Let's Experiment On My 3 Year-Old

Remember those conical cup holders at the old soda-fountains?
What a rip-off!

Inspired me to learn solid geometry.

Also:
I recall being torn about deciding between the 'Chunky" candy bar and the Hershey's flat bar as a small kid. My brother was 2 years older and he tried to explain about the weight and volume to me. I had doubts. The chunky was basically a cube of chocolate and simply didn't look as big.

The deception of the cone vs cylinder however; was 3-fold. Clever marketers!
(I guess it doesn't work anymore. Kids learn.)
 
The six year old initially indicated the taller glass held more water. When I walked him through it all step by step a second time, he said they both had the same amount.

The three year old then grabbed the measuring cup and hilarity ensued.
 
ImaginalDisc said:
Counting is a kind of skill that small children can fake without understanding.
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I can vouch for this. I've seen littler kids "counting" with little idea of making the count correspond accurately to the objects.

For example, I'll have 4 objects, and I get them started by pointing to the first and saying "One. . . ", they'll continue but they won't necessarily point to each of the 4 objects one time. Some might be skipped and some might be "counted" multiple times.
 
You could do the impulsivity test that chimpanzees fail.

You present them with two numerals, and they choose one. You count out that number of treats. At first, that's the number of treats the subject gets (and someone else gets the other number of treats). But then you change up the rules such that the number selected is the quantity the subject doesn't get.

Chimps can do it right if you use numerals. But if instead, you use two bowls of the actual treats, they just can't overcome the impulse to pick the greater quantity no matter what the rules are. And they'll do it over and over and over without ever getting it right.

I'd be curious to see if there's a difference between a 3 yr old and a 6 yr old human.
 
There's something to be said for tricking your kids into making artistic comedy in response to one's schemes.
My girls often amazed me at their ability to dodge my logic; before they even understood numbers. Their solutions to the little puzzles I sometimes set before them...priceless creativity and guileless cuteness.
 
It occurs to me that you might want to have a video camera recording some of the more adorable of these events. It might be fun for them to see later in their lives.
 
JoeTheJuggler said:
You could do the impulsivity test that chimpanzees fail.

You present them with two numerals, and they choose one. You count out that number of treats. At first, that's the number of treats the subject gets (and someone else gets the other number of treats). But then you change up the rules such that the number selected is the quantity the subject doesn't get.

Chimps can do it right if you use numerals. But if instead, you use two bowls of the actual treats, they just can't overcome the impulse to pick the greater quantity no matter what the rules are. And they'll do it over and over and over without ever getting it right.

I'd be curious to see if there's a difference between a 3 yr old and a 6 yr old human.
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Having spent time with a lot of children lately, I would be very surprised if most 6 year olds don't get this pretty quickly.

6 year olds are people, you can have a conversation with one.
 
BowlOfRed said:
I tried a book with different animals on front and back. Unfortunately, we had some interruptions, so I'm not sure things went straight, but 3-year-old #1 answered the animal I was looking at correctly (and emphatically!)
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Hmm. This morning one of them picks up the book and says, "Daddy, can you help me with this? What animal do you see?...." And them proceeds to alternate telling me which animal she sees and asking me which animal I see.

Almost verbatim from yesterday (but without the tricky part). :)
 
Its quite strange to realize that these little yard monkeys are taking over the world.
I welcome our new future overlords.
 
Cavemonster said:
Having spent time with a lot of children lately, I would be very surprised if most 6 year olds don't get this pretty quickly.

6 year olds are people, you can have a conversation with one.
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Do you think the 3 year old would be able to ignore the impulse to point to the bigger pile of treats?

ETA: I think it's telling that for all the cognitive abilities chimpanzees share with us, impulse control is one they seem to lack.
 
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Impulse control isn't only lacking in toddlers and chimps.

I present "exhibit A".
 
Loss Leader said:
After watching a TV show about primates, I tried the following experiment on my 3 year-old:

Two large cups, a small train, and an Elmo doll. I put the train in one cup and told my son, "We're putting the train in this cup. Elmo is watching and he sees that it's in this cup." Then I put Elmo in the other room. I came back and said, "Now, while Elmo is gone, we're going to play a trick on him. We're going to take the train out of this cup and put it in the other cup." I moved the train and then brought Elmo back. I asked my boy, "Which cup is Elmo going to look in first to find the train?"

After a moment of thought, my son indicated the second cup which actually contained the train.

I repeated the experiment on my 6 year-old (who had been downstairs and had not seen the test). He instantly indicated the first cup, where the train had originally been.

So, now it has become a thing. Please suggest further psychological experiments I can do on my boys regarding cognition, perspective, or whatever. The experiments have to be doable with items found in the home, of short duration, and most importantly, they MUST NOT anger my wife.

I'll run the ones I can and report the results.
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The classic theory of mind experiment.

I will see if I still have my Childhood Development books that have several experiments we ran on young children.
 
I am glad you are putting your children to good use by experimenting on them. They are good for nothing else until they are big enough to mow the lawn.
 
dropzone said:
I am glad you are putting your children to good use by experimenting on them. They are good for nothing else until they are big enough to mow the lawn.
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If you were a real parent you would know that they won't mow the lawn.
 
quarky said:
Impulse control isn't only lacking in toddlers and chimps.

I present "exhibit A".
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Adult humans can pass the impulse test that I described. In fact, even the most "impulsive" types, unless they've got a serious cognitive deficit, can pass it.

Chimpanzees simply cannot. [ETA: Despite some remarkable cognitive accomplishments of chimps!]

I think this distinction points to the key differences in chimp v. human brains.

ETA: And obviously what I'm angling for is legislation declaring kids under about 5 not be considered legally human! ;)
 
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