like superheroes.

绕着房子跑来跑去。

But as we grew up, that type of play wasn't encouraged anymore.

但是随着我们长大， 这种游戏再也不会受到追捧了。

And just as with any skill that we don't use,

就如同我们不使用的技能，

we risk losing it.

我们有可能会丧失它。

A couple months ago, my colleague and I,

几个月前，我和我的同事

we were leading a workshop for parents and teachers.

为家长和老师 组织了一场工作坊。

And we brought materials like shaving cream

我们带来了一些材料， 如剃须膏、

and plastic straws and buttons

塑料吸管、纽扣、

and pipe cleaners

管道清洁刷，

and just asked the parents and teachers to play,

然后让家长和老师用它们玩，

to create.

用它们创造。

Everyone froze.

大家都呆住了。

Then, slowly but surely, people started to create.

但是大家确实逐渐开始创作了。

And by the end of the session,

在活动结束的时候，

their faces were lighting up as they shared their creations

他们与大家分享了作品， 一脸高兴的神色。

with the rest of the group.

And it reminded me that as adults,

这提醒了我，作为成年人，

we have to let go of our expectation that we get it right.

我们得抛下必须要做对的预设。

Because if we opt out of play,

因为如果我们不玩耍，

based on what we know about how important our interactions are

根据我们所知 互动对儿童发育的重要性，

to children's development,

if we opt out of play,

如果我们不玩的话，

it has major implications for their brain development.

会对孩子的大脑发育产生 严重影响。

Now I know that finding the energy

我知道留出精力

to play with our kids and students can be hard.

陪孩子和学生玩可能会很难。

Even in small doses,

就算是那么一点点精力，

it takes our undivided attention.

还是会分走我们 全神贯注的注意力。

But it’s so worth it.

但这是值得的。

Because in all my experience and research,

因为根据我的经验和研究，

I haven't found any evidence

没有任何迹象表明

that making the homemade cookies for the school bake sale

为学校烘焙特卖 自制小饼干

matters for your child's brain development.

对你孩子的大脑发育 会有什么帮助。

I haven't found any evidence that sewing that winning Halloween costume

也没有迹象表明制作 获奖的万圣节装扮

means they'll do well in school.

代表孩子会在学校表现优秀。

But what does matter

但是重要的是，

is that the interactions leave space

互动体验为孩子的学习、

for your child to learn, to persist, to play, to experiment.

坚持、玩耍、试验创造了空间。

You have the power to have an enormous impact on their brain development.

你有能力为孩子的大脑发育 创造重大影响。

You are helping build the network of neural connections

你在帮助他们 搭建神经联结的网络，

that lay the foundation for all of their future learning.

为他们以后的学习打下基础。

So this week at bath time,

所以，这周的洗澡时间，

I hope that you'll put aside the top-rated toys,

我希望你能丢开 那评分很好的玩具，

forget that mental to-do list for a moment,

暂时忘记脑海中的待办事项，

grab some measuring cups,

拿上几个量杯、

some kitchen sponges, and give it a try.

几块厨房海绵，尝试一下。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）