The clips from the Jimmy Kimmel show are not just entertaining, they are also a window into early childhood cognitive development. However, not all of Kimmel’s clips with children have been well-received. In 2013, one of Kimmel’s “kid’s table” segments generated protests and angered the Chinese-American community because one of the children in the clip suggested that the way to handle US debt with China was to “kill everyone in China”. (Kimmel later apologized for the clip. ABC removed the footage and promised not to air it again.)
Kimmel is not the first adult to be embarrassed by an inappropriate remark by a child. Please consider the limitations of children’s cognition and language development. How might these differences between children and adults lead to misunderstandings?
Additionally, when we consider early childhood cognitive development, the development of language abilities is a key concern. Please consider how an applied understanding of early childhood cognitive development could influence practices at the family, community or societal level. Are there policies or practices that should be changed, enhanced or eliminated?
key reference:
Kathleen Stassen Berger. Invitation to the Life Span (fifth edition)