Culture Bound Listeners

"Culture bound listeners" refers to the type of listeners that we become as early as our 1st birthday. The first year in a child's life is the most critical period for learning. Moreover, it is the most critical period for cognitive development. Being a nutrition student, and having taken a few psych classes, I have come to learn that this couldn't me more true. Without any doubt, first and foremost, children learn through observation and experience.While they may not know exactly what they're doing at first, they tend to mimick our actions. Overtime, this mimicking is converted into habits and thus, when they are older, they are aware of these actions. It is also very important to note that participation is key. Whether it be routines, rituals, etc., participation results in repeated experiences which creates multiple opportunities for learning. It is critical that the activities of which the child participates in are goal directed and positive! As well, parental expectations have a large impact on the outcome of the experiences.