In search of a few small minds

Dr. Krista Casler is searching for a few small minds.

Casler, a child developmental psychologist, studies a most unusual specimen - local 2- to 5-year-olds - hoping to unravel the mysteries of a concept foreign to most adults.

How exactly do little people think?

"Children see the world through different lenses than we do," says Casler, a Franklin & Marshall College assistant professor.

"It's fascinating to look through that window."

Casler and her student crew at F&M's Child Development Lab are currently running several studies on how toddlers and preschoolers understand and use tools, like a paintbrush or pen.


      Child-development studies at F&M


The research offers insight into how children learn, as well as their creative approaches to problem-solving.

For example, most adults would find it a bit bizarre to see someone combing her hair with a fork.

But a child might think, Why not? It works.

Instead of microscopes, Casler's lab is stocked with toys, diapers, apple juice and Goldfish crackers.

And to children, crushing crackers, ringing bells and drawing pictures seems more like fun than serious academic work.

But Casler's pint-sized subjects are in short supply.

So short that she jokingly counts the days until she can observe her own almost 2-year-old son, in the name of science.

"We joke in the department that we're starting to grow our own subjects as we get desperate," Casler says.

***

Casler, a New Hampshire native with a doctorate from Boston University, joined F&M in 2005. She is currently on leave from teaching to focus on her research.

"I study happy, healthy, normal kids, mostly to figure out how they see the world," Casler says.

But research like hers can also help psychologists understand children who are not developing normally.

Casler works with the goal of publishing or presenting her findings at a professional conference.

Her research sessions generally take about a half-hour, including pre-experiment playtime.

Many local parents who enroll their children have science or psychology backgrounds, or a curiosity about child development, Casler says.

Sometimes it's just a good excuse to get out of the house.

Casler, who also studies children at area day-care centers, "pays" subjects in "Child Scientist" T-shirts or a new book, and maybe some string cheese.

She keeps parents updated on the results of studies involving their children.

And there's another appealing freebie: a few spare minutes with a child developmental psychologist, who's sure to have some insight into the epic frustration that is potty training.

Casler advertises in kid-friendly spots, like doctors' offices and music classes, but finding enough children to fill out a study can be challenging.

"If we had 10 kids in (the lab) every day, I'd be overjoyed," she says.

***

On a recent rainy Friday morning, Casler settles for two.

Luke and Marina Papadimitriou arrive with their mother, Mary, and newborn sister (sadly, too young for research at this point).

The Lancaster family has visited the lab before.

"I love research," Papadimitriou says. " ... If we can help, we're here."

In today's study, Casler will gauge the children's flexibility when they're introduced to a new tool.

If she shows Luke, almost 4, and Marina, 21-w, that a tool can ring a bell, will they try to find other uses for it?

Adults, Casler explains, are generally pretty rigid, using a tool only for its intended purpose.

She theorizes that children might take more creative approaches. But so far, that hasn't always been true in her small subjects.

Adopting an animated tone, Casler shows Luke some tools she's "invented": a "dax," which crushes crackers, and a "blicket," which rings a bell.

On the other side of a two-way mirror, a student volunteer monitors the interaction via closed-circuit TV, recording her observations.

Luke happily crushes crackers, then teaches a teddy bear how to ring the bell. He never stops smiling — except when he's laughing.

When it's Marina's turn, Mom sits quietly in the corner. Parents may accompany bashful children during testing, but there's no "coaching" allowed.

"We want to understand the 3-year-old brain, not the 40-year-old brain," Casler says.

Marina hugs the teddy bear. "He's sooooo cute," she says.

When Casler introduces the blicket, the little girl tries to put in her mouth.

"No," Casler laughs. "It's a blicket, not a licket!"

Marina quickly finds another novel use for the blicket — whacking a stuffed dinosaur on the nose.