December 22, 2025
The Gift of Novelty
In a previous post, I shared about the importance of both novelty and repetition when it comes to learning. Today, I am focusing on the novelty. ‘Tis the season for our desire to give just that one special gift that will invoke excitement, joy, and recognition in the recipient. We all need novelty in our lives to expose us to new experiences and encourage us to learn and grow. Novelty causes the release of a neurotransmitter in the brain called dopamine, which increases motivation, focus, and attention. This leads to learning.
Recently, I sat with one of my early intervention families of an autistic son. The mom shared a story that highlights the importance of giving the gift of novelty. Previously her son did not like new experiences nor new places. He would cry and cover his ears, overwhelmed by anything different. This week she took him to an indoor area where he played in a ball pit, went down inflatable slides, and waited for his lunch with no signs of over-stimulation. Mom was so excited to watch him light up when interacting with this new environment! She told me about her plans to incorporate new experiences into his life on a regular basis.
Consider, with all the excitement of this holiday season, bringing novelty into your gifts and experiences. Watch as the wonder of learning unfolds before your very eyes.
Merry Christmas from me to you!