The Brain:
Predicts & Anticipates |
Seeks Patterns & Connections |
Likes
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Needs Movement |
The brain lives in the future. From the time my son was a baby and began trying to communicate with me, I would ask him “and then what happened?” I didn’t understand how the brain needed that to develop, but intuitively that seemed to be a way for us to connect. In high school, there was a boy in one of my math classes who always asked “what if…?” At the time I thought he was just a nuisance, but I realize now, that was an important part of brain development.
Much of my early knowledge is based on my own life, so I find myself starting with what I know now and moving backwards, to understand where it all began. My brain has the ability to live in the past, present and future. I’ve seen throughout my life I try to categorize people, situations, and lessons. Realizing that this is part of brain development gives it even more importance in my coaching. Other parents may find it easier to parent their children if they can see a correlation with how they use their own brains and how they can influence their children’s brain development.
As my son grew, I tried to assess what was too much for him, too easy, tedious, boring, and what was just right. I feel like Goldilocks. I can see the challenge parents feel as they really try to pinpoint where they stand in connection to their children. When he was young, I relied on the “appropriate for ages …. to …” on boxes, wrappers and developmental charts to guide me.
Early brain development may have seemed easy, because the areas formed were more fun and more easily accepted by the developing child and the developing parent. Now, there’s the “everything’s boring, stupid, …” from the mouth of the teen. I explored ways of really understanding my son and how he thought, what motivated him, intrigued him… Looking back to his early childhood and adolescence gave me clues. For other parents, a similar strategy may be helpful.
Early brain development may have seemed easy, because the areas formed were more fun and more easily accepted by the developing child and the developing parent. Now, there’s the “everything’s boring, stupid, …” from the mouth of the teen. I explored ways of really understanding my son and how he thought, what motivated him, intrigued him… Looking back to his early childhood and adolescence gave me clues. For other parents, a similar strategy may be helpful.
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Being open to what’s already in our environment and creative when it comes to changing seasons and time changes that affect our out-door opportunities will expand the resources we can utilize. For busy parents, who also may need more movement in their lives, creating time to play together with our children is necessary for their brain development and can provide us with a new source of rejuvenation.
If it’s presented to me as something that just benefits me, I might not think it’s justified, but I’ll try anything if I think it will benefit my son’s development. Movement is something children need and once we get involved and have fun with them, we’ll find we need it. The energy received after playing is revitalizing. If I allow my brain and body to both get really tired, I sleep better and then perform better in any role that I attempt. |
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