A Nature Preschool Enhances Early Childhood Brain Development

As I continuously promote, it is critical that children have the opportunity to learn, play and explore outdoors. As adults we need to do all we can to ensure that children have opportunities to develop their brains in healthy, natural and safe environments.

There are numerous benefits to brains of all ages as a result of spending time in nature as I have shared in Your Brain Needs Nature and this fun one that includes a video called, Nature Deficit Disorder by KQED QUEST. It is especially important and beneficial for young developing brains to experience and learn outdoors.

For this reason I am thrilled to share the following article from Audubon magazine. It is a great pleasure  to work with the extremely talented and dedicated people and spend time at the Schlitz Nature Audubon Nature Center. It has been a particularly great honor to collaborate on a project to create the Naturally Developing Young Brains Packet with Lorna Hilyard and Pattie Bailie, mentioned in this article.

I am certain you will enjoy reading the experience expressed by one Dad after his son spent only two weeks in the nature preschool. The center is remarkable. The best part is, they serve as a model and help other programs implement nature into programing. In fact 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the nature brain packets goes directly toward increasing nature preschool experiences for more children.

A Nature Preschool Enhances Early Childhood Brain Development 

An exciting nature-based curriculum for preschoolers developed at the Schlitz Center in Wisconsin is spreading to classrooms across the country—and even to Sesame Street. 

By Susan Cosier  Published: January-February 2012 

"Bailie, a 20-year veteran of early childhood and environmental education, says, “There’s such a connection between spending time in the natural world and the developing brain.”

Recent research bears her out, though it’s an understudied field. Noticing differences between objects, like seeds and burrs, helps wire the brain, nurturing initial math and pre-reading skills that develop from the ages of one through four. “They learn observation skills after just a few months,” says Bailie. “Parents will tell me, ‘I can’t believe what my child sees now.’ "Studies also show that just 20 minutes spent outdoors improves concentration in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as much as, if not more than, medication. That’s in addition to the physical benefits of exercise and exposure to vitamin D (which helps build strong bones)."    Read More


It would be great to hear your experiences with children as a result of spending time outdoors. Please share your wonderful stories with all of us!

For more information about or to purchase, Naturally Developing Young Brains go to Brain Insights

 

LOVE IS A PRIMARY NEED

Did You Know...?

        

...... feel good chemicals are released in the brain through loving interactions.

....... families and cultures that express warm physical affection have fewer issues with anger and aggression.

..... Researchers who examine the life histories of children who have succeeded despite many challenges, have consistently found that these children have had at least one stable, supportive relationship with an adult early in life.

It is valuable to realize how much the brain has to do with relationships and the love we experience in our lives. Love is one of our primary needs throughout our lives. 

Warm, responsive care-giving not only meets a child's basic day-to-day needs, but is also about responding to the emotional needs of children. Predictable and loving responsiveness is not only comforting, it plays a vital role in optimal mental health. The way that parents, families and other caregivers consistently relate and respond to young children, directly create influences learning and relationships later in life. 

This all begins in infancy but does not end there. This is why I love to share the writing of Mark Brady, Ph.D. on what he calls, "Big Brain Question". Below are some pieces from his contributions on this topic.

The healthy brain is an anticipation-prediction machine. When we operate in environments where there is little predictability and we have little idea what to anticipate from one moment to the next, chronic stress results.

There’s ONE question that all brains want answered, and they want it answered, “Yes.” Parent’s brains, children’s brains, all brains. And they don’t want a lukewarm “Yes,” or a “Maybe Yes” or a “Getting-to-Yes Yes.” They want a substantial, resounding, unequivocal, “YES!” Yes. When the answer is something other than “Yes.” if the answer is “Maybe,” or “I’m not sure,” a confusion and uncertainty begins to take shape in our brains.

The Question our brains ask is …… Are you there for me?

Do I matter enough that you’ll put me first when I need you to? Can I count on you to attend to me in the ways I need you to? Do I truly and deeply matter to you?

These questions are being asked – non-verbally through behavior often, and when they get answered “Yes,” we can relax and begin to feel safe in our relationships. The self-preservation structures of the brain continually monitor our environment and the people in it for safety. Our survival depends upon it. We generally love the people we feel the safest being around, and the emotional responsiveness often identified as love arises out of this safe “felt sense.” 

My dream is for all children to grow with this

loving safe and secure experience!

The impact loving interactions can make on a child’s growing brain, is one of the primary reason I developed The Brain Development Series, You can purchase brain packets in English or Spanish.

Children and the Brain: Think NUTRITION!

What is good for the body... is good for the brain!

Often when we hear the term "healthy" we generally think in terms of our body. However, realizing the positive impact healthy habits have on our brains and the dramatic effect they have on children can make an remarkable difference.

When I am presenting on the effects nutrition has on a child's brain, learning and behavior, I commonly find that people are amazed with this knowledge. This is the reason for my post today. I am sharing this wonderful article written by Lauren Zimet which was previously published in Common Ground Magazine, Nov 2011.

I have had the pleasure of co-presenting with Lauren. She is a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate professional. 

Enjoy the valuable tips she provides for the benefit of healthier brains for everyone!

Nourishing Tips to Nurture New Neurons

BY LAUREN ZIMET

The brain. We all have one. Yet sometimes it gets neglected. Our brain needs certain things to stay healthy, and when it doesn’t get what it needs, it doesn’t work its best. In fact, sometimes it gets the opposite of what it needs—stuff it doesn’t know what to do with, such as artificial dyes, preservatives, GMOs, the list goes on. When this happens, both our brain and body can have a sensitive reaction that can look different from one person to the next, but that can result in a brain not performing to its highest standard.

We are born with 100 billion brain cells, and the brain continues to develop after a baby is born. New connections between neurons—the cells in the brain—form quickly from birth to 3 years of age and older, and continue to form

throughout our lives, based on our experiences.This means that we need to

nourish our brain. We need to give it both the experiences and the nutrients it needs to develop.

It helps children to know that with each healthy food they eat, and with each new experience they have, they are making a new connection in their brain.

This is powerful stuff . Imagine a child, face filled with pride, after making a new neural connection by simply taking a nibble of kale.

The following seven tips offer

simple ways you can guide your

children in making mindful, brain-healthy

choices as they play, learn, work, and grow.

1. Eat a rainbow. Eat a colorful array of organic

fruits and vegetables every day. Be sure

to wash the produce to loosen and rinse away

any dirt and toxins. Kids can do the washing—

they benefit from being part of a team, by having

their own chores within the family.

2. Don’t eat fake stuff. The body really likes

food. Real food, such as whole grains, protein,

lots of colorful vegetables and fruit, and

healthy fats. Limit or eliminate artificial dyes,

colors, and flavors; processed foods; fast foods;

junk foods; hydrogenated fats; sodas; and refined sugars.

3. Keep your brain lubed. Your brain needs

omega-3s, also known as essential fatty acids

(EFAs), for proper growth, particularly                                      

for neural development

and maturation of sensory systems.

EFAs speed neural signals

along, making for smoother,

easier, more efficient communication

across synapses. EFAs are

necessary for proper immune

function, cognitive development,

and for skin function and

maintenance. A deficit in EFAs

has been linked to ADHD, dyslexia,

and other behavioral and

psychological disorders. Your

body can’t make EFAs, so you

need to consume them. They are

found in nuts, seeds, olives, seaweed,

and fish. It’s always best to

eat foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and

other essential nutrients, but if you are unsure

that your child is getting a well-balanced diet,

a purified, molecularly distilled fish oil supplement

is a great EFA source. My trusted brand

of choice is Nordic Naturals.

4. Stay awash in oxygen and water. Drink

H2O to hydrate—check with your health care                    

practitioner for how much, but a quick rule is

to divide your body weight by two to get the

approximate number of ounces to drink per

day. Also, take slow, deep breaths to reset and

calm the sensory and neurological system.

Deep breathing helps children self-regulate

and improves immunity, nervous system functioning,

and emotional regulation. A recent

study published in the International Journal of

Nursing Studies reports that deep breathing is

effective for reducing anxiety in children with

asthma.

5. Learn to move and to chill. The brain

loves exercise, and exercise boosts brain power.             

But you also need to teach your child how

to relax—for example, by getting out into nature,

reading an entertaining book, or playing

a board game. Long-term stress can be toxic,

and a stressed brain doesn’t learn the same way

as an unstressed brain. Emotional stress has an

impact on a child’s ability to learn. Sustained

stress can damage a developing brain’s architecture,

which can lead to problems in learning,

behavior, and physical and mental health.

6. Rewire your thinking. Create “Band-Aid

thoughts” as a tool to acknowledge and work

through bad, sad, mad, frustrated, and negative thoughts.

Demonstrating positive self-talk in front of your children—

for example, reflecting on how you expertly handled a 

difficult or challenging situation—lays a blueprint for how

they may handle their own problems. Negative

thoughts or mistakes can be opportunities to

learn and grow from.

7. Name that feeling. Teaching your child

to label emotions and recognize feelings helps

connect the nonverbal and verbal pathways in

the brain. Strengthening these pathways can

improve a child’s ability to take on another’s

perspective. This is especially useful for children

with learning challenges, who need more

support developing flexible thinking.

Lauren’s Favorite Resources

NordicNaturals.com

ChickinFeed.com

KellyDorfman.com

JuliaTurnerNutrition.com

ImpactADHD.com

BrainInsightsonline.com

BucketFilling101.com

TodayIateArainbow.com

BrainRules.net

Lauren Zimet, MS, CCC/SLP, is the founder of

Healthy Foundations, an education program

that facilitates brain health, nutrition education,

and social thinking for children of all ages

and abilities. http://earlyinsights.com/ http://www.childhoodbrainhealth.com/

ipadding Toddlers: When Is It Too Soon?

What do YOU think about babies using ipads and smartphones? 

An increasing amount of discussion is occurring on the topic. Varied opinions and viewpoints are shared in this terrific article from Newsday written by Beth Whitehouse.  

I had the pleasure of being interviewed for this article to share my opinion. Of course I expressed that it is best for young brains in the process of making valuable brain connections, to interact with real objects instead of being handed an electronic device. Since it is primarily experience that impacts the connections that physically grow and develop the brain, my strong recommendation is that children interact with the real world.  As the,

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child reports: 

     

    "Although a varied array of experiences clearly stimulates learning in the preschool years, promotional statements about the superior brain building impacts of expensive "educational" toys and videos for infants and toddlers have no scientific support."

You can read the full article, iPadding toddlers: When is it too soon? Published: November 21, 2011 By beth.whitehouse@newsday.com

 

After reading the article, I would very much enjoy hearing your thoughts on the topic. 

Making A Differnce Through Giving for Children!

November Newsletter: 

Making A Difference For Children!

Giving to others is good for your brain. Research demonstrates, that when donating, the reward center is activated in the brain .....of the giver!
 
The hormone, oxytocin has been found to be released when giving to others.  At this time of year, it is especially fun to realize that the act of giving to others affects the brain in such a positive way.

I so appreciate all the dedicated people I have had the pleasure and honor of connecting with throughout the world! I can not express how exciting it is to daily become aware of additional people that are contributing in some way toward making the lives of children and families better.  

This newsletter shares links to some of the numerous people contributing to the needs of children!

You can also take advantage of  

40% brain packets for holiday gift giving ... 

Now through Monday! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

 

IS THAT CHILD SMARTER THAN MINE?

One of the reasons for creating, The Brain Development Series was due to my desire help parents learn what is best for the developing brain of their children. It is often confusing for caring parents to sort out which skills to encourage and support. It is my desire for parents to easily understand all that brain research clearly shows is most advantageous for learning and long lasting impact.

With this desire, I am pleased to share a guest blog from Marcia Hall. In this story she shares her perspective from her professional role... and her emotions from her role as a loving mother. 

 

Is That Child Smarter Than Mine?

I have been a Certified Professional Nanny for almost 15 years, working with children and families from birth into their teen years.  I have studied children’s brain development both in the classroom, through books, and during lots of personal experience.  I know that the bond babies make with mom or dad in those first few months are vital to the neurological connections that are being made in their brains.  As children get older, the connections also are made through many stimuli like touch, feel, taste, sight and sound.  I understand that a toddler’s brain will develop best through real experiences.  They should be learning balance, coordination, speech, spatial dexterity and social skills.  Learning the ABC’s, numbers, shapes and the rest will come but do not need to be pushed at this stage.  In fact stressing a child out (and yourself) to learn these lessons earlier and earlier could have negative effects to the development process.  The energy being used to memorizing these skills could go instead to the improvement of age appropriate activities.

All this I know from my training, however, I am also a mom.  A few weeks ago my almost 3 year old daughter had a play date with a child 5 months younger.  During play time the other child began to sing her ABC’s.  She got every letter right!!  Not only that, she went on to count to 20 without missing any numbers.  My daughter says “1, 2, 17” and her idea of ABC’s are “A, B, Q, X.”  Suddenly my mommy jealously kicked in.  For a moment all understanding of how the brain works and what is age appropriate flew out the window, and I found myself wondering if my daughter was not as smart.  Would that mean she would not do well in school and then not get into a good college Then would she not get a good job and be HAPPY!

Okay, maybe I did not consciously think all this in that instant, but my emotions went around these issues.  My head started spinning with worry.  I know the reality that even if this child was showing signs of greater intelligence by saying her ABC's at 2 years old that does not mean my daughter will not do well in school.  Happiness does not come from your intelligence or your job. 

But the issue goes even deeper because I know that being able to recite ABC’s and count to 20 at the age of two, does not equal great intelligence. It means that this other child has had experiences in different areas than my child. Perhaps she is an auditory learner and simply caught on to the “ABC song" or her mother has worked very hard training her daughter to count to say numerals in order. 

Whatever the case is my story is not unique.  There is a natural instinct in parents to want their child to excel at academics and to compare them to other children.  It’s hard for parents to resist this temptation and choose instead to see their child’s strengths.  If it is difficult for a mom like me who has been extensively trained and witnessed many children grow healthy and bright who did not know their ABC’s at 2, how much more difficult is it for parents that do not know these things.  Therefore it is understandable why it is so common for parents to push their children to learn things they do not need to be pushed to learn. 

I was able to quickly regain my rational thinking and genuinely praised the child for sharing what she knows.  I did not run home and try to force my daughter to learn to say the alphabet.  I choose instead to find the things she is really good at, like using her imagination and playing well with others. Remembering that EVERY child has skills and talents that they can do well is important.  It is our honor as parents and caregivers to find those strengths and nurture them. 

Guest post by Marcia Hall owner of Strong Roots Family Coaching 

Since 1996, Marcia Hall has been working with children and families. Marcia is an ACPI Certified Coach for Families.  In 2011 she was named the International Nanny Associations NANNY OF THE YEAR.  Marcia is also graduated from the English Nanny and Governess School and is an INA Credentialed Nanny.  

Marcia launched Strong Roots Family Coaching because she believes that all children are born with great potential. She's passionate about empowering parents to find the best ways to nurture, support and encourage their children as they build a deeper connection.

Marcia teaches to families in her community and around the country through workshops, one on one coaching and through her writing.  She writes weekly for a blog called YOUR Parenting Questions as well as many other websites and blogs.  Her first book Parenting Responsively co-written with 11 other ACPI Parent Coaches came out this summer. 

 

Marcia and her husband Scott, reside in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with their 2 year old daughter Nadia, whom they adopted days after birth.

Email Marcia at marcia@strongrootsfamilycoaching.com

Strong Root’s Web Site www.strongrootsfamilycoaching.com

BLOG – YOUR Parenting Questions www.yourparentingquestions.blogspot.com

 

Brains Need REAL Activities

 NEWSLETTER

As a result of the latest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics there has been a lot of discussion about the use of electronics with young children.  And I can not be more pleased
that this is getting attention!  

Healthy brain development happens through play and interactions with people.... not TV and DVDs! 
 

Read the October braininsights Newsletter on this important topic. This issue is filled with information, research and valuable resources to benefit you and the children in your life.   

 

You can easily receive brain development information and resources directly each month.. Just sign up here.