You are concerned that your child's brain development is changing because they are leading a ‘digitalised childhood’. You are worried. And rightly so. But the good news is that you don't need to be. I'm here to explain things. The headlines decry, ”Technology is re-wiring kids’ brains.” … [Read more...]
How Young is Too Young to Introduce Technology?
Have you seen the latest Fisher-Price iPad Apptivity Seat? It is a reclining baby bouncer seat with a mirror, with the option to slip an iPad (or other tablet device) into the mirror case and show apps and videos to babies. Yes, to babies. Very young babies that can not yet sit … [Read more...]
Is Wifi Harmful for my Child?
A couple of days ago I saw my ‘almost-three-year-old’ son do something with my iPad that terrified me. It literally made me stop in my tracks. I froze with fear. I had a wave of panic rush through my body. No, he didn’t access inappropriate content on You Tube (although he has been close to … [Read more...]
Digital Babies
There is no doubt that today's children are born into a digital world. Children now experience 'digitalised Childhoods'. What about very young babies- is this digital immersion appropriate? What impact is this 'digital dunking' having on their very plastic brain? As a Mum, and also as a children's … [Read more...]
Sleep in a Digital Age
In a previous post about the essential building blocks for learning, we discussed why sleep is vital for a child's brain development. Neuroscience is confirming what many parents have known for years: sleep is essential. It is not a luxury, but is instead a basic need. However, in today's … [Read more...]
Sleep: An Essential Building Block for Learning
As adults we know how poorly we function when we don't have enough sleep. (Remember those sleepless nights as a parent of a newborn baby and how you would have done anything for some much-needed shut-eye?). The same is true for babies and young children. Sleep is a vital building block in children's … [Read more...]
Will DVDs Build My Baby’s Brain?
Today’s parents are under increasing pressure to buy educational goods for their children. From the moment a child is born, parents are bombarded with toys and products touted as ‘educational’. Parents and teachers are often seduced by the promise that these products will give young … [Read more...]
Simple Strategies for Building Brains: Move and Eat Well
Children need to move to learn. This will be nothing new for our grandparents who have always known this. Physical movement actually sets up the neural pathways (the brain connections) required for academic learning to occur. Simple things like crawling, rolling, rocking, swinging and skipping all … [Read more...]
Simple Strategies for Building Brains: Language
We know more than ever about how brains develop and the critical role that parents and teachers play in this process. Essential aspects of brain architecture are shaped by a child’s experiences. This development starts before birth and continues at a rapid rate after birth. Many fundamental aspects … [Read more...]
Simple Strategies for Building Brains: Secure attachments, sleep and stress
A child’s early experiences form brain circuits that provide the basic architecture of the brain. These brain circuits are constructed through a process that begins early in life (before birth in fact) and continues into adulthood. Much like constructing a house simpler circuits are built first … [Read more...]