Professor Kim Shimochini and Tracy Logan of the University of Canberra in Australia presented evidence-based methods for parents to develop their children's spatial reasoning abilities.
Space capability refers to the ability to visualize how a particular object works in the head or to think about how to manipulate objects in terms of space, location, size, and environment. In everyday tasks using this space capability, reading maps, parking or cutting the cake to exactly the same size may be the case.
And spatial reasoning ability is very important in many subjects related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM. As the authors of this study have noted, it is very important for children to gain spatial knowledge from their early age.
You can use your spatial skills to identify future competencies as to whether your child can have a job in the STEM field. This capability is also needed for jobs in areas such as ultrasound imaging, x-ray reading, engineering, and construction.
Research has also been published that excellent space skills and excellent math skills. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), it is easy to predict future success based on mathematical abilities rather than a child's reading ability or socio-emotional ability.
As APA pointed out, space capacity can only be improved with the help of parents and carers. The researchers therefore presented some fun and simple ways to enhance children's spatial skills.
Block play
Block play helps develop children's fine athletic, social, language and cognitive skills. But ordinary people do not know why.
According to a study published in the Journal of Developmental Psychology, children playing block games have better spatial reasoning than children who do not. Block play is related to the rotation, movement and placement of blocks. Structural block play, which builds blocks to construct space, is very effective in improving space capacity.
And when you play block, you use spatial language like side, top, and bottom. These languages play an important role in developing children's spatial skills. If an adult has the opportunity to spend time with the child, it is better to use more spatial language during block play than other plays.
Incorporating Spatial Language into Play
The more children who hear a lot of spatial language, the more they use and learn the spatial language. This helps to improve the spatial reasoning ability. If a child knows a lot of spatial language, it is highly likely that he will be able to deduce space reasoning ability after becoming an adult.
Therefore, parents and guardians should use the spatial language when playing with a child or explaining an object. For example, you can use the same spatial property language as a high or wide area description, circular or square, shape description like triangle, round, straight or curved.
You can also use the language to point to your location when instructing your child to organize toys. For example, "Put the book on the bookshelf."
Using gestures
People make gestures when using space language. According to one study, this is true, and STEM-related practitioners use gestures to solve space problems. And kids who use gestures often can do troubleshooting tasks more easily.
Parents should therefore encourage their children to use gestures when moving things, when looking for things, or when pointing directions.
Study and create maps together
The map is a picture depicting the spatial relevance of the world. When preschoolers become accustomed to using maps, they will be able to excel in maze games.
Parents should encourage their children to play games like treasure hunting using maps and directional symbols to help them develop their spatial skills.
Another way is to create maps such as world maps, shopping centers, and street maps to illustrate how many objects are spatially arranged. Google Maps and old paper maps can also be used to improve children's spatial skills.
Jigsaw Puzzle
The jigsaw puzzle helps strengthen the child's spatial skills. To complete the puzzle requires the spatial ability to rotate or move the piece.
Make sure your child can complete the puzzle on their own. You need to be able to find out by yourself the shape and color of which piece you fit. You have to set the puzzle difficulty according to your child's abilities.
