SUPPORTING VALUABLE EFFORTS FOR CHILDREN!

This week has been one of focusing on very positive initiatives that will greatly impact children. There is probably nothing I get excited about more than becoming aware of and supporting wonderful efforts that can make a real difference.

There are 3 that I am sharing here with you now:

#1. Mission Small Business:  Mission: Small Business℠ is an effort by Chase Bank and LivingSocial, to increase awareness of the important role small businesses play in local communities and to help small businesses grow. As a result, Chase will provide 12 grants to small businesses. 

Supporters can get involved by clicking the “Support” button at missionsmallbusiness.com and voting for their favorite registered small businesses. For each pledge of support, Chase will add five dollars to the grant pool, up to $3 million, and businesses must receive at least 250 votes to be considered for a grant by June 30th. 

 I have submitted a proposal for Brain Insights and am so excited to share this and ask if you would be willing to take a moment to vote!

Your support will contribute to benefiting thousands of children. Receiving this grant would lead to finally making early brain development common knowledge and children enjoying all their brain needs most! 

This will happen through:

• At least 20 Creating Great Connections presentations taking place for entire communities through out the country. (In fact let me know if you would want your community to be considered for one of the locations!)
• Promotions to hospitals to give a, Love Your Baby brain packet to all new parents! (This is something numerous people want to see happen as soon as possible!)
• The development of a new series of brain packets called, Healthy Brain Insights. This will be designed for healthy and learning brains of all ages. (Packets for all brains has been a frequent request!) 
• This could also lead to the development of a whole new and unique product to really make brain development easy for busy parents!  (Can't wait to have this happen and share this one with you also!)

Thank you so very much for your on going support and sharing in the passion to inspire the healthy development of ALL young children!!   

(I need to reach 250 votes to qualify by the Deadline : Saturday June 30th!)  

  

Vote at Mission Small Business

Log in with a Facebook account and enter: Brain Insights push SEARCH and then Vote!

I do not usually ask for help like this, but my great desire to be able to make this positive impact drives me to ask for your support!  

You can vote for more than one company... so you will also want to support Play Math!

#2. Dr. Lynne Kenney has also submitted for a grant through Mission Small Business. Lynne is also very dedicated to creating awareness and understanding of what is best for children's brains and she coaches families. She is the author of, The Family Coaching Method and is providing a new program called, Play Math. 

Lynne has shared the following:

"Play Math is a hit! In our simple motor math program, Play Math, we teach meaningful math using soccer, kick and tennis balls, along with polyspots, marker boards, markers, cards and base ten blocks to play math motorically.  We see math, say math, play math, write math and build math so that the children begin to develop the ability to THINK mathematically.

We are really pleased, because when we teach math, engaging both gross and fine motor skills, kids who were losing their math facts with symbolic visual learning can remember them.

I am not much for voting but we could use $250,000 to purchase math blocks and produce animated training videos. So if you are on Facebook, please sign-in and write Play Math in the business search and VOTE."

Doesn't this sound wonderful? This is how the brain learns best! Kudos Lynne!!

#3.  Plan UK will launch their new Education for Girls Facebook App on June 29^th, it highlights the importance of reading in education and allows users to select how many out of 50 top children’s books they’ve read and then buy their own virtual book by donating to Plan UK.

The book will go into Plan UK’s virtual library; users can then view the library and see how their donation helped towards improving education for girls around the world.

All donations from the App go towards helping to fund girl’s education. 

Here is what you do:  (I found it fun!)

To help Plan UK send some of the poorest girls to school in developing countries. Select how many out of 50 children’s books have you read, then donate and purchase a virtual book. All donations help education for girls http://bit.ly/LvybFp

Enjoy reflecting on and sharing your favorite book!!

It is always so extremely heart warming when people support each other in ways that are so positive!

Have a beautiful day! 

Astonishing Communication with a Baby Beginning at Birth

                  

An infant cries in an attempt to communicate a need. A parent or caregiver then attempts to figure out what the need is. This happens repeatedly throughout each day and can be frustrating and stressful for both the parent … and the baby. This is often one of the most difficult aspects of parenting in the early months and years of a baby’s life. I am thrilled to say, this no longer needs to be the scenario in the parent child relationship! 

It is extremely exciting to help the world know about a ground breaking book. The BlossomMethod™, to put it simply, will make a remarkable difference.  This inspiring guide provides parents with a very easy to use method that will lead to greater parent confidence and a happier baby. What could be better than this?

There are numerous other books of course that I get enthused about, but none compares to the level of excitement I have for sharing this book. It is truly a desire of mine that EVERY parent reads this book.  It provides knowledge every baby will want their parents to have. 

To give you an idea of why this book is so extraordinary, a selection from the introduction follows:

“A baby starts talking from the moment she takes her first breath. A child’s instinct for survival and human interaction drives her to communicate with her caregivers using unique movements, facial expressions, sounds, and mouth, lip and tongue shapes. Many of these go unnoticed in the early days of parenthood as everything focuses on providing the newborn with nourishment and comfort. After years of research involving parents and their children, I have mapped the behaviour of the babies I have worked with, including my own, and discovered a phenomenon that has never before been recognised.”

Vivien Sabel is the author of, The Blossom Method™. Vivien’s experiences growing up with a deaf mother provided her the ability to learn to read body language and gestures beyond those in which most of us are aware. Due to this gift, Vivien has created this easy guide to help every parent understand and develop this ability as well. The only sad thing is this book was not available sooner.  It would have filled my heart with joy to be able to establish this significant communication with my daughters as infants.  

Since it is something in which I feel very strongly about, I frequently write and do speaking engagements about the important and incredible difference early relationships have on early brain development. Due to this, I feel enormously honored to have contributed awareness of this impact as a small portion of this valuable book. 

With this information, parents can feel secure that TheBlossom Method™ not only helps create calmer and less stressful interactions with their baby, it also has a positive and long lasting impact on a child’s over all development.  The following excerpt explains:

“Research has shown that consistently responding to the needs of a baby can have an impact on her ability to form healthy relationships with others, to problem-solve, to have empathy for others, to tolerate the frustration of failure, to have more patience, to calm down from excitement. A baby whose needs are consistently met may also have a longer attention span, be able to better manage physical reactions to emotions, have greater skills in communicating emotions in healthy ways, feel less anxiety, exhibit fewer behavioural problems, have more confidence and a positive self-perception, be less fearful and have more willingness to explore and learn through challenges.”

With the passion I have to promote the healthy development of all children, I am so delighted to contribute to creating awareness of this book.  I am especially anxious to see the positive difference the Blossom Method™ will make in the world once parents use this to support the optimal development of young children from the start. 

I invite you to learn more about this wonderful method directly from Vivien in this brief, informational and heartwarming clip.

You will truly be amazed at all your baby is communicating. To begin simply order The Blossom Method here.  ENJOY!! 

I hope you will share awareness of this book with all the parents you know!!

Lifting the Burden off Children and Schools

Have you heard about this yet?........

Back Pack Free Friday 

WHO? Children, Schools and Families around the planet.

WHAT? Have children leave backpacks at home this day.

WHEN? Friday, May 4th. 2012

WHERE? Everywhere!

WHY? To literally lift the burden off children and schools.

Lifting the Burden off Children and Schools

Every day millions of children go to school tired, dehydrated, and many times also hungry. Back Pack Free Friday focuses public awareness on the very real burdens lack of appreciation for children’s foundational health places on children and schools.  Back Pack Free Friday is sponsored by an international consciousness movement called Parenting 2.0 (P20), the top ranked parenting group on LinkedIn with nearly 1700 members in more than 40 countries, P20 advocates a more proactive educational process for non-academic Life Skills.

P20 defines Life Skills as all the non-academic, foundational skills children learn to thrive and commune optimally with others. Life Skills include but are not limited to: personal care, safety, finance, organizational, interpersonal communication and social skills.

As stated in their group description on LinkedIn,  

“Parenting 2.0 supports parents, professionals, and other primary caregivers in their role as Life Skills Educators. Our goal is that, one day, children's LSA (Life Skills Average) will receive the same appreciation as children's GPA (Grade Point Average.)

P20 invites everyone to support Back Pack Free Friday and Stand Up for the welfare of children everywhere by doing the following on Friday May 4^th, 2012.

•  Leave back packs at home this day.
• Prioritize sleep, hydration, nutrition, and exercise.
• Find creative ways to underscore the importance of water, sleep, nutrition and exercise, for all aspects of children’s performance.
• Shine light upon professionals who can speak to the importance of prioritizing personal care.
• Share the concept of the Life Skills Report Card.

 Check out all of the additional info available at http://parenting2pt0.org/  

INVESTING IN CHILDREN

 

As you know the reason I created, braininsights, is because as I do brain presentations and communicate with others throughout the country, I have found that most adults do not yet know all that is best for developing brains. My goal is to change this, and make early brain development common knowledge. So in this issue of the January Issue of the Brain Insights Newsletter, I have asked the following question.. 

 

Why is this the case? Why is it that we have more knowledge than ever before about what is best for children's brain development ... and yet this IS NOT what is what most children are experiencing?

My concern is ... How can we get EVERYONE to understand the importance and the impact of the early years? ~ We know more than ever about all that children need most for optimal development, but too frequently children are experiencing just the opposite. Too many children are not getting the healthy foods they need, are pushed toward academics too early, are spending time with screens instead of learning in the way the brain learns best, are living in harsh or chaotic environments and/or over scheduled lives.
 The wonderful thing is that there are numerous and wonderful individuals, organizations and companies working and sharing to create the understanding that children need safe, predictable, nurturing relationships, healthy environments and nutrition. They also promote, how children need opportunities to play, move, experience nature and learn through exploring. I am very anxious for this to be common knowledge... but even more important... common practice!! 

  Read more about this perplexing question in the January Newsletter. 
You will also find a variety of articles and sources of information contributing to finally make this happen. 

Let's invest in our young children and have this occur in 2012!

Enjoy all of the great articles and resource links!! 

Naptime Is Great!

Naptime is much more than providing rest for a child ... and a break for parents! Children's developing brains need adequate amounts of sleep for healthy brain development.

We all know what it is like to deal with an over tired child. The reason for the behaviors we experience is due to a child not being able to handle the results of inadequate amounts of sleep. First of all the child still has an immature brain. It hasn't developed enough to provide the ability to deal with feelings of brain systems being out of balance. This is even difficult for adults. Getting enough sleep helps keep brain systems in balance. When children have had enough sleep it enhances cognitive functioning and moods.

New research lead by the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that, "toddlers between 2 and a half and 3 years old who miss only a single daily nap show more anxiety, less joy and interest and a poorer understanding of how to solve problems." 

Assistant Professor Monique LeBourgeois of CU Boulder led the study. She states, “This study shows insufficient sleep in the form of missing a nap taxes the way toddlers express different feelings, and, over time, may shape their developing emotional brains and put them at risk for lifelong, mood-related problems.”


Additionally LeBourgeois shares, “Just like good nutrition, adequate sleep is a basic need that gives children the best chance of getting what is most important from the people and things they experience each day,”

Read more about the research from the University of Colorado Boulder press release shared on this site.

Recommended amounts of sleep and tips on promoting sleep are shared in SLEEP ENHANCES COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND INFLUENCES MOODS.

Sleep well! 

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.