ADD Isn’t the Problem

Attention Deficit Disorder -- a Different Perspective

Thom Hartmann, author of six books on Attention Deficit Disorder takes exception to the seriousness of ADD and ADHD. He insists that poor science casts a negative image on children, giving them a learning defect, when in reality it is the assembly-line, conveyer-belt schools that are dysfunctional. Take ADD and ADHD students out of this constrained setting and watch their learning genius and self-worth excel. Thank you Whole Family website for offering this article which is strangely absent from leading websites counseling parents about ADD.

Ode to Forgetfulness (video)

Listen, do you want to know a secret… about aging (song)

Mack Dryden sings a fun song about mental decline. This video is real fun for those of us becoming forgetful. Let’s laugh before full dementia sets in. Follow wellness practices on this blog and you will postpone, or reduce premature mental aging. Who needs it? Visit Mack on his website for more humor.

Healthy Brain Aging

Why we need to retool ‘Use it or lose it’

Alvaro Fernandez, co-author of The SharpBrain Guide to Brain Fitness starts his article posted on scribd.com by debunking 10 common myths on brain health, then recommends a brain-friendly lifestyle with an emphasis on novelty, variety and challenge. He challenges all of us to reshape and retool by ‘Using it or losing it’.

My Child’s Delayed Development?

What should I do about my child’s physical development?

Esther Boylan Wolfson in consultation with Ziva Schapiro, OTR offers an insightful article on WholeFamily.com website, suggesting what might be done if you suspect your child has a developmental problem. Check out Esther’s other excellent articles addressing Early Childhood Development.

LD Remedy… We Hold the Key!

Helping People… Unlock their Potential

Living and Learning… Movement is Central!

Neuro-education connecting Neuroscientific research and learning suggests the most effective ways to optimize body brain cells and systems to boost attention, sharpen focus, heighten motivation, enhance learning performance skills, and extend memory.

But what if, despite our good intentions and diligent work, these methods don’t work?

Then take a step backwards and return to the basics, helping the challenged learner retool their sensory, processing and motor systems that may be struggling. One or multiple systems might be involved, including the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems.

Let’s explore each of these systems over the next few months. Discover what people are doing to mature the sensory input system, brain processing/memory system, and motor output system called upon to express learning through talking, writing, art, music, sport, and other life-enhancing performance skills – this will be great fun!

Exercise Your Brain with Neurobics

Neurobics works to keep your aging brain fit

Lawrence C. Katz and Manning Rubin offer ‘83 Neurobic Exercises to Health Prevent Memory Loss and Increase Mental Fitness’. Thank you Scribd.com for offering this free e-book packed with practical ideas. Chapters include Starting and Ending the Day… Commuting…At Work… At the Market… At Mealtimes… and At Leisure. Hat’s off to David Suter for his novel illustrations creatively representing this science of brain enhancement.

Pump Dopamine Naturally

Use your body to pump this essential brain-boosting chemical

Good-feeling dopamine is a pleasure/reward neurochemical that boosts attention, raises motivation, and orchestrates the prefrontal cortex – the executive brain that focuses on learning and minimizes impulsivity. Stimulant drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD produce more dopamine. Brisk, large muscle movements do the same, especially aerobic exercise.

Daily physical education, morning and afternoon recess, frequent physical activity breaks, and subject matter taught with movement will get dopamine pumping naturally.

This is a great fix for frittering minds!

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Care-toon and related wellness ideas.

Jump Start Your Brain

Ten techniques to keep your aging brain fit

Ken Currier’s writing for Stuff Your Brain Likes website, has briefly outlined what we can do to keep our brain vibrant throughout life. His article is a good reminder of brain plasticity – its remarkable ability to refresh itself throughout life, given well chosen exercise and nutrition.

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Cartoon and related wellness ideas.

HPERD Boosts Learning Success

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance are Key

Create ideal learning states shown to grow and speed body brain cells and systems responsible for enhanced learning. Exercise and relaxation are key, along with a healthy diet and wholesome living practices. Read these Body-BrainBoogie postings -- then take daily action creating new dendrite delight adding new receptor sites and more vibrant energy information bytes, making your hippocampus hop, synapses sing and cerebellum ring!

Train Your Brain with Exercise

Make yourself smarter with aerobic workouts

Jean Lawrence writing for WebMD summarizes current research showing how exercise combats ADHD naturally, calms hyperactivity, grows new brain cells with added BDNF, releases pleasure chemicals key to memory and motivation, and helps remedy depression, fatigue and stress. Dr. John Ratey is quoted, “Exercise is really for the brain, not the body.” No wonder daily physical education in school is key to maximizing learning potential.

Vestibular Disorders Cause LD

Remedy learning disabilities by first starting here

The vestibular system located within the inner ear unifies the visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive (body) systems involved with attention, focus, eye tracking, auditory discrimination, posture, laterality, directionality, sitting still – all of which affect writing, reading, language development, concentration and ultimately self-esteem.

If the vestibular system is weak, an overwrought hypervestibular system is easily overwhelmed with school activities. A slow hypovestibular system is underwhelmed with its low muscle tone and weakened sensory and motor functions.

What to do? Test the vestibular system first, then use specific movements to strengthen the hyper or hypo systems.

Daily physical education offers vestibular stimulation needed by students to excel, especially those falling behind. For a spin on this key learning system visit Vestibular.org.

The Body is Key to Reading

There is more to reading success than meets the eye

Of course eye teaming, smooth eye pursuit across the midline, and visual accommodation near and far are important to reading success. Often overlooked is the body’s role in reading. For example, having good muscle tone in the core and leg muscles needed to sit still… integration of primary reflexes ATNR, and STNR allowing steady focus when the body or neck is moved… body awareness including a sense of laterality and directionality, allowing readers to distinguish between a ‘p’ and ‘q’ and ‘m’ and ‘w’ so ‘mom’ doesn’t become ‘wow’… and having a mature vestibular system unifying visual acuity, auditory discrimination and body-in-space skills.

How does one strengthen all of these body systems to assure reading success? Repetitive movement! Ample running, skipping, spinning, rowing, throwing, catching and other vibrant movement activities are essential.

Daily physical education with a focus on body awareness and movement exploration is a must to help young children mature all of the body brain systems involved with successful reading.

Not helping children mature their body brain networks will result in reading delays, dyslexia, and other challenges and learning disabilities we often hand over to Special Ed. Read Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior by Billye Ann Cheatum and Allison A. Hammond available from Human Kinetics for in depth understaning.

Obesity and Quick Fast Food

Proximity of ‘fast-food’ restaurants to schools is a major factor

Newswise reports a study by Baylor University relating adolescent obesity to how close fast-food restaurants are located to schools. The study was selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as “the most influential child obesity research for the past year.”

I wonder why compelling research relating childhood obesity to sedentary lifestyles and lack of sufficient daily exercise and movement wasn’t on top – then again this childhood ‘fat factor’ is most obvious… and who needs to prove the obvious?

Want to remedy childhood obesity? Insist on daily physical education with a fitness emphasis! Daily Health education is needed too, helping people understand high calories of certain fast-foods, and the best nutrition to maintain ideal body weight.

Super Charge Your Brain

Speed up brain impulses through repetitive body movements

Get wired! Become your own electrician laying down new elaborate body brain networks that connect sensory and motor neurons responsible for learning. Expand your neural networks and speed their electrical transmission through physical activities (e.g. talking, writing, drawing, dancing, socializing, playing musical instruments, acting, playing, engaging in sports, etc). All neural networks created through such movements are part of the circuitry regulating mood, boosting attention, heightening motivation, building academic performance skills, and extending memory.

Repetitive movements increase cellular voltage as positive and negative ions surge back and forth between communicating neurons. When the energy threshold is high enough to stimulate genetic expression, genes and chromosomes within the neuron’s cell body nucleus produce new molecules that boost cellular function. One master molecule created is BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, referred to as Miracle-Gro for the brain by Dr. John Ratey in his book SPARK, The New Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain.

BDNF along with other Nerve Growth Factors grow new neurons, help extend neural networks and increase speed of transmission. Exercise produces and pumps more BDNF throughout the body brain to maximize growth. If you want to wire up… then fire up with exercise. You’ll have less mental static and faster neurons in your mental attic needed to excel! Insist on daily Physical Education focused on fitness to super charge your brain!

Learning Challenges Unfold

When physical movement is put on hold…

Writer’s block, reading delays, LD, ADD, ADHD, and a host of other learning and behavioral challenges can result from lack of movement.

Examples include a fetus frozen by excess stress in the uterus, C-section babies who fail to exert themselves during birth, infants lying on their back or trapped in a car seat, baby swing or playpen for extended periods, young children deprived of plenty of robust play, young learners sitting in their desks doing endless worksheets rather than learning concept through frequent sensory and motor activities, lack of repetitions writing, talking, reading, and primary reflexes (e.g., ATNR, STNR, grasp, spinal gallant) not integrated through repeated physical movement… the list goes on.

Daily Physical Education, morning and afternoon recess, and multiple movement opportunities during each class period will engage the body brain, helping resolve some of these learning issues taking root in body tissues. For more severe learning delays a more focused, remedial physical approach is needed to mature neural networks, helping people realize their living and learning potential. Movement is key!

Prime the Brain Before Studying

Move your muscles to produce and pump learning chemicals

Chemical messengers communicating between neurons are needed for the brain to pay attention and focus. Since attention precedes learning, it makes good sense to produce and pump enzymes, hormones, and neurochemicals needed, especially for people with ADD, ADHD, and other attentional challenges.

Large muscle movements (e.g., circling the arms overhead) produce dopamine, the pleasure/reward motivational chemical that orchestrates the pre-frontal cortex called upon to learn. Moving the arms and legs across the body engages both sides of the brain, helping with sequential and global brain functions involved with writing and math.

Daily Physical Education and frequent movement activities throughout the day will help brain cells excel. Why rely on stimulant drugs when the body can do the work!

Do the Body and Brain Cell dance to prime the brain.

Body and Brain Cell Dance (video)

Show brain cells working best through movement and exercise

Follow a sequence of gestures showing how movement and exercise help produce new neurons (neurogenesis), extend neural networks (dendrites and receptors sites), generate more genetic expression, produce more myelin on axons for faster body-brain transmission and make synapses smile.


Get a leg-up on current research with more detailed body-brain cell dances coming soon. Make this science come alive movin' and groovin' along!

Maximize Learning -- Physically!

Improve learning by engaging your body more often

What if schools and workplaces adopted practices shown by neuroscience to improve attention, focus, motivation, learning and memory -- helping all people maximize their living and learning potential? What immediate changes would take place?

The most noticeable change would be much more movement and exercise throughout the day. Increased blood flow carrying oxygen and an assortment of body-brain enhancing chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, BDNF, serotonin, etc.) would heighten physical, mental, social and emotional states shown to enhance learning.

So why do we sit on our duffs? Why is recess and physical education on the chopping block when our goal is to excel and meet the highest learning standards?

Desk Workouts

Workouts for the workaholic to keep the body and brain sharp!

Loyola Center for Fitness offers a quick way to increase energy level while working at your desk. Move the body! Invigorate the brain! Mini workouts in three main fitness categories (cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility) are described. Print out this list provided by Newswise and post it by your desk. Program yourself to use various exercises every 15 or 20 minutes. “If co-workers give you a strange look while you are exercising, ask them to join you,” said Kara Smith, special programs coordinator at the Loyola Center for Fitness.

The body greatly influences the brain… let’s use it often to boost the mind!

Learning Disability Links

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and other LDs explained

NeuroEducation.com describes learning challenges and offers links for more information. Included is NonVerbal Learning Disability, Brain Trauma, Developmental Delays, Language Processing Problems, Cognitive Output Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.

I like this website and their Mission Statement which reads in part, “Our treatment plans are aimed at assisting our patients in triumphantly overcoming learning and/or emotional disorders. A workplace that is joyful, energetic and aimed at continual personal and professional growth is our goal.”

Neurodevelopment Intro

Brain stem, midbrain and cortex development and problems

Toni Hager, originator of Kids Can Learn website, presents a thorough overview of brain and central nervous system, identifying stages of development, and pinpointing what learning and behavior problems result when the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain and cortex fail to properly develop. Visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive competence, as well as mobility, manual, and language proficiency are affected.

What is often perceived as learning and behavioral problems in school have neurological roots that can often be remedied naturally, targeting the source of dysfunction.

Bodies In Space

Whole brain, whole body Blog is wholly worthwhile

M. A. Greenstein offers insightful articles, podcasts and more on her inspired Bodies In Space Blog, focusing on global, whole-brain and whole body learning. Her Immersive Attention Change the Brain! article provides commentary on Dr. John Ratey’s book SPARK, a must read for people interested in the science of exercise.

Beyond the Mind-Body video of Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz is shown on her article titled, ‘Just how easy is it to change our brains (and our minds)’. Thank you Dr. G. for your GGGGreat Blog!

Neuro-education Jubilation (video)

Capture the essence of Neuro-education with a movement sequence

"Mental and physical education, total mindbody integration... maximize your learning potential, understanding first what is most essential."

These words take on special significance during this movement sequence that brings Neuro-education to life. Rather than watching and listening, mimic the movements and echo the words. Not only will you prime your body/brain with more super-learning chemicals getting you ready for your upcoming mental activities, you will sense the significance of Neuro-education, connecting neuroscience to learning.

Intelligence of Play (video)

Real playing is how real learning takes place!

Building the foundation of intelligence through play is the subject of a videotaped interview with Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child. Permanent neural patterning involved in learning is established through play. The absorbent mind of the child, observing and becoming part of the universe builds the child’s identity and connection to the world through thought, feeling and action. This happens through play.

Other videos and articles related to play, learning and intelligence are available on the Touch the Future website.

Myth of ADD

Look at ADHD in a new light with natural solutions

Dr. Thomas Armstrong is author of 13 books including 7 Kinds of Smart and The Myth of the A.D.D. Child, 50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels or Coercion. His website offers his books and articles worth pursuing. I like how Thomas Armstrong uses positive, natural, wellness-based approaches to build each child’s ultimate worth.

Isn’t it strange that leading websites addressing ADD and ADHD fail to mention Thomas Armstrong and his natural methods of remedying behavioral and learning problems? They also fail to mention how brisk exercise boosts dopamine levels in the pre-frontal cortex, alleviating much of the problem. Medications are suggested.

Pedometer Walking Programs

Top 10 Pedometer Walking Programs are suggested

Wendy Bumgardner writing for About.com has done her homework, describing free and fee online walking programs that use pedometers and journaling to keep on track. Assistance is provided, helping people choose the right pedometer.

H. P. E. R. D. is Key to NCLB!

Exercise Natural Steps… ‘Leave NO Child Behind Developmentally!’

Students falling behind in school most often possess immature sensory and motor systems. Such developmental delays have an adverse effect on academic performance skills, including reading, writing, spelling and math.

Strengthening visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive (muscular) and vestibular systems builds a more solid body brain neurological foundation upon which enhanced attention, academic skills, memory, and motivation are built.

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance provide activities designed to mature the body brain, allowing people of all ages to achieve their vast living and learning potential.

Soon this Body-BrainBoogie Blog will feature short videos that ‘Shake, Rattle n’ Role-model’ research-based methods that tap, tap, tap the body-brain! Get the beat on neuroscience, assuring NCLB, NO Child is Left Behind developmentally! Watch the upcoming videos -- better yet, perform the routines lead by Jeff Haebig.

Video sequences will include the following.

Turn On Neurons! Energize! Exercise!
Expand Dendrites Grow Receptor Sites
Hip-Hip Hooray! I Revise My DNA!
BDNF – Body-Brain Cell Miracle Gro
Hippocampus Chop, Retention Tip-top
Gain Brain Speed with Smilin’ Myelin
Rum-rum! Energy Across Cerebrum
Synaptic Adhesion – Give Gap Naps
Peptize! Move Cerebral Spinal Fluid
Prime the Brain – Go-Go Chemicals
Boost Attention – Pump Dopamine
Reticular Activation -- RAS Matazz!
Serotonin Steady! Adrenaline Ready!
End Excess Stress – Neocortex Hex!
Stress for Success, Breathe with Ease
Rah! Rah! Rah! Amygdala De Dah!
Nah-nah No-no GABA Take Control
Calm Down -- Relax Muscle Spindles
Integrate Celebrate! Primary Reflexes
Auto Sequence -- Ring the Cerebellum
Pedal Brake – Regulate the Cingulate
Hypo-slow Vestibular – Fidget is Legit!
Hyper Vestibular – Rock It to Calm It!
Rock and Roll, Balance and Spin
Eye-eye! The Eyes Have It! Acuity
Hear-here! Ears Can Hear It! Clarity
Hand It To You! Fine-tune Tactility
Gross-motor Laterality Directionality

Boys Need Dance!

Strength, Grace and Emotional Balance

Anne Green Gilbert, Founder and Director of Creative Dance Center, points to the critical interplay between how we feel, act and think in her article titled Boys Need Dance. Her article cites many benefits of dance including the need to balance cortisol stress hormone with serotonin to produce feelings of well-being and self-confidence. Creative Dance Center offers many fine articles and Fabulous Resources for Parents and Teachers.

Breathing, Relaxation, Yoga

Workplace Yoga and Meditation Can Lower Feelings of Stress

Newswise reports a study by Janet Buckworth and William Malakey from Ohio State regarding a noon-time, “lose dose” program combining breathing, relaxation and yoga to music with discussions and contemplations of stress at work. Quality of sleep improved as well as mindfulness – the ability to change one’s perception of stress, considering options to manage it.

Here’s another effective way to apply body and brain power for higher productivity and zest for living!

Physically Ready to Learn

Tummy Time to concept-based dance and much more!

Spark Plug Dance website offers exceptional articles on body brain-boosting activities. Tummy time and movement ideas for newborns, toddler activities, and creative movement activities for all ages are offered – along with the research! What a rich resource for improving social, emotional and cognitive learning through body and brain physical engagement. Hats off to Teri Page and Rachel Carnes for being spark plugs for movement and dance!