Archive for November, 2010

Each of us is born with tremendous potential.  A well functioning tactile system is imperative for receiving information and taking that potential to the next level, which will then be transmitted into producing intentional movement (crawling, walking, running, etc.).  Movement makes “memories” which causes the circuitry that releases intelligence.  There is tremendous brain growth in the early years and unless the brain cells are connected through neuropathways that are built early, they can be lost. It is a use it or lose it scenario.  Early development is like building a house, you have to have a good foundation in order for everything else to function properly.  The good news for an older individual is that even if these pathways are immature or incomplete, they can be rebuilt with proper stimulation. 

In recent decades, our society has become very mobile; with most families having two cars and the convenience of air travel, society as a whole is living farther and farther away from extended family members.  Neuro-educational specialists believe this separation from the extended family has caused many erroneous beliefs about child rearing to emerge.

 MYTH #1:  Babies should be on a blanket if placed on the floor. 

TRUTH:  As stated in an earlier newsletter, the tactile input to the brain would be limited by the blanket.  In addition to that, have you ever seen an infant try to crawl (tummy on floor) while lying on top of a blanket?  They just get all tangled up and frustrated because they can’t get anywhere.

 MYTH #2:  Infant seats are a necessity!  When an infant is sitting in an infant seat, they somehow seem more human; i.e., it is easier to see their faces and for them to see you and they seem happier. 

TRUTH:  The best place for an infant is on their tummy on the floor.  ON the floor in a prone position (on the tummy) is where they build the muscles for sitting alone and walking.

 MYTH #3:  Walkers are a great way to prepare the child for walking alone. 

TRUTH:  If a child does not go through the stages of tummy crawl and creeping on hands and knees for a long enough period of time, a ripple of adverse effects will occur.  Gross motor coordination, organizational abilities and eye-hand coordination are just a few of the areas that could be adversely affected.

 MYTH #4:  The more gadgets, i.e. Johnny jump ups, fancy walkers, play pens, etc., I put my child in the better. 

TRUTH:  The more time a child spends in these gadgets, the less time the child spends on the floor, which means less opportunity for the brain to be organized at the lower levels.  Lower level development is the foundation upon which all other development is built. 

 I encourage you to get your infants out of these gadgets and put them on the floor for lots of tummy time.  www.littlegiantsteps.com

It may surprise you that learning (receiving, comprehending, remembering, storing and recalling information) can be improved at any time and at any age.  The brain is not hard wired.  If you have suffered with learning difficulties, it’s time to take about five minutes out of your day and improve your learning abilities.  The great by-product of getting your brain and body to communicate efficiently, is that you (or your child) will discover what life is like without anxiety, frustration and feelings of doubt and failure on a daily basis.  Please read the free articles on our website.  Inform yourself, gain knowledge, then get busy with either helping your child or yourself learn what true potential can be.  It will take some time, but in 4 months of being on the Developmental Foundations Program, people are reporting fantastic results.

As we close our week long annual meeting and re-certifying conference, we are so thankful for our leadership in Jan Bedell, (also known as The Brain Coach). She is the President and founder of Little Giant Steps (LGS).  Jan has had 20 successful years as a neuro-educational specialist. Her success has changed the lives of thousands.  She and her team of neuro-educational specialists intervene daily in the lives of children, teens and adults with learning disabilities.  This week of professional education made all of us recognize how blessed and grateful we are to work in the field of  Neuro-development and at LGS with Jan.   Jan also is a certified and experienced teacher who has created products and curriculum to help set those with learning disabilities free. As we, the team, have witnessed in our own children’s lives, and in the lives of our clients, “Learning Disabilities (ADD, ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, PDD, Down syndrom, and other labels) are not life sentences.”   See our testimonies.

Currently LGS is providing a “Dyslexia Workshop”  for $14.97 that you can download or receive a DVD. This is an hour-long training session for parents, teachers, day-care, and after-school providers.  You will get knowledge on “how to” fix dyslexia and how you can make a significant difference in your child’s life. The symptoms of dyslexia can be eliminated, and without symptoms, then dyslexia no longer exists. The statements, “You must accept your Dyslexia,” or “Concentrate on improving your coping & compensating skills, instead of “curing” Dyslexia” are no longer true.  There are new modalities, the brain can change!

Two other “at-home-programs” she has created are:  # 1.  For pre-school typical children (ages 2-5) or for older children who are mentally challenged, the ”Early Learning Foundations “. This program provides readiness for school in math, reading, writing, but most importantly it will assure your child is neurologically efficient and functioning efficiently, as well.

# 2.  For 6 yr. olds to college age the “Developmental Foundations” has been successful in helping individuals eliminate learning gaps. Academic scores go up, behavior can improve and their ability to organize themselves is much improved.

We’re thankful for parents who recognize there is something  “not the way it should be” or “quirky in the learning area” and choose to seek answers where the root causes (in the brain) can be changed so the function & development is completed and normal.  See the our test results of what happened to these struggling individuals.  The door for success was opened and they are on their way to functioning in the range of their true, God-given potential.

It may seem strange to have LD and thankfulness in the same sentence.  But, the fact is we are so thankful that the LGS Neuro-Educational Programs are successful at remediating and even eliminating learning disabilities.  After 20 years we see the successes in the lives of those children, teens and adults who came to us struggling to learn, but meeting failure (despite the fact they were smart, some even were gifted) .  LGS was able to bring the good news: Learning Disabilities are not a life sentence.  They discovered what it was like to leave the failure-laden experiences in the past and turn to a new life of liberty and freedom to do well in their future.  Yes, we’re very, very thankful.

We are counting the days before we gather with our families to give thanks to God for the many blessings we are afforded in this great nation, the United States of America.  We want to tell you why we as an organization  (LGS ~ a Neuro-Educational Consulting Group) are so very very thankful.

We are thankful that through the intervention of using the neuro-developmental approach and our neuro-developmental programs, an eight year old girl with autism was set free from being a non-verbal child to one who could look you in the eyes and count toys on our desk.  She began to speak for the first time in her life after just four weeks on the LGS Neuro-Education Program.  Yes, that is not typical to see such a quick response, but it makes it all the more joyful for us.  You see, she and her family have waited eight long years to hear her speak, to look into their eyes, and for the first time see her acknowledge them and smile!

Not everyone with learning issues works with our professional team. We do have an At-Home Program ~ Developmental Foundations  that can help children, teens or adults with getting started in better neuro-efficiency. For some individuals, it’s all they need!  We are so thankful for the development of this program to help those who are ready to make a difference in their life or the life of their child. Those who have used this program are thankful they could do it right in the comfort of their own home. We equip you, the parent or adult, with the skills and knowledge to bring about the reduction of learning  issues and symptoms.  How we learn is all in the wiring!  With missed developmental steps; gaps and deficits occur.  Lower levels of the brain do not get organized properly.  Our programs simply restore or create the needed connections and the root causes of the symptoms of learning disabilities are either eliminated or measuredly improved. The really good news?  The changes made last a lifetime!    See the test results..