NEW: Creating Great Connections and H.O.P.E.

Creating Great Connections and H.O.P.E is a new and unique concept for your benefit!! 

Creating Great Connections and H.O.P.E Newsletter      

Brain Insights has something new that I am very excited about and am extremely anxious to share with you. It is my hope that you will be as enthused about it as I am.

There is a great wealth of information that is being shared about on helping children learn and thrive . There are fabulous blogs, tremendous books, impressive research, and terrific articles being shared all for the benefit of those who care deeply about children. 

However, many of those with the desire to share this information have expressed to me great interest in creating a broader reach for those that can benefit. There is a feeling that there are many more parents, educators, social workers, health care providers, home visitors, grandparents, community leaders, etc. that could be reached. With that concern, I have been playing with ideas to come up with a solution. As a result, I have developed, Creating Great Connections and H.O.P.E. 

The purpose is to provide a way for each of us to share information in a more streamlined and direct way. It also provides a method to get information that you need in a more efficient way.  With Creating Great Connections we will no longer have to search numerous sites to find what we are looking for. And as the H.O.P.E community grows, we each will be reaching more people who are looking for the information we have to share!

This will be e-mailed in a newsletter format, but it is much more than a newsletter. It provides information and support entirely related to healthy brains and life skill development for ALL children. But in addition, it also is a way to better connect all of us that care so deeply about children and provides a way for us to help each other.

Whether you are working in a job that serves children in some way or you are a parent or grandparent, you will find information and questions on news related to the brain, books, resources, blogs, conferences, and also personal requests. This is designed to help you!

The main portion of the newsletter is focused on what I have titled, HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere). There are 5 categories. These are areas where you can either ask a question about something you are looking for, or respond to a question someone has asked, and you can offer your help.

 

Additionally, there is a section with a new article posted in each issue…. and also an opportunity for you to advertise. Guidelines, Details and Advertising Info.

If you are not already signed up to receive Brain Insights newsletters, you can do it at the bottom corner of the web page with the link here. You will then ensure you receive each issue of Creating Great Connections! There is no cost. 

For more detailed information on how to get the information you need or to share with others go to directions, guidelines and advertising.

It will be wonderful to have you benefiting from and contributing to this new effort! Just follow the directions and send your requests directly to me.

With sincere appreciation,

Deborah

BRAIN INSIGHTS TO SHARE: It Is Repetition That Makes Strong Connections

When playing with a child, signing a song, or reading a book together, you might frequently hear, "Do it again!!" We all have probably heard this request. 

This repetition is exactly what the developing brain needs. When experiences are repeated, the brain creates strong pathways of connections based on those experiences. The brain then retains those connections. 

If an experience doesn't happen frequently the brain eliminates connections made from those experiences. As explained in printable #3 the brain adapts to the environment it is exposed to. The "use it or loose it" process explains how this adaptation takes place. The brain adapts skills needed for survival and success for the world in which it lives. 

As a result, for healthy brain development and helping a child thrive, positive environments and experiences are needed. The printable for this week explains this and includes an activity idea to share from, Let's Learn More While I'm Four also. 

Printable #4  
It Is Repetition That Makes Strong Connections


In this wonderful video from Center on the Developing Child; The Science of Early Childhood Development  Jack P. Shonkoff M.D. clearly explains the impact of early experiences on young brains. This is a great clip to share! 

 

Hopefully you have a terrific week sharing and making a positive impact!!

Deborah

Brain Insights: Promoting A World of Difference!

When presenting at the Parenting 2.0 Talks International Summit, Sherlyn Pang Present Parent Training conducted interviews with many of the presenters. I look forward to sharing the interviews of these incredible people that are a part of the Global Presence Guild. You can watch for these posts in upcoming weeks! I am certain you will be thrilled to know of all they are providing for children and families!

There are two purposes for sharing this... One is I am extremely appreciative to Sharylyn so I can share a visual of the Brain Development Packets. Since these are unique, it is valuable for those who find it beneficial to see samples of the packets demonstrated.

Secondly, this also brings attention to the Global Presence!  In this post I am providing you the wonderful opportunity to become a part of this exciting and growing international community!

Grassroots Community of “Basically Good People” Serving Others.

"The Global Presence is an international, grassroots, volunteer organization that gives basically good people the opportunity to stand tall, link arms, and be counted. You are already serving others in dozens of ways, now is the time for you to join with like- minded individuals, be applauded for your contributions, and supported in your service."

To find out more go to  Parenting 2.0 - Raising Humanity Collaboratively and Consciously

It is very difficult to adequately express how impressive, knowledgeable and extremely caring the professionals  presenting at the P2.0 Talks are. I invite you to go to the Thought Leaders page and connect with these dedicated people. I am certain the valuable resource you become aware of, will enhance your work and/or personal life. 

Isn't it heartwarming when we realize all that is taking place for individuals and families throughout the world?

 

BRAIN INSIGHTS TO SHARE: The Brain Adapts to Any Environment

When we understand how much of the brain develops after birth, we realize what a great opportunity this provides! 

I find it extremely amazing to think about how the brain can adapt for survival and success. The brain will adapt based on the experiences, culture and environment in which it is developing.  



The printable for this week focuses on how critical it is that the early environment is consistently responsive and nurturing. For healthy development, every baby requires and deserves positive and predictable loving care. 

When this is provided it leads to a child having the ability to regulate emotions effectively, to be able to delay gratification, to problem solve, and to have empathy for others. (Read more in, Anna Wants This for Every Baby) And of course this is what we want to for every child!

If a child experiences just the opposite or inconsistent responses to their needs, the brain is wired completely differently. A baby that that doesn't know if cries will be answered or cries are met with hostility and harshness will experience chronic stress. (Read more about the, "Big Brain Question" our brains are always asking) This of course is the type of experiences and environment we want to avoid being the norm.

Sharing the printable for week three, will help in creating this important understanding.... and lead to optimal experiences. The children thank you for sharing!!

Printable #3 -The Brain Adapts to Any Environment

You will likely also enjoy this this valuable video clip from Parenting For Life. It explains the importance of attachment, the impact it makes and why we all need to care!  The role of attachment in infancy on later mental and physical health

With great appreciation as always for all you do!!

 




 

BRAIN INSIGHTS TO SHARE: Growing a Brain!

Did you know ........ After eight months a child exposed to a nurturing and stimulating environment may already have 1,000 trillion connections created? 
 

It is primarily the experiences a child has that physically wires and grows the brain. Genetics certainly had a great impact, but the environment and relationships a child experiences has a dramatic impact on the way a brain creates connections between brain cells.
As a child is provided with opportunities to interact with people and their environment, the critically important connections that wire the brain for learning, relationships and well-being in life are being created. 

Further Explanation:



Growing a Brain
Infants and young children have brains that are far from being fully developed. The brain has approximately 100 billion brain cells. For the brain to physically grow and function well the brain cells need to be connected with each other. Nine months during pregnancy isn’t enough time to connect 100 billion brain cells!  
  
So, the preschool years are a time when a great amount of needed connections continue to be made. Adults who provide warm and consistent responses, who cuddle and read, talk to their children, provide fun play experiences, establish routines, and ensure children get healthy nutrition and plenty of sleep…. are contributing to the healthiest brain connections for children. 

It is often refreshing for many parents to realize that beyond meeting a child’s basic physical and safety needs ….. all that a developing brain needs most is loving interaction and lots of opportunities to play.
 

It is so easy to provide these positive experiences in everyday life to stimulate a young child’s brain growth...

Activity Idea From an Infant:

What Do I Like?

Notice what I like and respond to. Try to tune into the level of activity I seem to need. If I seem active, do a more playful activity. When I want to be calm, read a story or sing a lullaby to me.

Brain Insight: My brain is not developed enough to adjust to different activity levels easily on my own. I really need you to match your behavior to my needs.

(From the: Love Your Baby, Brain Development Activity Packet)

 

WE ARE DOING IT!!   Through coming together and sharing we ARE making a difference!

 



 Feedback from a Brain Insights follower:


"Keep them coming!" 

"This information is so useful we use it in parent group discussions and get great conversations going."

"Just watching my 3 yr old son play and thinking about how I can see his genius--thanks to all you've taught. Thank you for taking the valuable time to research and teach about our children's TRUE potential!!!"

THANK YOU...... THANK YOU......THANK YOU!!!

The genuine intent of Brain Insights is to provide information in numerous ways toward the goal of having ALL adults realize that healthy brain development especially in the early years, impacts the well-being of children. families and our communities. This understanding provides the realization that we all have the wonderful and very real opportunity to make a very positive impact.

  

 www.BrainInsightsonline.com