Watch how this activity is being conducted at home for 3 and 5 year-olds.
3-year-old
Comments:
This 3-year-old is more active than her brother and it used to be difficult getting her to try other photographic memory exercises - until we embarked on this series of Everyday Mandala for Children™. The captivating and non-repetitive designs in Everyday Mandala for Children™ sets her running to the table with her 3 colour pencils. And she does this every time we say 'It's Mandala time!'
Remember that regular practice and the need to stay positive is of utmost importance. Hence, do not be too eager to ensure your child gets it right everytime. When children feel pressure coming from their parents, they start losing interest along with their willingness to cooperate.
For a short activity like this, it helps to spend a little more time in getting the children ready, and to stay focused before the session begins. (see How to Use for further instructions).
5-year-old
Comments:
If you have tried to capture the image yourself when the Mandala was being flashed in the video, you may be surprised by the accuracy of the child in recalling the colours. What's happening here is that most of us try to remember the parts of the image, in sequence or by attempting to spot a pattern. However, as the image gets more complex, it is simply impossible to remember accurately within such a short time. Hence, when a child gets accustomed to capturing images within seconds, he learns to remember things instantly and develops what is more commonly known as photographic memory.
What does it imply when the child gets one of the colours wrong? The patterns on the Mandalas get more complex as the child moves on so the exercise remains challenging for them. In the Video above, the yellow border was shown against a white background so it could have been missed by the child. However, observe how the child spotted his own mistake within seconds of comparison and how quickly he moved on to do other things without loosing his sense of confidence. The child's attitude remains Positive.
So what if the child is able to do this? You may wonder. According to Professor Shichida, when a child has seen all the shapes and patterns there is, the child develops the ability to remember images easily, and this has tremendous impact on his learning abilities.
ANY CHILD can achieve this simply through regular practice. Because it is fun and takes so little time everyday, most children do it willingly. It even serves as a short break from the homework they do everyday.
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