I often receive the following question from parents looking into mind mapping for their children:
Can my children learn how to create mindmaps?
This is a question which is not that easy to answer, it depends on the child. Sure, people of many ages can create mindmaps. I do think you need to have a certain overview in information and developed mind before you can create an effective mindmap.
We can all doodle words and images on paper, yet this is not what equals the creation of an effective mindmap. Mind Mapping is a well defined system in stead of the creation of just a visual overview.
I was well in my twenties before I started to create ‘genuine’ of ‘official’ mindmaps. Before that, I always created visual overviews of information. Small drawings with lines, images and words. This was done on a ‘feel good’ basis, not really using a proven system.
My mind mapping introduction was during a speed reading training. Part of this training was instructing us how to manage the information in an efficient manner.
From that moment on, I started to create mindmaps. I quickly learned how to make them work for me. I learn how to think beyond mind mapping. My own system of creating visual overview is called summapping. This was created in 2005 and later on I published a book on that.
People intuitively seemed to know how they could map out information and concepts using summaps. This was even easier to do than by using mindmaps. Summaps are something which children also know how to use faster than mind mapping.
Still, the question today is when children can start to create mindmaps.
I believe children can start to work with mindmaps when they learned how to write and are able to organize thoughts and words. Since the mind of a child is still very much thinking in images, this part of mind mapping may come easy. The difficulty lies in the connection of the words.
Afterall… you need to be able to put general context in a visual overview.
I don’t know if you have any children. If so, please teach them how to mindmap information. They will benefit from this so much.
I would like to know from you:
Question #1:
At what age did you start with mind mapping (and did you like it immediately)?
Question #2:
At what age do you think children should be taught this effective system?
Question #3:
Are schools teaching the children in your city/country about mind mapping?
I look forward to reading your thoughts.
Let your mindmaps work for you!
Arjen
P.S.: Here’s an article on mind mapping in schools you should read if interested.
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