Schools Kill Creativity (video)

Educate the Whole Being

Sir Ken Robinson, speaking at TED inspires us to change our disembodied educational system in ways that celebrate the gift of Human Imagination.  Dancing and art have a profound influence on intelligence.  According to Sir Ken, formalized education strip mines the mind…Enjoy this fun video and take the message to heart.  Insist on frequent, vibrant movement at every grade level, during every subject!

Movement Nature Meant (Video)

Master Effortless Movement

Part One --Lying to Sitting

Ruthy Alon demonstrates the restorative potential of natural movement. Part One video is an introduction of Awareness Through Movement, showing childlike pleasure discovering new movement options while restoring your senses. Lying down to sitting up, search the effortless spiraling trajectory moving against gravity. Let go of trying to control the world. Reclaim the belief that life can be easy –accept easy is right – sense this right as pleasurable.

Moshe Feldenkrais, outlined movement that nature meant. Without competition, relearn your authentic way of moving. Observe subtle changes producing profound differences within your entire self.

Fuzzy Kisses

Early Childhood Brain Insights Blog

Early Childhood Brain Insights written by Deborah McNelis is well worth your time. Be sure to click on the videos showing the baby getting hysterical tearing paper and the baby finding the dog’s paw -- precious. Many excellent child development ideas are found on this body brain enriching Blog – Fuzzy Kisses and all -- way to go Deborah!

Autism Games

Use play for social, emotional and sensory motor development

Tahirih Bushey has developed a playful site full of articles and fun videos showing how to play with an autistic child. Autism Games shows a variety of effective ways to use play to build language and boost attention. Sensory and motor skills are being developed through repetition. Visit Tahirih’s blog and enjoy her engaging ways to help autistic children "regulate emotions… navigate the social world… and interact in the physical world.”

Integrate Psychiatry and Neurology

Helping traumatized children like Justin raised like a dog

Read this interesting interview with Dr. Bruce Perry, co-author of the book, The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog. I like Dr. Perry’s statement, “We need to learn how to use psychotropic drugs in a way that is responsible and is a true adjunct to treatment, as opposed to a cop-out.” The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate convincingly the body/brain’s remarkable capacity to revise itself through sensory and motor stimulation designed to strengthen its function. I also applaud Dr. Perry for his peace initiatives based on neuroscience.

Build the Body Brain with Robust Play

Adaptive Indoor Physical Activities for Young Children are Fantastic Fun!

Toolbox Parenting, tips for tough kids… provides hundreds of helpful ways to develop your children’s mental and physical well-being. Jodee Kulp and her team offer sensory-motor developmental activities for kids indoors.

Rather than sitting in front of the TV or computer, actively playing creates new body and brain cell connections needed to live and learn vibrantly. Want your children to be robust… vigorous, full-bodied play is key.

New Brain-based Physical Education

Physical Education's key role boosting learning achievement

Have you noticed as school budgets shrink, Physical Education is put on the chopping block? For those of you knowing how the body-brain functions best, this makes no sense. Why don't School Boards, educators and parents take an interest in how learning happens?

NCLB can only succeed if we practice effective methods helping students with weak, immature sensory motor systems who have trouble reading, writing, sitting still, paying attention, focusing, following directions. calculating, spelling and carrying out other academic performance skills.

Body-brain enhancing movement and exercise is the key to success as this blog suggests repeatedly. It's time we enlighten those who truly want No Child Left Behind! Share this blog with people of influence. Let's move on this!

Jeff Haebig

Reflex Integration is Key to Movement

Masgutova Method of Neuro-sensory-motor Reflex Integration

Svetlana Masgutova from Poland has simplified how to understand movement and its relationship to learning. For many of us, Reflex Integration is a foreign concept. Glance at the graphic shown on the Masgutova Method page. See how reflex patterns are the foundation upon which learned movement is built. Academic performance skills (writing, reading, calculating, sitting still and focusing) rely on a solid body brain base to work well.

Contact Suzanne Amanor-Wilks at neuronetsuzanne@yahoo.com or call 952.892.1883 to inquire about Dr. Masgutova’s workshops, March 20 to 23rd in Edina, Minnesota. Books are also available. You will be surprised how simple reflexes are to learn – and how highly effective sensory integration practices are to integrate dysfunctional and pathological reflexes that interfere with vibrant living and learning. You will love Dr. Masgutova's teaching style -- she's tops!

Jeff Haebig

Motor Planning and Sequencing

Reading, speech, and language improve using rhythm

Reading achievement is central to school success. As neuroscience becomes more precise, understanding the areas of the body brain involved with language development and reading suggest the importance of motor planning and sequencing. The Cingulate Gyrus, Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum and Frontal Cortex are brain areas involved. Rhythmic motor activities that strengthen neural networks connecting these brain areas allow for quicker shifting of attention and focus.

Speech and language have improved. Those with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, Parkinsons, and Sensory Integration Disorders have benefited in various ways. Interactive Metronome offers research and case studies on their website showing the functional neural plasticity involved.

Developmental Skills Ages 0 to 36 Months

Check Out this Handy List of Sensory Motor Developmental Skills

Ellen Venturella-Wilson, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist. She has created a wonderful website http://pedspot.com/OT.php describing Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration http://pedspot.com/About-SI.php.

Developmental Skills http://pedspot.com/OT-Checklist.php provides a handy checklist from ages 0-36 months -- it is well organized. Parent Resource Links http://pedspot.com/Resources.php are provided.

Professionals like Ellen go out of their way helping parents and educators understand the significance of Sensory Integration for vibrant living and learning – I applaud her brilliant work!

Jeff Haebig

Autism Issues and Sensory Therapies

Read Temple Grandin's article regarding Holding Therapy

Read http://www.thechildrenscenteraz.org/HoldingTherapy.html by Temple Grandin to better understand Autism... its causes, related sensory problems, brain research, sensory therapy, and tactile research. The article focuses on Gentle vs. Forced Holding. The author relates her own experiences as an autistic person using this therapy. This is a wonderful article by a leading expert.

Jeff Haebig

Drink Water to Bust Stress

Three Quick Tips to Bust Stress from Sharon Promislow

http://www.enhancedlearning.com/el.htm offers three Quick Tips from Sharon Promislow. Drink Water: The #1 Stress Buster and Brain Integrator. Srep 2. Cross Patterning: A jump Start to Brain/Body Integration. Step 3. Not to Worry! Hold Your Positive Points. Sharon has the ability to teach easy and highly effective ways to stop stress from blocking our systems. Her books and workshops are as playful as she is!

Jeff Haebig

Reading Improves through S'Cool Moves

Develop the Magical Mind and Reading through Movement

Debra Em Wilson is a developmental reading specialist, author and educational consultant. She has developed physically engaging programs that improve children's reading skills through body brain activities. Her article http://www.schoolmoves.com/magical_mind.html cites many reasons movement is essential for school success. Check out Debra's programs, better yet, utilize them at home and at your school. Everone will greatly benefit with S'cool Moves!

Jeff Haebig

Balancing is the Learning Breakthrough

Balance and Vestibular System Development is Key

Dr. Frank Belgau developed The Learning Breakthrough Program. At the University of Houston, he directed the Perceptual Motor and Visual Perception Laboratory. In particular, he focused on the effect of balance and the vestibular system and developed the Belgau Balance Board. Over decades, he established the use of the balancing activities made dramatic improvement in children’s reading and academic performance skills. Read about the astounding improvement at http://www.balametrics.com/results.htm, better yet, try Bala-Metrics and experience the improvements in intelligence, reading, and behavior yourself.

http://www.balametrics.com/theory.htm the Theory Behind The Learning Breakthrough

http://www.balametrics.com/explain.htm Marvelous series of articles relating balance to ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Handwriting, CAPD, Reading, and Academics. Topics include Multi-Sensory Integration, Spatial Awareness, Integration of Brain Hemispheres, Brain Timing/Reaction Time, Sequencing, Binocular Teaming, and Proprioception.

Moving Sensory Integration Across America!

Sensory Integration on Wheels!

Diana A. Henry, MS, OTR/L is one amazing force, traveling the country bringing Sensory Integration to schools, homes and businesses and the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) to clinics, homes and school communities. Along with her husband, Rick Ruess, they provide products and workshops across the USA traveling in their mobile home. Their mission is to promote understanding and awareness of issues related to sensory processing, sensory integration and the sensory systems. These may influence attention, motor coordination, social participation, behavior and even violence in schools.

Visit their website http://www.ateachabout.com/index.asp and access interesting articles.

http://www.ateachabout.com/pdf/SensoryIntegrationItsNotJustForChildren-rev.pdf establishes that ‘Sensory Integration: It’s Not Just for Children.’

Many wonderful products are offered on their website plus great links http://www.ateachabout.com/links.asp

Bravo Diana and Rick!

Jeff