BRAIN INITIATIVE - WEEK #11

 
"Investing in young children 0-5 is something we can and should do." 
                                                                              ~ Dr. James Heckman

It is critical to not only our young children that the real information about brain development is known and understood. It is also essential to our society to support and understand the value of investing in the early years. There are growing  numbers of people working to create awareness and share the critical need for investing in optimal learning and healthy development. You know this and it is the reason you are supporting the BRAIN Initiative. 

To help in this effort, this week I have included a brief clip from Dr. James Heckman, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, entitled Skills Beget Skills - How Early Childhood Investment Pays Off. I have provided this as an additional way to help get this information  well known. So, in addition to the BRAIN Insight to share this week, you can also share this clip with those that need to hear the message.

The BRAIN Insight to share this week is again very simple.... but is very important for creating the much needed awareness.

Have you sent in your nomination? 

There are many terrific programs and agencies already nominated from all over the world! I invite you to nominate programs, schools, organizations, or agencies that would benefit from a donated brain activity packet in either English or Spanish. 

The winner for the donation from Week #10 is below!

Following is the Week #11 BRAIN insight to share:

 

BRAIN 

Brains Require All Investing Now

A BRAIN Insight to share ~ Week #10

The experiences children receive in the early years of life are crucial to learning 

and overall development. 

 

Let's make this common knowledge! 
To share this brain fact just cut and paste or use the the share button!

• You can simply post the insight on social network sites 
• You can also include the fact in organizational literature or newsletters, add to your signature on your e-mail, post on a bulletin board and implement it into what you do each week.
• Additionally each week, e-mail the BRAIN Insight to 5 people you know. Encourage each person to share it with 5 people they know. If each person shares with 5 people each week... we will finally have EVERYONE knowing this incredibly important information!  

Enjoy contributing to make this common knowledge!!

 Spreading Brain Development Even Further .... Click here to send the name of a program, agency, school, organization or business that will benefit from a brain development packet. I will draw a name and donate a brain activity packet 

in the name of the person making the recommendation each week!!

The WINNER for WEEK #10:

 

South Shore Educational Collaborative  Hingham,Massachusetts

                                                                
A brain development packet for the age of their choice will be donated in the name of :  

Daphne Knudson

 

 

Congratulations!!

 

THANK YOU to all that are participating the initiative already! Tell everyone you know about the difference we can make!

The Quality of Early Experience Has a Dramatic Impact

Isn’t it wonderful when you get simple information that can make a big difference?  Sometimes the concept of brain development can seem too complicated or overwhelming. However, optimal brain development can occur very easily through every day experiences. It is essential to ensure that every adult realizes the importance of the early years and how we can support a long lasting and dramatic impact.

It is really exciting to have technology providing the study of the brain, like we've never seen before. On going scientific research demonstrates that a child's early development is determined by the environment and experiences, rather than genetics alone. For us to provide the best for children, we must understand how a child's brain develops.

Early Experiences Wire a Brain

The experiences children receive in the early years of life are crucial to overall brain development. When a child has an experience, connections are formed between brain cells. The cells are dependent on experience to create these connections. After eight months a child exposed to a nurturing and stimulating environment may already have 1,000 trillion connections created. These connections physically grow and develop the brain. It is primarily the early experiences that largely determine the basic strength and function of the brain's wiring system. It is that simple!
Warm and consistent parents, who cuddle and talk to their children and provide fun learning experiences, promote healthy brain development for their children. It is so refreshing for many parents to learn that beyond meeting a child’s basic needs for safety, sleep, and providing good nutrition, all that a developing brain needs most is loving interaction and play.
 
The Brain Adapts to Any Environment 

Because the brain develops based on experience, a young child’s brain will adapt to a negative environment just as easily as it will adapt to a positive environment. 

Prolonged, severe, or unpredictable stress-including abuse and neglect-during a child's early years can result in negative impacts on the child's physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Babies who do not receive consistent and caring responses to their cries, and those whose cries are met with abuse, develop brain connections to prepare them to cope in that environment. As a result their ability to learn and respond to nurturing and kindness may be impaired.

It is Repetition That Makes Strong Connections.

The brain organizes through a "use it or lose it" process. The brain eliminates and strengthens connections in an effort to become more efficient. So, experiences that are repeated frequently lead to brain connections that are retained. Connections that are not used often due to lack of repeated experience are eliminated. This is how a child’s brain adapts to the experiences in daily life.

Consistency is key. The brain feels comfortable when it knows what to expect. When children learn through repetition, that a parent (or care provider) will be there for them when needed, they can relax and feel safe.  Providing loving interaction, adequate amounts of sleep, healthy nutrition, time playing outdoors, physical activity, lots of creative play, and exploration contributes to a child with a healthy brain.

Through understanding how quality experiences impact brain development we can make a REAL difference. This is what children want all of the adults in their lives to know!

It is critical that this becomes common knowledge. We can ALL play an important role in making this happen for ALL children. Start now!  Tell everyone you know that we can make a dramatic, long lasting and positive impact through providing quality experiences in the early years! 

The reason I created, The Brain Devlopment Series is to make it easy to develop healthy brains even during busy everyday life. For further information for interaction activity ideas go to www.braininsightsonline.com  

BRAIN INITIATIVE - WEEK #10

It is critical to our young children that the real information about brain development is known and understood. Every day there are numerous initiatives, blogs, articles, webinars, presentations and talk radio programs that share the critical importance of play for optimal learning and healthy development. There are scientific studies and continuing research reports that reveal the critical difference play has on a growing brain. However, opportunity for time play is an infrequent part of everyday life for most children.  

So the BRAIN Insight to share this week is very simple.... but is very important for creating the much needed awareness. Let's create the following statistic -  "100% of parents know  that play is the best way to help a child learn."

Have you sent in your nomination? 

There are many terrific programs and agencies already nominated from all over the world! I invite you to nominate programs, schools, organizations, or agencies that would benefit from a donated brain activity packet in either English or Spanish. 

The winner for the donation from Week #9 is below!

Following is the Week #10 BRAIN insight to share:

 

BRAIN 

Brains Require All Investing Now

A BRAIN Insight to share ~ Week #10

 

Healthy brains are developed through play!

           

 Let's make this common knowledge! 
To share this brain fact just cut and paste or use the the share button!

• You can simply post the insight on social network sites 
• You can also include the fact in organizational literature or newsletters, add to your signature on your e-mail, post on a bulletin board and implement it into what you do each week.
• Additionally each week, e-mail the BRAIN Insight to 5 people you know. Encourage each person to share it with 5 people they know. If each person shares with 5 people each week... we will finally have EVERYONE knowing this incredibly important information!  

Enjoy contributing to make this common knowledge!!

 Spreading Brain Development Even Further .... Click here to send the name of a program, agency, school, organization or business that will benefit from a brain development packet. I will draw a name and donate a brain activity packet 

in the name of the person making the recommendation each week!!

The WINNER for WEEK #9:

 

Cross Trainers Academy ~ Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Milwaukee, WI

                                                                
A brain development packet for the age of their choice will be donated in the name of : Jan Whittow

                                                  

Congratulations!!

 

THANK YOU to all that are participating the initiative already! Tell everyone you know about the difference we can make!

BRAIN INITIATIVE - WEEK #9

It is critical to our young children that the real information about brain development is known and understood. There is still too much that is not common knowledge. I am continuously amazed by the number of adults that still do not know that the AAP recommends no TV (DVD's) before the age of two.  This recommendation came out in 1999! 

Yesterday I read this finding in a valuable report put together from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood , "56% of parents of young children believe that baby videos are good for child development."

So the BRAIN Insight to share this week is important for creating the awareness of all that really IS good for the development of young brains. Let's change this statistic to: "0% of parents believe that baby videos are good for child development."

Have you sent in your nomination? 

There are many terrific programs and agencies already nominated from all over the world! I invite you to nominate programs, schools, organizations, or agencies that would benefit from a donated brain activity packet in either English or Spanish. 

The winner for the donation from Week #8 is below!

Following is the Week #8 BRAIN insight to share:

 

BRAIN 

Brains Require All Investing Now

A BRAIN Insight to share ~ Week #9

 

Optimal learning and healthy development occurs only through exploration and interaction with people and real objects.

           

 Let's make this common knowledge! 
To share this brain fact just cut and paste or use the the share button!

• You can simply post the insight on social network sites 
• You can also include the fact in organizational literature or newsletters, add to your signature on your e-mail, post on a bulletin board and implement it into what you do each week.
• Additionally each week, e-mail the BRAIN Insight to 5 people you know. Encourage each person to share it with 5 people they know. If each person shares with 5 people each week... we will finally have EVERYONE knowing this incredibly important information!  

Enjoy contributing to make this common knowledge!!

 Spreading Brain Development Even Further .... Click here to send the name of a program, agency, school, organization or business that will benefit from a brain development packet. I will draw a name and donate a brain activity packet 

in the name of the person making the recommendation each week!!

The WINNER for WEEK #8:

 

Maternal/Infant Support program of the Dickinson-Iron Health Dept. Kingsford, MI

                                                                
A brain development packet for the age of their choice will be donated in the name of :   Cherie Fila     

                                                  

Congratulations!!

 

THANK YOU to all that are participating the initiative already! Tell everyone you know about the difference we can make!

BRAIN INITIATIVE - WEEK #8

Did you have a wonderful Brain Awareness Week? How did you use the week to promote and share information? It would be terrific to hear in what way you helped to create awareness. We can all benefit from everyone sharing. We are all looking forward to knowing what you did during the week. 

Have you sent in your nomination? 

There are many terrific programs and agencies already nominated from all over the world! I invite you to nominate programs, schools, organizations, or agencies that would benefit from a donated brain activity packet in either English or Spanish. 

The winner for the donation from Week #7 is below!

Following is the Week #8 BRAIN insight to share:

 

BRAIN 

Brains Require All Investing Now

A BRAIN Insight to share ~ Week #8

   

            All brains need consistent and nurturing interactions. Predictability leads to 

healthy emotional development.

.

 Let's make this common knowledge! 
To share this brain fact just cut and paste or use the the share button!

• You can simply post the insight on social network sites 
• You can also include the fact in organizational literature or newsletters, add to your signature on your e-mail, post on a bulletin board and implement it into what you do each week.
• Additionally each week, e-mail the BRAIN Insight to 5 people you know. Encourage each person to share it with 5 people they know. If each person shares with 5 people each week... we will finally have EVERYONE knowing this incredibly important information!  

Enjoy contributing to make this common knowledge!!

 Spreading Brain Development Even Further .... Click here to send the name of a program, agency, school, organization or business that will benefit from a brain development packet. I will draw a name and donate a brain activity packet 

in the name of the person making the recommendation each week!!

The WINNER for WEEK #7:

Big Valley Rancheria Parent & Child Development Center

                                                                
A brain development packet for the age of their choice will be donated in the name of :   Merrill Featherstone, from: Lake County Tribal Health Consortium    

                                                  

Congratulations!!

 

THANK YOU to all that are participating the initiative already! Tell everyone you know about the difference we can make!

BRAIN INITIATIVE - WEEK #7

HAPPY BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK! 

This week provides an even greater opportunity to ensure every adult understands the wonderful opportunity we have to positively impact the development of ALL children.  

We can use this week to promote and share information in even greater ways! I am thrilled by all that is happening. Thanks for your on-going part in this incredibly important effort!

Have you sent in your nomination? 

I invite you to nominate programs, schools, organizations, or agencies that would benefit from a donated brain activity packet in either English or Spanish. The winner for the donation from Week #5 is below!

Following is the Week #7 BRAIN insight to share:

 

BRAIN 

Brains Require All Investing Now

A BRAIN Insight to share ~ Week #6

   

Early experiences, either positive or negative, physically impact brain growth for the foundation of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social skills in life.

 Let's make this common knowledge! 
To share this brain fact just cut and paste or use the the share button!

• You can simply post the insight on social network sites 
• You can also include the fact in organizational literature or newsletters, add to your signature on your e-mail, post on a bulletin board and implement it into what you do each week.
• Additionally each week, e-mail the BRAIN Insight to 5 people you know. Encourage each person to share it with 5 people they know. If each person shares with 5 people each week... we will finally have EVERYONE knowing this incredibly important information!  

Enjoy contributing to make this common knowledge!!

 Spreading Brain Development Even Further .... Click here to send the name of a program, agency, school, organization or business that will benefit from a brain development packet. I will draw a name and donate a brain activity packet in the name of the person making the recommendation each week!!

The WINNER for WEEK #6:

    Children's Connections, Inc. 

    Texas         

                                                                
A brain development packet for the age of their choice will be donated in the name of :      Katie Pfeiffer   

                                                  

Congratulations!!

 

THANK YOU to all that are participating the initiative already! Tell everyone you know about the difference we can make!

BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK- MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN

Brain Awareness Week provides the VERY needed opportunity to focus on all that is possible for ALL children! 

Envision a world filled with happy children who are eager to learn, are healthy, feel confident in their abilities, have well developed language, strong math and reading skills, are creative and curious, get along with other children, are physically fit and active, and are self disciplined. Picture all of these children developing into adults in the community, contributing their skills and abilities.

Due to a wealth of research we are extremely fortunate to have the knowledge of all that contributes to making this dream possible!

Ongoing scientific evidence continues to demonstrate that through meeting a child’s needs for nutrition, sleep, safety, play, time outdoors, and loving experiences a child’s brain will have the chance to develop optimally.

The sad news is all children don’t have the opportunities for experiences that create the 

likelihood of this vision. Too many of our young children are exposed to multiple risk factors that can affect the development of the brain in unhealthy ways. Risk factors may be inadequate nutrition, neglect, chaotic environments, exposure to environmental toxins, lack of time in nature, trauma and abuse, great amounts of screen time, a focus on academics too early, limited predictability from caregivers, high levels of stress, and lack of quality of daily care.

All of these influences can contribute to a brain being “wired” in a way that leads to physical, emotional and learning problems. The brains of young children learn very early how to adapt or survive in the environment to which they are exposed.

It is time to ensure that EVERYONE understands the positive impact this knowledge can have. We also need to make sure everyone knows how detrimental it is for us to continue to ignore this information. 

Children will benefit most if everyone is involved in first creating an awareness and then invest in implementing change. Making this happen must take place at an individual level, in families, in childcare facilities and schools, through business and community organizations and in local and state government.

If we want success for our children it is up to us, the adults in their lives, to become aware of where change is needed and then work together to continue doing all we can to see improvements take place. For this vision to happen for all children, it is up to us to develop strategies to eliminate the detrimental effects on young children, and provide all that young growing brains need …. and deserve!

 

In addition to creating awareness, is thrilling to realize that thousands of families and professionals are now using the brain development activity packets to provide positive daily experiences! These make it so easy for busy parents to have ideas right on hand at any time to entertain busy brains!

To make it even easier for additional programs, agencies, companies, schools, hospitals, to distribute these.... Brain Insights is offering a special BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK discount TODAY!!  Use promo code: BAW
for 30% off your total order!

ANNOUNCEMENT:  

Your organization, company, school, hospital or agency can now have your Logo printed on the packet to promote all of your positive efforts!! 

I love the ease of your ideas. Brain Development Activity Packets are unique, special, meaningful, and simple for busy and caring parents. Using proven research based on science, these are a glorious and effective way to help children have a strong, healthy and positive start.

                 Michele Borba, Ed.D., author The Big Book of Parenting Solutions

“A handy way to attune to a baby’s magical brain.”
Raffie Cavoukian, Singer, Author, Founder Center For Child Honouring

“Brain Insights activity packets are incredibly valuable for anyone that cares about the healthy development of young children. These compact packets make easy access for daily use to provide the loving interaction and fun young brains are craving!” 
Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Lynne Kenney, author of The Family Coach Method

Happy Brain Awareness Week!