Posts Tagged ‘struggling’

Results Are Always The Most Important

From a client’s mom:

“He is doing so great.  I have a science test that he took recently.  It was so hard!  He got a 108%!  I was super proud of him!”

“This young lad came up seven grade levels in reading in 18 months from 6.8 to 13.8 (grade level placement scores used by schools) and completely maxed the comprehension in a year! He started out at a sixth grade level there, too! He’s only 12 now!  He did not like reading or learning before and after 18 months he loved it!”  ~ from his ND who tested him, provided him with a neuro-developmental/educational program, and then re-tested him every 4 months. 

Reports like this are not unusual from our parents and teachers as they watch children who are on the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Programs.  They have the fortunate vantage point to witness how our clients change and become academically successful when their brains become organized, their processing abilities improve, and their hemispheric dominance is firmly established.  It’s not really rocket science…. it’s what nature provides (demands) during those early years of neuro-development.  Unfortunately, we are doing things with our children in our society that has left many of them with gaps in their neuro-connections, and the mind-body communication doesn’t get the developmental stimuli it requires.  Sure our kids learn to cope and compensate, but by the time they reach 9 years of age, typically, you’ll see them begin to suffer academically, as they try and have failed enough times their frustration and feelings of failure cause them to turn away from all that is good about learning. They can’t function within the windows of opportunities  given in a school environment. No human being does well with a serving of failure each and every day.

Now, The Good News

And there is good news!  Little Giant Steps is here to make sure those learning difficulties are resolved, eliminated, and a new confident successful person emerges.  Please look at how fast these children achieve proficiency in math, word recognition, and comprehension by reviewing these tests of our clients.  If you know of a child, teen or even an adult struggling with learning, then you owe it to them to send them to this site.  We recognize we may not appeal to everyone, but more people than not, after they’ve investigated what Little Giant Steps does,  how we work, they take advantage of our screenings we do throughout the year, and most just call to make an appointment to be evaluated, because they know after reading our articles; they have found what they need.

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!

“Easy Learning and Recall Is Not Just For The Young!”

How many times have we adults headed into another room to get something,  then by the time we are there, it has slipped our mind as to what we were to retrieve?  Quickly we try to retrieve the intent, the memory, the clues.  We trace our steps, we try to settle ourselves down, we get angry, we get frustrated. Some of us sit down and try to quiet ourselves with the hope our brains will adjust and we can “pull ourselves together”.  Little Giant Steps has the answer!

All of us know we live very “full” lives. Many of our stress levels are way too high to promote a safe and sane existence.  Living our lives in very demanding, unbalanced ways is just not good for us! Stress is a killer!  As my mother used to say,  ”If the well is dry, then the drinking stops!”  If we’ve not gotten enough sleep (and most of us don’t) then a state of deprivation sets in and its toll can be seen in our mental state, our mental agility and recall, not to mention the physical breakdown of our bodies and immune systems, which give rise to many of us having high blood pressure, eating & drinking too much, and a plethora of physical ailments that follow.  So, the first step is to make a plan right now to begin 2012 with getting 8 hours sleep.  It’s what every body needs!  If someone says differently, then they are either terribly misinformed, lying to themselves about what scientific proof and common sense has proclaimed as a “best-case scenario” for keeping yourself in top mental, spiritual, and physical shape!  Next, is we need to help our brain out by doing some easy brain “re-organizing” activities.

Not The End Of The Story….

What your brain needs besides good nutrition and sleep is some specific brain intervention techniques applied now, while you are noticing the decline of your receiving, storing, and recall of information.  Here’s a great place to start:  “It’s Never Too Late”.  I’d also ask you to check out the stats on how successful our programs are in getting those with processing, memory, and learning issues eliminated by seeing see our “Program Test Results”.   Let’s face it, today we have more resources to help us get through this life with all its stresses, demands, and still succeed.  Little Giant Steps Programs exits because of that deep desire to help those who struggle with learning, memory, and learning disabilities. We teach you how to stop living with lack of function, and restore yourself. In fact,  we are leading experts in the field of Neuro-Educational & Development.

It’s Your Choice

Now, do you want a better, stress-free life with a brain that functions efficiently?  Then do what we’ve offered to thousands of children, teens and adults.  Get more sleep and try our Memory & Motion if you are an adult.  2012 can be an improved and blessed year for you!  See for yourself!

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!

A New Way To Prepare For Learning

At Little Giant Steps learning is be made easy! How?  By utilizing the most up-to-date technology where learning is concerned.  Where does learning really happen?  In the brain.  If a child has a disorganized brain, which unfortunately, so many of our children today have due to the lack of getting the proper (required) neuro-stimulation in their early months of life.  Why is this the case? Because, instead of babies being on their tummies during their waking hours, parents put them upright in seats where they have no way of feeling resistance to their environment and the fact is, all of the developing neuro-pathways that come about from the stimulation from being on their tummies are left in a state of incompleteness.  Therefore, the brain and the body’s lightening fast highways never get constructed in the degree that allows for efficient processing of information.  Babies must go through steps of development.  It’s a requirement.  They must have the opportunity to feel the sensations (rough, smooth, cold, warm), resistance, responses to their reflex actions, [which is how the brain is mapped] that can only come from having their whole body on the floor where they have to raise their head (neuro-muscular, sight, and sound), rock their bodies (proprioception ~ knowing where you are in space ~ too close, too far, etc.), digging their toes and hands into the hard surface of the floor where they push, pull, rock and roll (balance, coordination, beginning of locomotion coordination).  For more information on Teaching Babies, please read this article.

Symptoms of Dysfunction Tell Us Where the Root Cause of the Problem Lies.

For each learning problem there is a root cause that can be identified and remedied. When the brain and body are communicating efficiently then sensory input is improved and the learning process can become a joy. Learning Disabilities has become an epidemic in the United States.

Labels like Dyslexia, ADD/ ADHD, PDD (Developmental Delays), and Autism are hampering more and more schools from teaching effectively, and children receiving the academic success they deserve. These labels have invaded the lives of children and their families and have forever changed the landscape of education. Has the joy of learning been diminished? Yes, it has without a doubt. The professionals at Little Giant Steps are trained to utilize the Neurodevelopmental Approach and have had many years of success in making learning fun again! Little Giant Steps addresses these “symptoms” by using a two-fold assessment. First, using a battery of educational tests, a baseline for math, reading and comprehension is established. Next, a developmental evaluation where nine levels of development in six areas of function are assessed. This information gives the Neuro-Educational Specialist the basis for writing an individualized program. The program will address the root causes. The one common element in all learning issues, from our point of view, has to do with sensory dysfunction. Built into the brain is the element of neuroplasticity which is the natural ability of the brain to repair those areas that are deficient, incomplete, or damaged.We firmly believe that we can make a difference in the lives of our clients because we’ve seen it over and over again. Learning can truly be made a joyful experience that will last a lifetime.

Educate yourself about how you can make a significant difference in your child’s life, and see him flourish in school. Help him to become the whole person God intended, a person who can reach their fullest God-given potential!

Neuro-Educational Programs Work

From time to time we like to share with you a real life story.  Here’s Steve’s changed life in his own words: 

I can’t believe how much this program from #Little Giant Steps# has helped me. It changed my life! Immediately in the sports I can see the ball traveling at 65-70 mph coming straight at me and I can hit it. My stats were 21 at bat and 15 hits and that is incredible for me. I think I was one of the best on the team. I went from the bottom of the batting order to close to the top!

Steven Schuetz age 14 Congratulations Steven! It always thrills us when we see what is possible when people such as yourself have done the #Little Giant Steps# Neuro-Educational Pogram and then experienced all of the wonderful side benefits! Not only is learning made easy, but life becomes more fun and satisfying, because our potential is enhanced in all areas! God bless you and your parents efforts in truly changing your life for the better! ~ the LGS Staff

 Special Days For Special People

As we approach the Labor Day weekend, I am reminded how all of us arrive through the labor of our mothers. Then as we grow, both our parents (we hope and pray both will be involved with their children’s growth and development) begin a life-long teaching role. Little Giant Steps knows that for a child who suffers from learning issues, parents can make a significant difference as to whether their child moves beyond the difficulties they experience, or they stay in the realm of never experiencing academic success.

Is It Really A Choice?

Yes, in today’s world we have enough research and experience documented that shows “something” can be done to help a child, teen or even an adult move beyond their level of disability that in the not-too-distant past was thought to be a life sentence.  What is required of the parent is to commit is gaining new skills, knowledge and then working with their child twice a day for two minutes per activity until the symptoms of the disability no longer remains.  The length of time is unique to each child and is not all that predictable, because what the neuro-developmental programs do is to change the brain’s physiology. No one can predict how long it will take to repair, rewire or create new neuro-pathways in an area of dysfunction.  What we do know is that if you are faithful in working with your child you can create improved academic success.  Little Giant Steps has twenty years of experience of working with the Neurodevelopmental Approach and as these parents will attest, it works:

“This is working!!! We are seeing improvement upon improvement in Allison. She’s not my unreliable, unpredictable, immature little girl anymore, but has blossomed into a very responsible enjoyable 14 year old! I have also used our experience to encourage so many other moms. When God is in the middle of something (and He is in this) the blessings extend far beyond what we ever imagine. Thanks for your ongoing encouragement. It makes all the difference in the world.”

“I finally completed the boys monthly status report and I am mailing it out tomorrow, but, I wanted to share something with you that happened this week that is not on the report. Trent wanted to invite a friend over to spend the night, but we were in the car and the number was not accessible. I told Trent that he could call him on my cell phone and amazingly he remembered his friend’s home number, but that is not even the best part. His friend was at his grandparent’s home (who he stays with quite often). I asked Trent if he knew that number and at first he said that he didn’t, then, Trent said, Wait, I think I know it and sure enough it was the right number. My heart leaped for joy. Last year this 13 year old boy was doing good to remember his own phone number and now he is a walking phone directory. Praise God!!!!!! We have seen other signs of progress that I included on our monthly report, but this one was a dozy. I think God knew that we needed the encouragement to keep going and finish the race. Thank you guys so much.”

“Wow! Nate is really doing so well with academics now. He is learning his math facts, a new vocabulary word every day and his reading has just soared over the last few weeks. Now that his auditory digit span is up to six, he is able to sound out words phonetically.

The most amazing changes have occurred in the way he relates to people and life around him. We recently took a family vacation to Orlando, FL. It was wonderful – because of Little Giant Steps, my son was able to “cope” with large crowds, changes going on, communicated with people, and was socially interactive with people. He even found a friend at the pool – a little British boy that was his age that was there on vacation. A year ago, we went on the same trip (my husband goes to an annual conference in Orlando) and it was a total nightmare. Nate couldn’t deal with anything. It was an awful time. This time, he was just like any other “normal” child; instead of freaking out, he would say to me, “…mom, my feet hurt and I’m hungry…” which was a blessing to us. We purchased a behind the scenes walking tour Sea World – got to pet a penguin and a shark, got to feed stingrays and dolphins, we had lunch with Shamu, etc. He participated in all of it – an enjoyed it to boot! It was a great family vacation for us – thank you so much for helping us help him. I can’t thank you enough!”

 If your child need help, make sure next Labor Day finds him with a renewed confidence, skill sets that he thought he’d never have, and especially knowing he is very special and learning is easy.

First Step: 

 Get your child neurologically organized.

Little Giant Steps has been providing education for parents and teachers for many years, so they can assist their children to reach their full academic potential.  All learning begins with the brain. So, first let’s get the brain ready to learn. Everyone, regardless of age or I.Q. will improve in their abilities if their brain is better organized and neurologically efficient.

A child arrives in this world with many areas of the brain still developing.  One of the crucial stages of early development includes establishing the central nervous system so the brain and body get connected (we call this “becoming neurologically organized”).  When a child is neurologically organized, information can travel effortlessly between the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste and smell).  When a child is neurologically organized, his movements are coordinated and he has age-appropriate fine and gross motor skills.

Most children become neurologically organized without any outside assistance.  God designed the human brain in such a way that when an infant begins moving, the brain receives the stimulation required to develop higher function.  Infants start out with very random and primitive movements, and then, as the brain develops, their movements become more complex.  It is the cross pattern movement of crawling and creeping that is so vital to a child’s continued progress and development.

If your child didn’t spend much time crawling and creeping, or if they skipped this important developmental stage, there is good news!  It is not too late!  Young children, teenagers, and even adults, can benefit by spending time every day crawling and creeping on the floor in a good cross pattern.  It just takes 2 minutes, twice a day each for cross crawling (like an army crawl) and cross creeping (up on hands and knees).  That’s just 8 minutes a day, five days a week!  Make sure the opposite hand and knee hit the floor at the same time (this cross pattern movement provides the proper stimulation to the brain).  The benefits will amaze you!  Improvement can be seen within 2 to 4 months in academics, behavior, social interaction, coordination of movement and other functional abilities.  It would be best to do these cross pattern activities for at least 6 months to ensure that the brain has received enough stimulation to make these positive effects permanent! 

See you next time with Step 2.  God bless.

The best way for you to know how effective Little Giant Steps’ programs are, is to show you. 

For our school test results of Little Giant Steps’ Neuro-Educational Programs, please click here

Here is what you’ll see that is tested:

LEGEND: (Testing methodology):

 *Math=WRAT Math Test

 *Rec.= WRAT Word Recognition Test 

*Comp.= Peabody Comprehension Test

 See our Little Giant Steps website.

Setting Up An Academic Foundation Is Essential

Can you imagine building a structure such as this one, pictured on the right, if you didn’t pay attention to the foundation?  Like anything functional, there must be a logical approach to the beginning of  building a skill set.  God, in his infinite wisdom, created us to have a period of building that lasts our entire lifetime. He also provided a way to set that building process up, and it is called development.  There are natural rules that must be followed in order to have optimum development. Little Giant Steps builds solid foundations upon which the academic lives, successful thinking and living will be built. We are game-changers for those who missed some of those developmental steps, regardless of the reason for it. We are neuro-foundation specialists!

The Foundation Has Massive Wiring

The brain and body must function efficiently together through solid and massive connections in order for us to establish the foundation upon which our five senses are developed and vast functions are built. Our thinking , remembering, and expression of the world and all the experiences we encounter rests on the learning foundations that began on the day we are born and continues throughout our lives.  What science has confirmed with the availability of brain scanning technology, is that function can be restored through the use of brain-based stimulation that does, in fact, create new neuro-pathways and can eliminate the symptoms of learning disabilities by “developing” a stronger and bigger foundation with strong and vital connections. The brain is 97% connections and 3% cell bodies. When there is trauma, deprivation of stimulation, absence of activities that produce the required developmental cues for normal growth and development; we result in having gaps – unseen gaps in our abilities to function successfully in the academic setting or in learning.

What Does Little Giant Steps Do?

Essentially, we are foundation builders.  When a child is struggling with learning, or is noticed to be slightly off the normal developmental track, parents notice.  In school, teachers notice, but no one typically is quite sure what to do about it.  If more people would know that these deficits can typically be easily remedied; they’d do something about it.  It is my hope and prayer that more people will hear our message and will be encouraged to investigate the Neuro-Educational Approach.  It’s a natural way to intervene in problems areas.  No drugs are needed, because we work with what God created ~ the neuro-plasticity of the brain. Our articles are an excellent resource to start in learning, gaining skills, and most importantly, to do something to help your child.  Read them, please.  We also have DVDs if you prefer to learn from videos on our store..

If A Child Shows These Signs, Then Let’s Get Their Problem Solved

• Is your child seems smart, but can’t seem to be successful in school?
• Are you seeing inconsistent recall from a “bright” child?
• Does your child seem to know something one day, but not the next?
• Is he or she able to carry out directions without getting all confused?
• Is your child messy and seems not to have any sense of organization?
• Does your child consistently do things but rarely completes them or even knows they are incomplete?
• Does your child lack logical thinking ability?
• Is your child unable to stay on task?

There are many signs and symptoms that goes along with a disorganized brain, low processing ability (auditory & visual), and mixed dominance.  These are the things we can fix by addressing the foundational dysfunction.  To see how we go about doing that please check out our evaluation services and read the articles: “Learning Disabilities” and The Neurodevelopmental Approach.  Then look at the positive results of our programs in the lives of many children and their families.

Stop the struggling.  Investigate our approach to solving their dilemma. Set them free so they and you can discover their true potential.  It’s there, but the wiring is not quite working efficiently. Little Giant Steps can fix that.