Interview - Charles Fernyhough, Developmental psychologist and writer
Monday, April 2, 2012
Dr Fernyhough spoke to the Montessori Schools Association annual conference this week about 'How little minds lead to big ideas'. He is the author of The Baby in the Mirror, which charts the first three years of his daughter's life.
As a psychologist, how did you approach observing and studying your own child's early development?
I approached it as three different people: as an academic psychologist, steeped in the theories and research; as a father, overawed by this amazing emotional experience; and as a writer, looking for the revealing details. Bringing these perspectives together was what made it such an interesting book to write.
What can we gain from looking at things from a child's perspective?
As parents, we arguably gain a richer experience of parenthood by asking how our children see the world, and they stand to gain more from us if we do so. As teachers, we're taking a course that will potentially lead to better developmental outcomes. As human beings, we can only benefit from a richer understanding of who we used to be.
Can you explain your concept of mind-mindedness and how this fits with attachment?
Mind-mindedness means being tuned in to your child's likely thoughts and feelings. We measure it by listening to how parents talk to their infants about what they might be thinking or feeling. Some parents seem to be good at 'reading' their babies' minds - they comment that the baby is excited if she squeals joyfully, or that the baby is fascinated with a particular toy he's played with for a long time. Parents also sometimes misread how their babies are feeling. They may say that the baby is feeling anxious when they seem content, or that the baby is bored with a toy when the baby is happily playing with it. Our research has shown that parents who are good at reading their babies' minds are more likely to have children who are securely attached, and research by other groups around the world supports these findings.
How could mind-mindedness link with early intervention?
New parents are given lots of advice, but it's predominantly about physical care. When the baby's feelings are mentioned, the focus tends to be on negative emotions - crying, tantrums, difficult behaviour. Our research shows the positive impact of parents tuning into what makes their children happy, in terms of their interests and favourite activities and objects, as well as recognising when they are upset or angry. To be mind-minded, spend time trying to see the world through a child's eyes, and comment on a child's likely thoughts and feelings while you play together or interact. By tuning into your baby's thoughts and feelings as early as possible, you'll be better placed to understand their behaviour and be less likely to find parenting stressful.
