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In psychology circles, perseverance refers to the ability to avoid distractions and stay focused on one’s goals and intentions. While some children learn this essential skill early on, others may struggle with it throughout their lives. A recent study examined children between the ages of 4 and 6 to determine how well they could stay on task during a “boring” activity. The researchers discovered that young people were better able to concentrate and resist distractions like iPads when they dressed as popular fictional characters, using a perseverance strategy known as “self-distancing.”
When kids think they’re superheroes:
Self-distancing involves shifting one’s focus to a third-person perspective and viewing oneself from a stranger’s viewpoint. The researchers found that when this third-person point of view involved adopting the costumed persona of Batman or Dora the Explorer, children were less likely to give in to instant gratification, allowing them to focus better on assigned tasks. Researchers Rachel E. White, Emily O. Prager, and their colleagues published “The Batman Effect: Improving Perseverance in Young Children” in the journal Child Development in 2017.
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