Study-minded brain science
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Description
Book Introduction
The saying that studying is a talent and that genetic intelligence cannot be surpassed is a ghostly phrase that haunts parents raising children.
An ordinary parent would have been shaken by such words.
You may have given up on wanting your child to do well in school, thinking it is too much to ask, or you may have secretly set limits for your child in your heart.
But is the idea that academic aptitude is determined by genetic intelligence truly scientifically correct? World-renowned neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima asserts that this is nothing more than a misconception.
Decades of research on the human brain have yielded a clear conclusion: "Aptitude for learning is not innate, but cultivated through daily experience." Even looking at overseas research, intelligence accounts for only 5-15 percent of academic performance.
The author analyzed the life and learning data and brain images of 40,000 students to find commonalities among students with high academic performance.
Children who are good at studying often stand out not because of their innate intelligence, but because of the good 'study habits' they developed from a young age.
Here are three recommendations for parents who want their children to surpass their genetics and reach their full potential.
First, understand the parts of the brain that develop according to the child's age and stimulate them appropriately.
Second, have your child consistently engage in brain-stimulating exercises such as reading and simple number calculations.
Third, create an environment that encourages students to want to study.
This environment refers to the attitude that parents have toward their children.
It is emphasized that a home atmosphere where children are listened to and have eye contact is key to their development of academic aptitude.
"Study Brain Science" is not simply a book on improving grades; it is a science-based parenting guide that designs children's brains, emotions, and habits.
For parents who still ponder the question, "How should I get my child to study?", this book will serve as a solid guide, leading their children on their own journey of deep and solid learning.
An ordinary parent would have been shaken by such words.
You may have given up on wanting your child to do well in school, thinking it is too much to ask, or you may have secretly set limits for your child in your heart.
But is the idea that academic aptitude is determined by genetic intelligence truly scientifically correct? World-renowned neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima asserts that this is nothing more than a misconception.
Decades of research on the human brain have yielded a clear conclusion: "Aptitude for learning is not innate, but cultivated through daily experience." Even looking at overseas research, intelligence accounts for only 5-15 percent of academic performance.
The author analyzed the life and learning data and brain images of 40,000 students to find commonalities among students with high academic performance.
Children who are good at studying often stand out not because of their innate intelligence, but because of the good 'study habits' they developed from a young age.
Here are three recommendations for parents who want their children to surpass their genetics and reach their full potential.
First, understand the parts of the brain that develop according to the child's age and stimulate them appropriately.
Second, have your child consistently engage in brain-stimulating exercises such as reading and simple number calculations.
Third, create an environment that encourages students to want to study.
This environment refers to the attitude that parents have toward their children.
It is emphasized that a home atmosphere where children are listened to and have eye contact is key to their development of academic aptitude.
"Study Brain Science" is not simply a book on improving grades; it is a science-based parenting guide that designs children's brains, emotions, and habits.
For parents who still ponder the question, "How should I get my child to study?", this book will serve as a solid guide, leading their children on their own journey of deep and solid learning.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Recommendation
Introduction: _ A talent for studying is not something you are born with, but something you make.
Part 1: Understanding Study Skills through Brain Science
1 What You Need to Know About Your Child's Brain
Child's Brain Development Stages and Golden Time
The prefrontal cortex, which determines thinking ability
How to effectively activate the prefrontal cortex
2 How does the brain develop?
The brain loves learning
The brain evolves more complexly the more it is trained.
The 'transfer effect' that occurs when calculating, memorizing, and reading aloud
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Boost your memory! Rock, Paper, Scissors
Part 2: Habits that Make You a Better Student
1. Neuroscience-Proven Efficacy for Studying: Reading Habits
The power of poisoning to change brain structure
The relationship between reading habits and grades
Which book should I read?
The Effects of Reading Books in Infants and Toddlers on Intelligence
Reading as a source of creativity
Key points
2. Make Your Child's Brain Dance: Parents' Speaking Habits
Children who make eye contact and talk to their parents have high emotional intelligence.
Conversational Methods that Lead to Self-Directed Learning
Absolutely no: Insulting language, such as slapping someone in the face
Top students talk to their parents about their dreams.
Key points
3 Protect Your Child's Brain: Media Habits
The Effects of Excessive Media Exposure on Language Intelligence
Smartphones are used for less than one hour a day.
Messenger apps are poison to the study brain.
The illusion that digital learning is effective
The Impact of Parents' Smartphone Dependence on Children's Brains
Outdoor play increases brain cell growth.
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Brain training! Trump Mental Calculation Game
4. Energy Sources for Studying: Eating Habits
Top kids never skip breakfast
Rice is better for your brain than bread for breakfast.
A variety of nutrients that the brain likes
Why You Should Be Aware of Iron Deficiency
Fish that helps brain function
Family Cooking Class for Smarter Brains
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Build endurance! Rhythm play
Part 3: Study Brain Optimization Project
1 Preparation: Creating Optimal Conditions
Sleep: Smart kids go to bed before 10 p.m.
Environment ①·Room temperature control: A temperature that is good for studying
Environment ② Noise Blocking: Keep music, TV, and smartphones away while studying.
2-Minute Brain Stretch to Boost Concentration ①: Read Out Loud
2-Minute Brain Stretch to Boost Concentration ②: Number Calculation
Key points
2 Practice
Brain Science Study Methods That Produce the Best Results
Repetition: The Best Way to Strengthen Brain Circuits
Active Recall Study Method: Solidifying Memories in Your Brain
How to Study for Wrong Answers: Why You Should Carefully Examine the Reasons for Your Mistakes
Distributed Study: Studying little by little, consistently, is more effective.
The Small Success Study Method: If you take steps toward your goal, your brain will follow through.
Key points
3 The Role of Parents
Become your child's running mate while studying.
Parental encouragement to raise children who don't give up
Three things to do the day before the exam
A brain training game for the whole family? Boost your memory! A word memory game.
Introduction: _ A talent for studying is not something you are born with, but something you make.
Part 1: Understanding Study Skills through Brain Science
1 What You Need to Know About Your Child's Brain
Child's Brain Development Stages and Golden Time
The prefrontal cortex, which determines thinking ability
How to effectively activate the prefrontal cortex
2 How does the brain develop?
The brain loves learning
The brain evolves more complexly the more it is trained.
The 'transfer effect' that occurs when calculating, memorizing, and reading aloud
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Boost your memory! Rock, Paper, Scissors
Part 2: Habits that Make You a Better Student
1. Neuroscience-Proven Efficacy for Studying: Reading Habits
The power of poisoning to change brain structure
The relationship between reading habits and grades
Which book should I read?
The Effects of Reading Books in Infants and Toddlers on Intelligence
Reading as a source of creativity
Key points
2. Make Your Child's Brain Dance: Parents' Speaking Habits
Children who make eye contact and talk to their parents have high emotional intelligence.
Conversational Methods that Lead to Self-Directed Learning
Absolutely no: Insulting language, such as slapping someone in the face
Top students talk to their parents about their dreams.
Key points
3 Protect Your Child's Brain: Media Habits
The Effects of Excessive Media Exposure on Language Intelligence
Smartphones are used for less than one hour a day.
Messenger apps are poison to the study brain.
The illusion that digital learning is effective
The Impact of Parents' Smartphone Dependence on Children's Brains
Outdoor play increases brain cell growth.
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Brain training! Trump Mental Calculation Game
4. Energy Sources for Studying: Eating Habits
Top kids never skip breakfast
Rice is better for your brain than bread for breakfast.
A variety of nutrients that the brain likes
Why You Should Be Aware of Iron Deficiency
Fish that helps brain function
Family Cooking Class for Smarter Brains
Key points
A brain training game for the whole family? Build endurance! Rhythm play
Part 3: Study Brain Optimization Project
1 Preparation: Creating Optimal Conditions
Sleep: Smart kids go to bed before 10 p.m.
Environment ①·Room temperature control: A temperature that is good for studying
Environment ② Noise Blocking: Keep music, TV, and smartphones away while studying.
2-Minute Brain Stretch to Boost Concentration ①: Read Out Loud
2-Minute Brain Stretch to Boost Concentration ②: Number Calculation
Key points
2 Practice
Brain Science Study Methods That Produce the Best Results
Repetition: The Best Way to Strengthen Brain Circuits
Active Recall Study Method: Solidifying Memories in Your Brain
How to Study for Wrong Answers: Why You Should Carefully Examine the Reasons for Your Mistakes
Distributed Study: Studying little by little, consistently, is more effective.
The Small Success Study Method: If you take steps toward your goal, your brain will follow through.
Key points
3 The Role of Parents
Become your child's running mate while studying.
Parental encouragement to raise children who don't give up
Three things to do the day before the exam
A brain training game for the whole family? Boost your memory! A word memory game.
Detailed image
Into the book
Part 1: Understanding Study Skills through Brain Science
1 What You Need to Know About Your Child's Brain
There are two key periods for brain development: the period from 0 to 3 years old, when home experiences are important, and the period from 9 to 18 years old, when home and school experiences are important.
If you give your child a lot of positive stimulation during this period, his or her brain will absorb that stimulation like a sponge.
The brain's shape also changes as it develops.
--- p.31
2 How does the brain develop?
If you diligently practice single-digit calculations, memorize simple symbols, or read them out loud, you'll notice a surprising improvement in not only your calculation skills and memory, but also your creativity, logical thinking, attention, and emotional control.
The prefrontal cortex of the brain controls various higher-level human abilities, including information processing capabilities.
What's surprising is that training to increase information processing speed also improves a variety of abilities that aren't directly related to computational ability or memory.
This is called the 'transfer effect'.
This means that if the performance of the prefrontal cortex itself increases, other abilities controlled by this brain region can also be developed.
--- pp.47~48
Part 2: Habits that Make You a Better Student
1. Neuroscience-Proven Efficacy for Studying: Reading Habits
Children with reading habits begin reading texts in units of meaning from the middle grades of elementary school.
It means reading efficiently and quickly by understanding the meaning of the text rather than reading it letter by letter.
Children who have reached this stage do not have difficulty reading.
So, we can create an 'ideal virtuous cycle' structure where people can read books on their own and acquire more diverse knowledge without being told to do so.
It is about strengthening literacy skills, which children these days lack.
There are some children who weren't good at studying, but after they started studying with determination, their grades skyrocketed.
This is an example of building an optimal study foundation by consistently developing reading habits.
--- p.66
2. Make Your Child's Brain Dance: Parents' Speaking Habits
My research shows that children who have a clear idea of what they want to do when they grow up, and a clear idea of what they want to achieve someday, have better academic performance.
Future hope can be said to be a sense of purpose.
It's self-evident that a clear sense of purpose helps improve learning ability, but unfortunately, as students advance in grade level, fewer students study with their own dreams as their goal.
Is there a way for children to keep their dreams alive? A three-year follow-up study of approximately 30,000 children found that 90 percent of children who reported talking about their future with their parents at home maintained their goals.
--- pp.98~102
3 Protect Your Child's Brain: Media Habits
It has been clearly shown that prolonged smartphone use has a negative impact on academic performance.
Even if you study and sleep for the same amount of time, using your smartphone for longer periods of time does not lead to better grades.
The conclusion is that children who use their smartphones for more than an hour will fall behind if they do not spend twice as much time studying as children who use their smartphones for less than an hour.
After a long period of studying at home, it's time to check whether your child is playing with his or her smartphone.
Even if you study a lot and get enough sleep, using your smartphone for long periods of time can make all your efforts go down the drain.
--- p.118
4. Energy Sources for Studying: Eating Habits
Breakfast habits have been shown to influence academic performance.
According to the National Academic Ability and Learning Status Survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan on the highest grades of elementary and middle schools (6th graders in elementary school and 3rd graders in middle school) across the country, the children who skip breakfast have lower academic abilities.
A three-year follow-up study of approximately 20,000 students from fifth grade to first grade found that children who ate breakfast every day for three years maintained high standard scores of 50-51.
In contrast, children who started eating breakfast and then gradually skipped it saw their standard scores drop from over 50 to between 4 and 46.
--- p.150
Part 3 Study Brain Optimization Project
1 Preparation: Creating Optimal Conditions
When a child studies late into the night, parents feel that they should not disturb them and are even surprised.
However, we must recognize that a child's brain is being damaged if he or she studies without sleeping.
When the brain is sleep-deprived, the hippocampus stops developing and the opportunity to solidify memories disappears.
If this vicious cycle continues, there is a high possibility that the brain will run out of energy and be unable to perform well during the actual test.
--- p.189
Before you start studying, try reading the textbook quickly or doing 100-square calculations while timing yourself with a stopwatch.
It doesn't have to take a long time.
2-3 minutes before you start studying is enough.
After that, you can study as usual.
You will feel that your comprehension and memory are better than usual.
--- p.201
2. Practice: The Brain Science Study Method That Produces the Best Results
For example, if your child sets a large goal of finishing a workbook in a month, set a subgoal of finishing three pages a day.
It's also a good idea to set a more specific goal, such as making sure you finish one page in the morning.
By setting several small goals like this, you can receive the reward of accomplishment each time you achieve one.
A child's brain works more motivatedly because even a little effort is rewarded.
For young children, a nice reward might be to circle a small goal or give them a colorful sticker whenever they achieve it.
--- p.219
3. The Role of Parents: Be Your Child's Learning Mate
Learning new concepts or solving problems right before an exam can only increase anxiety.
best
The method is to comprehensively review the results of reference books, workbooks, handwritten notes, and mock exams that you have studied so far.
all.
By looking back at how much you studied and how much your grades improved, you can see the effort and results you have put in so far.
By carefully reviewing the material your child has studied so diligently, you can alleviate anxiety and build confidence.
1 What You Need to Know About Your Child's Brain
There are two key periods for brain development: the period from 0 to 3 years old, when home experiences are important, and the period from 9 to 18 years old, when home and school experiences are important.
If you give your child a lot of positive stimulation during this period, his or her brain will absorb that stimulation like a sponge.
The brain's shape also changes as it develops.
--- p.31
2 How does the brain develop?
If you diligently practice single-digit calculations, memorize simple symbols, or read them out loud, you'll notice a surprising improvement in not only your calculation skills and memory, but also your creativity, logical thinking, attention, and emotional control.
The prefrontal cortex of the brain controls various higher-level human abilities, including information processing capabilities.
What's surprising is that training to increase information processing speed also improves a variety of abilities that aren't directly related to computational ability or memory.
This is called the 'transfer effect'.
This means that if the performance of the prefrontal cortex itself increases, other abilities controlled by this brain region can also be developed.
--- pp.47~48
Part 2: Habits that Make You a Better Student
1. Neuroscience-Proven Efficacy for Studying: Reading Habits
Children with reading habits begin reading texts in units of meaning from the middle grades of elementary school.
It means reading efficiently and quickly by understanding the meaning of the text rather than reading it letter by letter.
Children who have reached this stage do not have difficulty reading.
So, we can create an 'ideal virtuous cycle' structure where people can read books on their own and acquire more diverse knowledge without being told to do so.
It is about strengthening literacy skills, which children these days lack.
There are some children who weren't good at studying, but after they started studying with determination, their grades skyrocketed.
This is an example of building an optimal study foundation by consistently developing reading habits.
--- p.66
2. Make Your Child's Brain Dance: Parents' Speaking Habits
My research shows that children who have a clear idea of what they want to do when they grow up, and a clear idea of what they want to achieve someday, have better academic performance.
Future hope can be said to be a sense of purpose.
It's self-evident that a clear sense of purpose helps improve learning ability, but unfortunately, as students advance in grade level, fewer students study with their own dreams as their goal.
Is there a way for children to keep their dreams alive? A three-year follow-up study of approximately 30,000 children found that 90 percent of children who reported talking about their future with their parents at home maintained their goals.
--- pp.98~102
3 Protect Your Child's Brain: Media Habits
It has been clearly shown that prolonged smartphone use has a negative impact on academic performance.
Even if you study and sleep for the same amount of time, using your smartphone for longer periods of time does not lead to better grades.
The conclusion is that children who use their smartphones for more than an hour will fall behind if they do not spend twice as much time studying as children who use their smartphones for less than an hour.
After a long period of studying at home, it's time to check whether your child is playing with his or her smartphone.
Even if you study a lot and get enough sleep, using your smartphone for long periods of time can make all your efforts go down the drain.
--- p.118
4. Energy Sources for Studying: Eating Habits
Breakfast habits have been shown to influence academic performance.
According to the National Academic Ability and Learning Status Survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan on the highest grades of elementary and middle schools (6th graders in elementary school and 3rd graders in middle school) across the country, the children who skip breakfast have lower academic abilities.
A three-year follow-up study of approximately 20,000 students from fifth grade to first grade found that children who ate breakfast every day for three years maintained high standard scores of 50-51.
In contrast, children who started eating breakfast and then gradually skipped it saw their standard scores drop from over 50 to between 4 and 46.
--- p.150
Part 3 Study Brain Optimization Project
1 Preparation: Creating Optimal Conditions
When a child studies late into the night, parents feel that they should not disturb them and are even surprised.
However, we must recognize that a child's brain is being damaged if he or she studies without sleeping.
When the brain is sleep-deprived, the hippocampus stops developing and the opportunity to solidify memories disappears.
If this vicious cycle continues, there is a high possibility that the brain will run out of energy and be unable to perform well during the actual test.
--- p.189
Before you start studying, try reading the textbook quickly or doing 100-square calculations while timing yourself with a stopwatch.
It doesn't have to take a long time.
2-3 minutes before you start studying is enough.
After that, you can study as usual.
You will feel that your comprehension and memory are better than usual.
--- p.201
2. Practice: The Brain Science Study Method That Produces the Best Results
For example, if your child sets a large goal of finishing a workbook in a month, set a subgoal of finishing three pages a day.
It's also a good idea to set a more specific goal, such as making sure you finish one page in the morning.
By setting several small goals like this, you can receive the reward of accomplishment each time you achieve one.
A child's brain works more motivatedly because even a little effort is rewarded.
For young children, a nice reward might be to circle a small goal or give them a colorful sticker whenever they achieve it.
--- p.219
3. The Role of Parents: Be Your Child's Learning Mate
Learning new concepts or solving problems right before an exam can only increase anxiety.
best
The method is to comprehensively review the results of reference books, workbooks, handwritten notes, and mock exams that you have studied so far.
all.
By looking back at how much you studied and how much your grades improved, you can see the effort and results you have put in so far.
By carefully reviewing the material your child has studied so diligently, you can alleviate anxiety and build confidence.
--- p.229
Publisher's Review
Are children born good at studying?
The Secrets of Smart Children, Researched by World-Renowned Neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima
There are children who were not particularly good at studying until elementary school, but once they entered middle and high school and started studying with a sense of purpose, their grades skyrocketed and they showed what is called 'study potential'.
If these kids didn't go to multiple academies and their parents didn't nag them to study at home, are they just naturally smart?
Ryuta Kawashima, a world-renowned neuroscientist, asserts that the notion that "studying is ultimately a talent" is nothing more than a prejudice.
Having studied the lifestyle and study habits and brain data of 40,000 elementary and middle school students, he says, “Study aptitude is not genetic.”
Genetic intelligence only accounts for 5-15 percent of academic achievement, and the decisive factor is the "environment and habits that create a study brain" (pp. 20-21). More importantly, this study environment and habits aren't created through complex, difficult pre-learning in prestigious school districts.
The study methods and lifestyle habits of truly smart children were so simple that even the author, a neuroscientist, was surprised.
A notable study finding is that children who have a daily reading habit of about 30 minutes study longer and perform better on tests than children who do not have a reading habit, even if they only have a short study time.
In particular, I strengthened my memory and concentration by routinely reading out loud or doing single-digit calculations for about two minutes before studying.
Also, instead of studying until dawn, I went to bed around 10 or 11 PM and made sure to eat breakfast.
No matter how busy my study schedule was, I always made sure to go out and do some kind of exercise I enjoyed at least once or twice a week, and I strictly limited my smartphone use to less than an hour a day.
Another characteristic is the parenting attitude of the parents.
Children who grew up in an environment where their parents listened to them and frequently talked about their dreams were more likely to have positive feelings about studying and to set and achieve their own goals.
‘4-year-old civil service exam’, ‘7-year-old civil service exam’, ‘elementary school medical school class’… This is a completely different story from the current private education world where children are taught a lot of content at an earlier age, sitting at a desk for a long time.
The author points out that excessive studying in young children can actually harm their cognitive abilities, and advises that properly understanding the brain development process and stimulating the brain appropriately for their age can help build a good foundation for studying.
The golden time for brain development that should never be missed.
Brain stimulation that must be done between ages 1-3 and 9-18
A child's brain grows explosively during a certain period.
Professor Ryuta Kawashima calls this period the “two golden times.”
The first is from 0 to 3 years old.
During this period, the brain areas responsible for emotions and the five senses are almost fully developed, and stable attachment and stimulation build the basic stamina for studying.
The more sensory activities you can do at home—tasting, smelling, touching, seeing, and hearing—the better.
You can do it without going to a cultural center or receiving private tutoring.
Every time you eat with your child, you can spend time playing with them, saying things like, “This is spinach, it’s green.” “Does the carrot make a crunching sound?” “The egg is soft.”
The second period is from ages 9 to 18, when the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher-order thinking, is actively reorganized.
At this time, creativity, concentration, and emotional control abilities grow noticeably, and synaptic pruning of the brain begins in earnest.
The brain structure in adulthood changes depending on which circuits are used, meaning that this period is a critical turning point that determines the child's future.
Also, as this is a time when children are easily overexposed to games and videos, the role of parents in providing the 'different stimulation' that the brain needs is important.
Reading books together, pondering problems, sharing thoughts, and discussing dreams is exactly that kind of stimulation. (pp. 29-35)
A simple yet powerful study boosting routine,
Reading aloud and calculating
A talent for studying is not created through special gifted education, but rather grows through small, simple activities repeated every day.
Reading aloud and doing single-digit calculations, as suggested by the author, are just such brain-stimulating exercises.
Among them, reading aloud is the only activity that activates more than 70 percent of the entire brain simultaneously.
There are also research results that show that just reading aloud for 10 minutes a day improves memory by 20 percent.
What's even more surprising is that simple math operations and reading aloud not only enhance information processing abilities, but also stimulate the prefrontal cortex, resulting in a "transfer effect" that enhances brain functions across all areas of learning, including creativity, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills (pp. 47-49).
The author recommends that before studying complex material, spend just two minutes doing either number calculations or reading aloud.
There is no better way to wake up your brain and get it into optimal condition.
If you make this activity a daily habit, you'll notice a significant increase in your study efficiency. (pp. 197-201)
By consistently stimulating the brain in this way and learning the rhythm of brain use, children will increasingly find studying enjoyable and fulfilling.
As the book emphasizes, studying that starts short and light, like a game, actually lasts longer.
Food, sleep, and play are more important than school.
Children who eat well, sleep well, and play well are smarter.
It is common for elementary school students to wake up at 7 in the morning, start their busy day, and study at academies until 10 at night.
Children are increasingly unable to sleep, eat, run, or have no energy or time to play.
The author warns that these daily habits are fatal to one's ability to study.
This is because eating well, sleeping well, and exercising enough are essential for the prefrontal cortex to function properly.
According to the author's research, children who eat breakfast every day have better concentration and thinking skills (p. 147), and children who eat a nutrient-rich diet tend to be more intelligent.
In particular, fish and iron-rich foods have a positive effect on frontal lobe function.
(Page 166)
Children's lifestyles these days can be a major obstacle to their brain development and learning.
In particular, when sleep is lacking, the hippocampus, which controls memory, does not develop well, the activity of the prefrontal cortex decreases, and the ability to control emotions also declines.
The author's research findings that children who fall asleep between 10 and 11 p.m. and sleep at least eight hours a night are more effective learners offer important implications for parents (p. 183).
The author also emphasizes that we should minimize the use of digital devices and help children play freely outside.
Active play, involving physical movement, is not simply play; it's a "brain development exercise" that increases brain neurons and reduces stress. (p. 133)
A child's brain doesn't grow by pouring knowledge into it.
Growing up with three warm meals a day, regular sleep, and time to run around and play.
The most everyday moments strengthen a child's brain and foster the roots of learning.
Parents' words and attitude are the key to academic success.
By making eye contact, talking, and sharing stories about dreams, children learn on their own.
What kind of children ultimately complete the 12-year college entrance exam marathon and achieve outstanding results? Of course, expensive private education and genetic luck can play a role.
However, a 'truly smart child' who is not only good at academics but also has a strong mind, has clear thoughts of his own, and knows how to empathize with the feelings of others is different.
What makes a child like that are the words and attitude of the parents in their daily lives.
Children understand the world and accept the meaning of studying through their parents' words.
Talking frequently about your child's future, listening to what he or she has to say, and making eye contact with him or her can help build self-efficacy and stimulate intrinsic motivation.
This is much more powerful than a one-sided command to “study!”
A child's brain becomes more tightly wired when their parents listen to their stories and give them sincere praise for their accomplishments.
(Pages 88-93)
Let's not forget that a single word we say to our children before going to bed each night can motivate them to learn tomorrow.
Encouragement like, “You did well today,” helps children develop their study skills.
Children whose parents support them develop the belief that they can do it, which increases their self-esteem and emotional resilience.
Warm words and sincere responses are the best language stimulation to create a study mindset.
The Secrets of Smart Children, Researched by World-Renowned Neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima
There are children who were not particularly good at studying until elementary school, but once they entered middle and high school and started studying with a sense of purpose, their grades skyrocketed and they showed what is called 'study potential'.
If these kids didn't go to multiple academies and their parents didn't nag them to study at home, are they just naturally smart?
Ryuta Kawashima, a world-renowned neuroscientist, asserts that the notion that "studying is ultimately a talent" is nothing more than a prejudice.
Having studied the lifestyle and study habits and brain data of 40,000 elementary and middle school students, he says, “Study aptitude is not genetic.”
Genetic intelligence only accounts for 5-15 percent of academic achievement, and the decisive factor is the "environment and habits that create a study brain" (pp. 20-21). More importantly, this study environment and habits aren't created through complex, difficult pre-learning in prestigious school districts.
The study methods and lifestyle habits of truly smart children were so simple that even the author, a neuroscientist, was surprised.
A notable study finding is that children who have a daily reading habit of about 30 minutes study longer and perform better on tests than children who do not have a reading habit, even if they only have a short study time.
In particular, I strengthened my memory and concentration by routinely reading out loud or doing single-digit calculations for about two minutes before studying.
Also, instead of studying until dawn, I went to bed around 10 or 11 PM and made sure to eat breakfast.
No matter how busy my study schedule was, I always made sure to go out and do some kind of exercise I enjoyed at least once or twice a week, and I strictly limited my smartphone use to less than an hour a day.
Another characteristic is the parenting attitude of the parents.
Children who grew up in an environment where their parents listened to them and frequently talked about their dreams were more likely to have positive feelings about studying and to set and achieve their own goals.
‘4-year-old civil service exam’, ‘7-year-old civil service exam’, ‘elementary school medical school class’… This is a completely different story from the current private education world where children are taught a lot of content at an earlier age, sitting at a desk for a long time.
The author points out that excessive studying in young children can actually harm their cognitive abilities, and advises that properly understanding the brain development process and stimulating the brain appropriately for their age can help build a good foundation for studying.
The golden time for brain development that should never be missed.
Brain stimulation that must be done between ages 1-3 and 9-18
A child's brain grows explosively during a certain period.
Professor Ryuta Kawashima calls this period the “two golden times.”
The first is from 0 to 3 years old.
During this period, the brain areas responsible for emotions and the five senses are almost fully developed, and stable attachment and stimulation build the basic stamina for studying.
The more sensory activities you can do at home—tasting, smelling, touching, seeing, and hearing—the better.
You can do it without going to a cultural center or receiving private tutoring.
Every time you eat with your child, you can spend time playing with them, saying things like, “This is spinach, it’s green.” “Does the carrot make a crunching sound?” “The egg is soft.”
The second period is from ages 9 to 18, when the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher-order thinking, is actively reorganized.
At this time, creativity, concentration, and emotional control abilities grow noticeably, and synaptic pruning of the brain begins in earnest.
The brain structure in adulthood changes depending on which circuits are used, meaning that this period is a critical turning point that determines the child's future.
Also, as this is a time when children are easily overexposed to games and videos, the role of parents in providing the 'different stimulation' that the brain needs is important.
Reading books together, pondering problems, sharing thoughts, and discussing dreams is exactly that kind of stimulation. (pp. 29-35)
A simple yet powerful study boosting routine,
Reading aloud and calculating
A talent for studying is not created through special gifted education, but rather grows through small, simple activities repeated every day.
Reading aloud and doing single-digit calculations, as suggested by the author, are just such brain-stimulating exercises.
Among them, reading aloud is the only activity that activates more than 70 percent of the entire brain simultaneously.
There are also research results that show that just reading aloud for 10 minutes a day improves memory by 20 percent.
What's even more surprising is that simple math operations and reading aloud not only enhance information processing abilities, but also stimulate the prefrontal cortex, resulting in a "transfer effect" that enhances brain functions across all areas of learning, including creativity, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills (pp. 47-49).
The author recommends that before studying complex material, spend just two minutes doing either number calculations or reading aloud.
There is no better way to wake up your brain and get it into optimal condition.
If you make this activity a daily habit, you'll notice a significant increase in your study efficiency. (pp. 197-201)
By consistently stimulating the brain in this way and learning the rhythm of brain use, children will increasingly find studying enjoyable and fulfilling.
As the book emphasizes, studying that starts short and light, like a game, actually lasts longer.
Food, sleep, and play are more important than school.
Children who eat well, sleep well, and play well are smarter.
It is common for elementary school students to wake up at 7 in the morning, start their busy day, and study at academies until 10 at night.
Children are increasingly unable to sleep, eat, run, or have no energy or time to play.
The author warns that these daily habits are fatal to one's ability to study.
This is because eating well, sleeping well, and exercising enough are essential for the prefrontal cortex to function properly.
According to the author's research, children who eat breakfast every day have better concentration and thinking skills (p. 147), and children who eat a nutrient-rich diet tend to be more intelligent.
In particular, fish and iron-rich foods have a positive effect on frontal lobe function.
(Page 166)
Children's lifestyles these days can be a major obstacle to their brain development and learning.
In particular, when sleep is lacking, the hippocampus, which controls memory, does not develop well, the activity of the prefrontal cortex decreases, and the ability to control emotions also declines.
The author's research findings that children who fall asleep between 10 and 11 p.m. and sleep at least eight hours a night are more effective learners offer important implications for parents (p. 183).
The author also emphasizes that we should minimize the use of digital devices and help children play freely outside.
Active play, involving physical movement, is not simply play; it's a "brain development exercise" that increases brain neurons and reduces stress. (p. 133)
A child's brain doesn't grow by pouring knowledge into it.
Growing up with three warm meals a day, regular sleep, and time to run around and play.
The most everyday moments strengthen a child's brain and foster the roots of learning.
Parents' words and attitude are the key to academic success.
By making eye contact, talking, and sharing stories about dreams, children learn on their own.
What kind of children ultimately complete the 12-year college entrance exam marathon and achieve outstanding results? Of course, expensive private education and genetic luck can play a role.
However, a 'truly smart child' who is not only good at academics but also has a strong mind, has clear thoughts of his own, and knows how to empathize with the feelings of others is different.
What makes a child like that are the words and attitude of the parents in their daily lives.
Children understand the world and accept the meaning of studying through their parents' words.
Talking frequently about your child's future, listening to what he or she has to say, and making eye contact with him or her can help build self-efficacy and stimulate intrinsic motivation.
This is much more powerful than a one-sided command to “study!”
A child's brain becomes more tightly wired when their parents listen to their stories and give them sincere praise for their accomplishments.
(Pages 88-93)
Let's not forget that a single word we say to our children before going to bed each night can motivate them to learn tomorrow.
Encouragement like, “You did well today,” helps children develop their study skills.
Children whose parents support them develop the belief that they can do it, which increases their self-esteem and emotional resilience.
Warm words and sincere responses are the best language stimulation to create a study mindset.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: May 20, 2025
- Page count, weight, size: 236 pages | Checking size
- ISBN13: 9791193528655
- ISBN10: 1193528658
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