Genius & So Adorably Cute

Well, I suddenly have a lot more time to blog.   When I wrote my last blog about not having a computer to blog on I did not take into account that during that time I boosted ahead on homework.  Now I have a lot more time to blog since I am more caught up, homework wise.  Now that doesn't mean that I don't have homework I could be doing.  I do have the first and second stages of a speech that I have to conduct and bring in all the materials for that by Monday, plus a test next Thursday, oh and a test online this weekend, along with several other things.    But I have more of a freedom to blog in those moments that I just need a break from homework.

So today in my Early Childhood Growth & Development class we learned a variety of things.  We are now up to the preschool stage. We talked about initiative versus guilt, self esteem and much more.  One thing was a preschooler's self-concept.   What a, say, 4 year old sees, thinks, and talks about generally falls in three categories:

1. Appearance 

2. Possessions 

3. Behavior     

These three things is all they ever seem to talk about, and that is because that's all their cognitively (learning, thinking, problem-solving) developed to be able to do.   When we look at how this changes, we see quite a difference.  Take a 12-15 year old for example.   Because their brains have developed to think, learn and problem-solve more, instead of the above three things, they will more likely talk about:

1. Physical         

2. Relationships 

3. Academics /   

Occupation 

Another topic we talked on was self-esteem.   If you look at a preschooler, their self-esteem is normally quite high, they think they can conquer the world if they wanted to.  But as kindergarten through grade three kicks in, their self-esteem starts to drop. Why?  As they get into more complex grades, works, and problems, they start to be able to think more critically and think in many other ways - this is natural due to the natural cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) development. This curve of self-esteem slowly gets lower and lower, but at some point in either middle or high school it starts to curve back up again.  It usually doesn't reach a high again, until college.    Where then, after college, it takes a dip once again.

Also another topic was Common Fears of Early Childhood.  We were asked the question, "What childhood fears, that are irrational, do I still have now?" After a short discussion we watched this video (below).   (NOTE I don't necessarily care for everything in this video, but it shares the point well.  The primary note that resonated with me was the first two (up until 1:36 in)).

I found this fascinating for several reasons.  One, most of us don't always recognize that we have these fears or that they were rooted from out childhood (My heart was racing just watching the basement on). Not only that, it makes us aware that not only is this 'fear' irrational, but it's quite silly.  It took me a long time to be able to convince myself to walk on the deep drains or grates on sidewalks or parking lots.  Even though I know that they are made to hold thousands of pounds and I am just as likely to fall into them as I am to fall into a pit while walking down the sidewalk on concrete.  So the question comes up, what caused these fears?   While I cannot say for sure, and the teacher didn't tell a answer that with a fit-for-everyone answer, there are several general guidelines.   First, if you fear is of an inanimate object or something that is not alive, like a sidewalk grate or drain for example, or an animated figure such as ghosts or vampires, the fear likely came from childhood cartoons, tv, or movies.  On the other hand if the fear is of animate objects/things such as animals or people, the fear was likely rooted from (bad) experiences.   Now that your heart is racing and you don't know if you really want to read any further, the last thing I want to share in this post is just the opposite of fears.  

Now, what actually got me to write this post, is this next part.   In class, right after learning it, I texted myself a note to remind myself to blog about it.  Why?  Because it is genius, and so adorably cute.   

This topic was understanding Empathy and Sympathy.  A good chunk of it was on the Empathy part.   For example, watch this ad (below). 

The company that created this ad had a genius behind it all.  They used three key tactics to get us to love this and want more of it.    

FIRST they used the Visuals to catch our attention and capture out hearts.  Visuals such as the puppies, the kids, the grandparents and people of all ages.

SECOND they used wonderful Music that kept the mood smooth and gave us a desire to want more of it.   Plus it went along wonderfully with the visuals. 

THIRD They used Emotions to capture our hearts.  They used situations that we can connect with.  Watch through it again and notice the emotions prior to the puppies.   People are tired, sad, bored, depressed, stressed, just really feeling down.  We have all been there before and the makers of this ad know that, thus they use clear emotions that will instantly connect with us. But when the puppies come in what are the emotions? They are happy, cheerful, delighted, over joyed, released, smiles all around.  This is something we want to feel in our daily lives instead of the doubt, tiredness and boredom. This ad is a work of cute genius.  Because when we finish watching it, we want to watch it again and feel the joy of supporting it.