There are certain steps children grow through as they develop. If any of these steps are skipped, then the brain and pathways do not develop properly. This may cause learning inefficiencies or learning disabilities later on. The good news is that children and adults at any age can go back through the stages of neurodevelopment to improve organization, short-term memory, long-term memory, coordination and academic abilities.

The Neurodevelopmental Approach is a methodology of stimulating the brain with specific activities that will bring about an increase in neuro-pathways, resulting in better neuro-efficiency. With better neuro-efficiency one can receive, process, store and retrieve information more easily. We work with the root causes of learning difficulties as opposed to medicating and teaching coping and compensating skills.

In the past 40 years, researchers have discovered the amazing plasticity of the brain. Therefore, there are no age restrictions. Whether you have an infant or you are an adult who has been dealing with attention and focusing issues all your life, the Neurodevelopmental Approach can help.

Developmental Foundations (DF) contains specific training for people who work with and train children or other individuals in the following areas of brain function enhancement: large and fine motor movement; reading comprehension; math operations and math facts; auditory and visual short term memory abilities; coordination; spatial awareness and more.

The program is designed to take about one hour per day. There is a list of activities that the individual can do on their own and a list that requires about 40 minutes that has to be completed with help. Included in this list will be the individual's reading and math sessions. These activities are done for at least four months and some activities can require upwards of twelve to eighteen months for full benefit. See link for specific areas enhanced by adding Developmental Foundations to your current educational techniques.

For an overview of Developmental Foundations benefits-click here

Because Developmental Foundations encourages brain organization in many areas, it can benefit most individuals in some way. However, it is not designed as a cure all for all academic and developmental needs. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill for brain organization; it takes consistent effort to reap the rewards that the neurodevelopmental approach has to offer. DF has some of the basic activities chosen from the thousands available in the neurodevelopmental approach. It may be the only necessary step or just the first step toward academic success for some individuals. There are those who may need professional (one on one) intervention. To see if Developmental Foundations is right for your situation, we offer a pre-purchase questionnaire that will clarify the extent it will help different categories of learning and developmental issues. Investigating more of the FAQ's will also shed light on the type of issues addressed by DF.

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The term “brain organization” can be confusing because there can be several descriptive aspects of the brain. For instance, if we were talking about the brain structure (a multi-leveled process) and how it is functionally organized we could talk about the location of the different parts of the brain, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, cerebellum, pons, etc. If you take an even closer look at those areas we could talk about the prefrontal cortex, cerebral hemisphere, Broa’s area, and brain stem, just to name a few. This demonstrates some of the difficulties that arise when discussing the brain. It’s a very complex organ! Entire theses have been written trying to develop a clear language to communicate between the physiology, functionality, and dynamics of the brain. Disciplines who deal with the brain, psychologists, brain surgeons, and neurodevelopmentalists differ vastly in their focus and complexity when working with the brain.

To simplify the discussion, we at LGS work solely on the development of the brain function where it concerns learning and the corresponding functioning or lack thereof. Our scope of interest has to do with educational results. We focus on those areas of the brain that are not serving the educational needs of the individual. Our methodology changes those dynamics by causing physiology to respond through neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life). Following a thorough evaluation by a neurodevelopmentalist, brain stimulating activities are recommended to get those missing, damaged or incomplete pathways established and working more efficiently. We seek to raise the level of performance of the neurological connections between the brain and body. When a child or adult becomes neurologically efficient, they can function and learn with ease. When they are functioning properly, we see optimal brain organization and the system working as intended. When that happens, our job is finished!

The human nervous system is geared for efficiency. The ability of the brain to send messages, whether for the function of ones thoughts, actions or autonomic system (vital functions), is instantaneous. When that function is blocked or hampered, we call this brain inefficiency. From the Neurodevelopmentalists are concerned with the efficient function of neuro-pathways that affects learning abilities. Neuroplasticity of the brain will accommodate the repair and even the creation of new pathways when there is proper stimulation. It is the activities of our individualized programs that establish good brain organization and frees the individual of their inefficient function.

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease by adjusting their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment. Brain reorganization takes place by mechanisms such as "axonal /dendrite sprouting," in which undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurons whose links were immature or injured. Undamaged axons can also sprout nerve endings (dendrites) and connect with other undamaged nerve cells, forming new neural pathways to accomplish a needed function. The brain compensates for damage or, in the case of lack of developing activities, by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons. In order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity. Neuroplasticity is also called brain plasticity or brain malleability.

Every individual would benefit from a full neurodevelopmental evaluation and individualized program since most of us have inefficiencies that we compensate for on a daily basis. We know from experience that full evaluations can't always happen, and may not be required to get certain individuals "connected or neurologically efficient." Developmental Foundations has many of the tried and true neurodevelopmental activities that have been changing lives for decades.

Little Giant Steps, the author of Developmental Foundations, is a Christian educational consulting service utilizing the neurodevelopmental approach which is developmentally and educationally based. Activities recommended are not medical, therapeutic, or psychological prescriptions. Activities are offered for the families review, investigation and education. Application of activities is at the sole discretion of the purchasing family. None of the LGS staff is licensed to practice medicine.

Let's address the affordability of a traditional Neurodevelopmental Program with professional evaluation and individualized programs and support. In the world of therapies, tutoring and special schools; there is nothing as affordable as a neurodevelopmental evaluation. This approach equips the parents to be the trainers so that brain stimulation can be accomplished more frequently (sometimes several times a day), with intensity and over a long enough period of time to really see lasting and significant results. Developmental Foundations is a first step and if all the issues are not resolved with this program, the time and expenditure for an individualized program could be significantly reduced.

There are instances where parents, desperate like you, intuitively know their child has involvement beyond the traditional approach to education. The Developmental Foundations Program is a "first-step" program; a foundation that every child needs which could make the all the difference needed for some children and be a leg up for others. DF will help most everyone, but for children with serious or profound learning disabilities; it is not the right choice. You as a parent must ask yourself, "What do I believe would be in my child's best interest?" If you get the Developmental Foundation Program and work with your child consistently for 4 months; you will see improvement. Your child has everything to gain and nothing to loose. However, if after 8 months you feel the program is not getting your child to grade level; then you need to consult with a Neurodevelopmentalist for an individual assessment. We've included a $75 discount coupon in the DF Tool Kit, good toward an evaluation with any participating ICAN Neurodevelopmentalist throughout the U.S. and Canada. We've tried our best to keep the steps of academic success within reach, if there is a need for an evaluation and you can't afford it - (See the next question: Are partial scholarships available?)

In cases of financial hardship and need for an individualized evaluation, we recommend finding someone to help by donating to a scholarship fund for ND Services. We have created a non-profit corporation to handle such tax deductible donations. There are churches who have special ministries or special benefactors who may be able to provide a scholarship to our program. You need to pray about this then ask in your church, your community and even extended family members for what you need. If you are a home schooling parent, you also (if you are a member) may qualify for a grant from the Home School Legal Defense Fund. We have had families receive grants to pay for part of our services. In other words, we are never alone in our problems if we are willing to reach outside our "comfort zone" and allow people to help and bless us and our children.

Developmental Foundations can be used at any age. It works with what is called "Neuro-plasticity" (the brain's ability to repair or advance itself through stimulation). When neuro-pathways are created, improved, or strengthened by specific stimulation, communication between the brain and body becomes efficient. When neuro-efficiency is established, anyone at any age will improve abilities to learn, retain and recall information.

In the Developmental Foundations Program the eyes are really not addressed specifically although several of the activities will help eye convergence. When it comes to eye issues we recommend that you get an appointment with a developmental optometrist and/or get a full neurodevelopmental evaluation for other root causes of learning challenges.

The questionnaire is as much of a courtesy as it is a professional commitment to excellence. We want you to be informed to the best of our ability as to whether this product is something we feel can serve you. There are cases where this program is not appropriate. By you providing us the circumstances of the situation you are dealing with, we can offer some guidance. There are many outside therapies available that we may determine as being a better recommendation. If that is the case; we make referrals….. just as we do with potential clients who seek our individual professional services. We are developmentally and educationally based, and there are instances where we would request you seek medical intervention. Many people who find our services have spent their money on things that don’t work… we don’t want that to ever be the case with the Developmental Foundations and the required questionnaire is a part of our quality control.