SAT Scores

Doug attended a seminar on emotional intelligence a few days ago. We both find the assessments and logic of that kind of thing very interesting.

He was telling me that in some long ago year, they ran an experiment on children involving marshmallows. Apparently, they left a child sitting in a room with three marshmallows inches away. They directed the child that if they didn't touch or eat the marshmallows until the adult returned - then the child could have them ALL + 3 more. They found some hilarious reactions displayed by the many children. Some waited patiently, forcing themselves to not even look at the marshmallows. Others, shoved them in their mouths. Some tried to nibble unidentifiable bits off of the corners. Some licked them!! Ah...kids. Each so unique.

Anyway - they tracked these children over years and found those that displayed impulse control over the marshmallows -- to have higher SAT Scores later!!

We ran our own experiment. Kenzie begs for marshmallows every day. LOVES marshmallows. Doug peeked from the top of the stairs while Kenzie sat within reach of three giant marshmallows. I giggled hysterically because I couldn't see her and just envisioned her going nuts with anticipation. I fully expected her to gobble them up.

We exhausted a couple of minutes.
Kenzie never moved from the couch. She didn't even flinch. She just sat there and looked at marshmallows. Bored-like.
We then had to feed her SIX giant marshmallows. She was no longer bored.

We considered it an early celebration of those SAT scores we'll be expecting years later....