Archive for the ‘Reading Difficulties’ Category

Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach

Twenty Years Of Success

Little Giant Steps, a neuro-educational consulting group, founded by Neuro-Ed. Specialist, Jan Bedell, M.Ed. M.ND. has developed successful programs to eliminate the symptoms and reclaim the function in the brain which allows for the elimination of ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorders), as well as many other issues in learning.

Learning disabilities have a set of symptoms that will allow diagnosis or a description of a certain malady or abnormal function.  It’s a “naming” process. At Little Giant Steps we are more concerned with the root cause of the dysfunction and addressing the issues by helping the brain to function more efficiently and effectively.  This may sound pretty daunting, but the fact is as infants there are certain developmental steps the body and brain must achieve in order to become and have the functioning ability as God intended.

The Cost Of Missing The Developmental Steps

When an infant misses vital developmental steps, then we see symptoms and dysfunction typically in their ability to learn easily.  Babies were meant to be on their tummies on the floor where their movements begin to map the brain, so as their neuro-musculature system gains strength and grows the functional ability of the brain can organize movement on the floor with gross and fine motor skill development and eventually to higher levels of function that go on throughout our teen years.  Unfortunately, parents bring their infants home in seats, and keep them in some kind of seat most of their waking hours.  SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) which began occurring in the 1960′s resulted in parents being instructed to never put their babies on their tummies while they sleep.  However, putting your baby on his or her tummy during waking hours IS VITAL if you want a full and efficient neurological system to develop the communication between the brain and body.  If you choose not to follow these natural demands of the human developmental requirements, then you will have a child who will be functioning very much like a internet “dial-up” connection.  Eventually you’ll get the message, but for the most part the window of opportunity will have closed, or the frustration levels will have gotten so great you’ll put the whole episode behind you or ignore it.

School’s Are Needing Help!

Typically, these areas of need begin to show up with great clarity when a child goes to school.  Why?  Because the demands of the breadth of abilities in a classroom require the teacher to teach to the middle of the ability stream, and if your child is on a dial-up connection and unable to receive, process and store information at average and above, then they get lost in the dust. The school’s are saying we have a Learning Disability Epidemic and they can’t address all the needs being required with such diverse levels of comprehension, processing and memory failures.

Learning Disabilities Is Not A Life Sentence

Schools, parents, and others have been sold a bill of goods that their child will need to cope and compensate for their learning disability. That’s a lie.  Learning disabilities can be addressed at the root cause level in the brain by retraining the brain, developing strong connections between the brain and body and neuro-pathways made to operate more efficiently. One of the first things Little Giant Steps does is to help organize the lower levels of the brain, which happens when there is sufficient crawling, creeping, and other vital activities are accomplished during infancy. Our programs work on people of all ages. We have a senior program called Motion & Memory which we use to restore abilities to adults and senior citizens who have lost or are losing function.  Our programs developed for children utilize cognitive, physical, and sensory stimulation to create what was not created at the earlier stages of development.  No coping or compensating is needed when a person is functioning with neuro-efficiency.  That’s what Little Giant Steps is all about ~ leaving learning disabilities and learning issues behind.  The good news is that it matters not whether the individual is gifted, typical, or challenged. All will improve to function at their fullest God-given potential with the Little Giant Step Neuro-Educational Programs.  Have a great year!  If your child or even you need our help, then contact us. We have free consultations so your questions can be answered and most importantly this year can be one of the best years in your or your child’s life!

Happy New Year!

 Little Giant Steps has the fortunate history of seeing children, teens and adults leave behind their  struggling with learning for almost 2o years.  We are very blessed to work in a field now called “neuroscience” of which we’ve called “neurodevelopment”.  The good news for this year and all of the years we’ve been helping families, is that we get to see the potential realized in their children along side the parents.  Getting the brain and body’s connections functioning efficiently is a matter of doing what was missed during early development.  Yes, there is a discipline one must follow in order to accomplish that goal, but it is very achievable!

Please take a moment and read some of the histories of those with whom we’ve worked.  Then make a New Year’s Resolution that this year will be the year to set your child free from learning disabilities!  God bless you and yours in the coming year.  Thanks and much gratitude to all those who support Little Giant Steps and our sister non-profit agency, Steps of Hope.

Since the weekend is coming, we are going to share with you some cold hard facts about the results of our Neuro-Educational Programs and the results we see in just four (4) months of doing the program right at home with the supervision of their parents.  It’s really remarkable!  We hope you’ll take the time to really study these results.

The following test results are raw data from client files. All received a battery of preliminary tests upon admission. The tests establish baselines on educational grade level functional abilities. All received a neurodevelopmental evaluation and an individualized plan was written by the neurodevelopmentalist. All programs were executed by the parents after being trained in specific activities on their child’s individualized program, with the exception of adults participating on the program. This report also shows the educational grade level scores after four months on the recommended program via a repeat of the same battery of tests. Parents following initial training, were supervised via follow up calls. Support was available at all times. LGS cannot guarantee programs were followed as recommended, but tracking sheets were used to help parents stay on schedule. Many clients continued the program, and completion scores for those are listed, as well. Both males and females participated.

7.11 to 8.8 years of age

8.10 to 9.4 years of age

9.8 to 10.4 years of age

10.6 to 11.11 years of age

11.11 to 12.2 years of age

12.2 to 13.2 years of age

13.3 to 14.11 years of age

15.0 to 20.5 years of age

54 and 55 years of age

  After Three Months On LGS Neuro-Educational Program

 Little Giant Steps knows the value of having a child who seemly has no self-control, despite the effort and good parenting that has been a part of his up-bringing, become a “normal” kid.  We also know a child will often mis-behave when his processing abilities are low, his brain is disorganized, or mixed dominance is going on due to the fact they have a few gaps in neuro-efficiency or neurodevelopment.  If you see the symptoms, then know there is a way to treat them without drugs or expensive intervention.  It’s a matter of development, and that is an opportunity for you to educate yourself and then get busy learning how to help change your and your child’s life for the better, just like this mom did!”  

“Kyle (age 9) has settled down a bit and really good news. We spent over 3 hrs getting our cells phones changed out and he didn’t do any of the personal body space invasion or intense attention getting antics he usually does when we are in a public place. He was just your typical bored 9 year-old. Woop woop! Thanks for everything!”

Listen to this parent’s experience with their son following the implementation of the Little Gaint Steps‘ Neuro-Educational Program. After just a few short weeks on program, one mom wrote the following in an email: 

“We are already seeing progress! Edward (age 7) is looking us in the eyes when he talks to us and when we talk to him! This is huge, because this has been a point of frustration for years. We always assumed that he was more interested in TV or toys than looking at us, but apparently not. I was shocked the first time I called his name and he looked right at me a couple of days ago instead of looking off to the side. We have not changed anything other than adding his LGS program to our routine, so it is clear that the program is responsible for the change.  Thank you, LGS!”

 Parents Often Underestimate The Difference They Can Make!

Little Giant Steps has been working with families for over 20 years showing them how they can be the “game-changer” when it comes to helping their child through math or reading difficulties.  In fact, over these many years, Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, has been developing programs that not only help a child grasp the concepts of math, but work at helping the child process information much better.  A Neuro-Education Program, whether it’s addressing functional issues found in ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Sensory Disorders, PDD, Down syndrome, or Special Needs, works on the foundation of learning at the root causes in the brain!  If the brain is not organized, and neuro-pathways are not complete, then the child may show signs of some or all of the learning disabilities mentioned above.

 Learning Disabilities or Difficulties Are Not A Life Sentence!

 Here are some parents  telling of their experiences who have taken advantage of our in-home programs (Developmental Foundations (5-Adult), Early Learning Foundations (2-5 yr.),or who’ve  had an Evaluation with Individualized Programs:

“When I was asked to use one word to describe my experience with Little Giant Steps, I said, life-changing. When our daughter started the program, she was highly frustrated, emotional, and her attention span was terrible. The only way she could focus on school work was in a totally quiet environment. She wanted to help and follow instructions but could not remember. She was also hyper-sensitive, we had to cut out all tags from her clothing. Megan improved two grade levels in math, word recognition and comprehension in one year.“  T.E., Plano, TX

“My son was 10 years old, in the 4th grade and having problems at school (and other places), becoming too emotional in class and causing problems with off-task behavior. When he did get really upset, it took him a very long time to calm down. He was brilliant at some times and totally absent-minded at others; having trouble recalling what he had mastered the day before. Focusing on tasks for 15 minutes was a real challenge and his work required constant supervision for him to complete assignments. He longed to play with other children but would withdraw when playmates were around. He was hypersensitive to touch and had trouble controlling his hands. There were other issues as well.

We took our son to an Educational Diagnostician and a Pediatric Neurologist. Both professionals agreed he was a bright child with mild ADHD. One advised medication and the other did not. Then, I heard a talk given on neurodevelopment and what kinds of problems it can correct. It was as if they were talking about our son. We had our son evaluated and began a Program of Neurodevelopment. By the end of 6 weeks, he began to be able to skip; he had never been able to do this. By the end of four months, he was going to the principal’s office less than once a week, before it had been 2 — 3 times a week. By the end of the school semester, at about 5 months, his interaction with his peers had dramatically changed and he was not so solitary as before.

During the summer, he surprised us by swimming in a straight line across the pool (without any coaching). In summers past, he always swam in a curve, since one side of his body would not do what the other side would (3 years of swimming lessons had been unable to correct this). This year, in the 5th grade, we have seen steady progress. Our son can now stay on task for hours a time and can remember much better what he has learned. He has not been to the principal’s office once!  This Neuro-Educational Program really works! Everyone is a lot happier at our house these days. Neurodevelopment is an answer to prayer.  Grateful in TX.

 In Just A Month, I Can See A Difference!

“I have been so excited to see how Jason has improved in his ability to interact, remember and even pay attention after just a month on the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Program!

We are playing the processing games and doing the crawling activities that are on the program and working with his eye tracking and it seems to be producing such fast results, it’s hard to describe!  He seems more content and not so frustrated at every little thing.  At first, I thought it was just that he was getting more attention from me, which can never hurt, but it’s more than that.  He actually seems to be thinking differently and is not so impulsive and jumping from one extreme emotional state to another as much.

I believe we may be seeing the “brain organization” you were talking about and I just wanted to tell you we are so grateful we found Little Giant Steps and your programs. Our whole family is amazed with some of the things he’s saying and noticing, which would never have happened before.  In fact, his siblings tried to avoid him, because of his foul moods.  All I can say is a big “THANK YOU”!  We finally are seeing the son we knew was there, but couldn’t gain access to!  God bless, Jason’s Mom.”

Note: While Little Giant Steps is delighted with the progress Jason has made in such a short time, we cannot predict how long it will take for the body and mind to respond to the Neuro-Educational Program. Each child is different.  It really depends on the status of incompleteness the neuro-development is at the time the program is instituted and how faithful the family or tutor is to the program.  It sounds like much of Jason’s neuro-connections were ready to grow, and the program is finishing the job.  He’s gone from what seemed like a brain working on a dial-up connection to one with high-speed connections. We call it “neuro-efficiency” and that is what we pursue with all of our clients ~ an organized brain and neuro-efficiency!  That’s how learning becomes easy! Life becomes much better!

A Thankful Mom Writes:

We are so thrilled and are praising the Lord today in our house.  We have had a major breakthrough!  I never thought I would see the day that I would witness our daughter pick up a book just to read for pleasure.  It is like something just “clicked.”

I had asked her in times past why she did not read (because she could) but she said it was hard.  Still, every time we went to the bookstore I allowed her pick out a book for me to purchase for her.  There were even times that she went out and bought books on her own.  I could tell she really wanted to enjoy reading but never could.  Last night she told me that she was on chapter 6 of a book she began reading that morning.  This afternoon she is on chapter 11 of that book!  I just thank the Lord for Little Giant Steps and how it has helped her.  I also thank the Lord for the new problem we will have -getting her to put the book down long enough to help with doing the dishes! ~ Mom of a new reader!

#Little Giant Steps #(LGS) loves hearing about the success of those who have committed to working our programs.  When learning is hard, LGS is there to provide evaluations, in-home programs  Developmental Foundations(5-college), (Early Learning Foundation)for ages 2 – 5, or even for seniors (Memory & Motion).

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.  We want your child to discover how learning can become easy, too!

 One Word To Describe Experience with Little Giant Steps

“When I was asked to use one word to describe our experience with Little Giant Steps (LGS), I said, “Freeing!” I knew Joseph was smart.   He had a hard time focusing and when he did math, he jumped all over the page. It took him hours to get school work done. Also, he would have little bursts of frustration with his brothers and was hard to reason with. I was tired of always having to keep my eye on him and everything.

After the improvement  in his brother’s life (from the LGS Neuro-Educational Program), we decided to have Joseph join the program. Joseph really took the initiative and work up early and did his hour of therapy before his other school work. It has been very freeing to see him change.  At completion he is reading  at 10th grade level.  He is actually enjoying Algebra and he can focus and complete his work twice as fast.  He doesn’t skip around anymore.  I do not have to check on him constantly and he is trustworthy to get his schoolwork done.  He gets along much better with his brothers and will actually reason out situations.  He is much calmer, yet fun and still our comedian . R. Bradley, TX

  Infants Sitting Upright Most of Their Waking Hours = Developmental Gaps

 I learned the hard way about this.  I was a germ-a-phob (frightened of having too many germs around my children). Therefore, my son spent very little time on the floor where he should have had the opportunity to strengthen his muscles, establish strong efficient neuro-pathways between his brain and body and help map the brain as to the location, locomotion, and responses of his limbs and mobility of his body.  Thanks to the Neuro-Developmental Approach, (a methodology Little Giant Steps has implemented for thousands of children with learning issues) my son’s brain and body were brought into alignment as God intended and his future became very bright and still is today!

Without the pressure, tactility, experience of temperatures, textures, and all those experiencial factors being practiced each day, he was left with gaps in his development.  He was bright, but unable to do things like tracking sentences with his eyes. Color within the lines. Coordinate movements.  His brain was very disorganized as was evident when he talked and of course his constantly loosing his stuff and creating messes where ever he landed for ten minutes.  Even developing either his right or left handedness was still up in the air by the time he was ten!  Yes, his developmental status was leaving him in a dysfunctional position with his school work, trying to read, write, and achieve what he was capable of intellectually.

Sitting upright in swings, car seats, high chairs, etc. does not allow those little toes to push against the hard surface.  Nor, do the arms, elbows, hands, and fingers experience the weight of the body and the pushing up, which is crucial in developing the muscles that will allow the child to bring their heads up so the development of sight gets off to a good start.  It’s a cascading effect on physical and cognitive development and each year the child gets further behind if no intervention is implemented.

What Is The Solution?

The solution if you see them struggling with organizing their thoughts, struggling to remember, muscles being weak, reading and tracking objects with their eyes, comprehending, failing at phonics, is to get your child evaluated, put on a neurodevelopmental program and pick up all the stages of development they lost due to ignorance as to the cost of leaving them in all these “gadgets” that look great, but are really best for dolls, not living, breathing, developing infants!

Here is the article that will more fully address this issue:  Teaching Babies .  But simply what is the best you can do for your new born?  Have them on a hard surface (floor so they won’t fall) and allow them to “root” and “scoot” around for as long as they will. I know it’s not as convenient for you, as you can’t see their face quite as easily as when you’ve got them in a car seat sitting on the counter, but the dividends in creating a neurologically efficient child who’s body and brain are truly in sync allows them to reach their full potential!  Don’t just think about this….Do It! Your child’s future is the most important thing you can affect positively and establishing an efficiently functioning brain that will last him/her a lifetime is worth more than gold!