How Is Young Childrens Intellectual Culture of Understanding Nature Different from Adults?
This paper explores the development of the “ecological human brain” in children, children’s intellectual culture of “naturalist intelligence,” and developmentally and culturally congruent curricula for young children. In early cognitive development, nature-given perception conducts thought. In contrast, for adults, intellectual culture as a way of knowing is mostly based on perception obeying thought. Primary perceptions of children as “bonding” to the earth may tend to disappear if there is no social emotionally-responsive or intellectually-congruent input during the early childhood period. Naturalist intelligence is an example of an intelligence with a critical period in early childhood. Neglecting young children’s interests in nature or hindering their curiosity and limiting their exploration throughout childhood can impair cognitive abilities as well as social-emotional development. The biophobic attitudes of adults may teach children to feel fear or to keep their distance from nat
