How Emotions Affect Learning

THE EMOTIONAL BASIS OF LEARNING by Noboru Kobayashi, M.D., discusses the affect that emotional growth has on a child's development. He says emotional support for children is absolutely essential to their development and well being. Parents, families, and teachers must provide a positive and emotionally rich environment for our children if they are going to receive their potential as learners.
Noboru notes that "No one teaches a baby how to learn, think, and memorize, so that he or she can develop language and other intellectual activities." He discusses the phenomenon of 'entrainment' in communication stating that verbal and behavior language are woven together. An example of 'behavior language' is when we use our facial features along with hand and body movements that are synchronized with our words, to communicate meaning. Does this mean that people who use their hands a lot when they talk could actually be more effective communicators? This would be good news for them ;-)