Yesterday, 10/5/08, I read a magazine, Scientific American Mind, that we used to subscribe when my son was home, dated 8-9/2008. There are some articles on mind and intelligence that I thought interesting. I jot down for my children some brief ideas below.

One article, “Quiet! Sleeping Brain at Work,” by Robert Stickgold and Jeffrey Ellenboger. I quote the following because both of my children have the tendency to burn midnight oil or cut back their sleep hours.  Also, for those who think sleep is a waste of time or sleep mainly plays the function of repairing damaged cells, read this article or even better, read the following quotes.

“During slumber, our brain engages in data analysis, from strengthing memories to solving problems.”

“Sleep not only strengthen memories, it also lets the brain sift through newly formed memories, possibly even identifying what is worth keeping and selectively maintaining or enhancing these aspects of a memory.”

“As we snoose, our brain is busily processing the information we have learned during the day.”

“Sleep makes memories stronger, and it even appears to weed out irrelevant details and background information so that only the important pieces remain.”

“Sleep to remember.” “Sleep does something to improve memory that being awake does not.”

Another article, “High Aptitude Minds: Brain Researchers are Finding Clues to the Biological Basis of Brilliance,” by Christian Hoppe and Jelena Stojanovic. My son once said, “I wish I were as smart as my cousin.” I want to share the following with my son and let him see intelligence index includes other factors.  Also, the article confirms a fact about a high IQ person that both my children and I have known of.

“People often overestimate the importance of intellectual ability. Practice and perseverance contribute more to accomplishment than being smart does.”

“IQ is not as important as self-discipline and a willingness to work hard.”  “… students with more self-discipline — a willingness to sacrifice short-term pleasure for long-term gain– were more likely than those lacking this skill to improve their grades during the school years. … a high IQ … did not predict a climb in grades.”

This is for my friends with little children.  I never realized the significance of story telling until after I read an article on it from Scientific American Mind magazine. It helps cultivate empathy, creativity, and ability to envision what happens in children’s heads.  Plus, story-telling makes learning easier. Now that I look back, I have come to appreciate more than before the time I once spent reading to my children.  If I could do it again, I would poured more time on story-telling to them.