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Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Gesture in Communication
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How sensorimotor interaction shapes and supports young children's gestural communication around science
Rhiannon L Thomas Jha1, Sara Price1, Minna O Nygren1
1Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK.
International Journal of Science Education
|August 20, 2021
Summary
Young children
Area of Science:
- Early childhood education
- Developmental psychology
- Science communication
Background:
- Gesture aids scientific communication in adults and older children.
- Limited research exists on gesture's role in young children's science communication and its link to sensorimotor experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine spontaneous gesture use in children under 5 during discourse.
- To conceptualize how children's gestures map to their sensorimotor experiences at a water table.
- To understand how gesture supports science thinking in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of children's interactions at a water table.
- Analysis of spontaneous gestural communication during discourse.
- Mapping of gestural complexity to action experiences.
Main Results:
- Children under 5 years spontaneously use gesture during science-related discourse.
- Gestural communication conveys varying levels of complexity in science thinking.
- Sensorimotor experiences appear to shape gestural expression related to scientific concepts.
Conclusions:
- Gesture is a crucial, yet understudied, component of early science communication.
- Understanding children's gestural language can provide insights into their developing scientific understanding.
- Further research into sensorimotor-based gestural communication is warranted for early science education.
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