Let the Kids Dress up As Superheroes With Their Homework to Boost Persistence
If your child passes out while doing homework, it may be worth putting on a raincoat.
On a repetitive task, a new study found that 4- and 6-year-olds who pretended to be familiar characters like Batman persisted significantly longer than those who remained themselves. The researchers asked the child, “Does Batman work hard?” Batman was confident.
The results are related to what psychologists call self-distancing. When we are in the middle of something difficult, it is easy to succumb to the pressure and dive into intrusive analysis. A study published in the journal Childhood Development explains that mental separation helps people “overcome the urgency of a situation and look into a more distant perspective.” And for young children, identifying with the character’s positive qualities can give them a greater drive for success.
The “dress for success” trick works with adults too. In another study, researchers at Northwestern University asked a group of subjects to wear white lab coats. Those who were told they were wearing doctor’s coats were more focused than those who were told they were wearing painting coats.
So let your first grader bring this Wonder Woman shield and sword to her next class. Everyone could use additional superpowers when solving the multiplication problem.