Skip to main content

Develping the Brain Through Love

These simple acts can make a difference in the lasting health of your child because it causes the brain to form its firm foundation:

Five Key Ideas For New Parents

Here is the science behind it all, which includes a couple one minute long videos from Harvard's Center on the Developing Child:

Experience Builds Brain Architecture 

Serve and Return

The Foundations of Life Long Health

To get more science, I've posted below in the 'Extras' links to the Working Papers.

We will spend some class time doing Quiet Observation.  You can read about a mom's experience with this here.

Consider This
What am I already doing with my child to develop a strong foundation for brain development?
What could I do better?
Extras
Here is a moving report/story on NPR's This American Life about the importance of physically and emotionally giving love to your children.
This American Life: Unconditional Love  (Transcript)
This American Life: Unconditional Love (Recording)

Harvard's Center on the Developing Child Working Papers:
Children's Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains

The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture  

 Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development
  
Book Club
This semester we will be reading Jennifer Senior's book: All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood.  Our first class discussion will be on the Introduction, after Labor Day (Thursday, 9/10, and Monday, 9/14). Don't forget to check the local library for the book.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Free Parenting Classes with Nancy at CCSF for Fall 2024

City College of San Francisco Fall 2024 Free Parenting Class-   Semester begins on August 19, 2024 Meet Other Parents and Build Community Get Parenting Questions Answered Sing Songs Together Learn About Your Child's Development Gain Practical Parenting Tools This weekly adult-education SF City College parenting class is intended for parents to gather, learn from the material and each other while experiencing this post-pandemic parenting life stage.  Bring your child and learn while playing together.  This non-credit class with no grades is a fun opportunity not to be missed. Register online or show up to class and register on the spot. **City College also offers these courses taught by other instructors at the Ocean, Chinatown and John Adams Campus. See the  CCSF's Course Schedule. Nancy's Class Schedule Mission Campus, 1125 Valencia Street,  Room 173    0-14 Months  PARENTS AND INFANTS (CDEV 8003) 12:40-2:30  Wednesdays or Thursdays  Ch...

Discipline Without The Drama and Recipe Sharing

Click here to find out more about Nancy's Couples Parenting Workshops: Creating a Joyful Family . No Drama Discipline by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson  is one of my favorite parenting books.  Here's a wonderful summary, aka the "refrigerator" sheet taken straight out of the book. No Drama Discipline REFRIGERATOR SHEET Also included in the conclusion of the the book: 20 Discipline Mistakes Even Great Parents Make This week I've asked my classes to share their favorite easy and nutritious family meal recipe.  Please take time to share your favorite recipe in the comment section. Book Discussion  We will have our final discussion on the  Conclusion   Chapter  and  Further Resources  this week of April 9. Here's also a  nice little summary  of the book written on the  Fatherly Blog . Extras These two articles published in the last couple of days were interesting to me... How to Raise a Vegetable Eater Ho...

Don't Forget To Take Care of Yourself

Dealing with the Corona Virus turns parenting up a notch, or for some, too many notches. This is a difficult time. The New York Times recently had an article, Parents Need Stress Relief, Too .  These are the coping methods they suggested: 1) Give yourself grace. 2) Don't judge coping styles. 3) Remember sleep hygiene. 4) Timebox your worries. 5) Social distancing doesn't mean you should stop being social. 6) Help others as much as you can. I'd like to add a couple more things to this list: 7) Stop reading about parenting.  Enough already. Follow your gut. Since you're reading this, you've read plenty.  Now just do what you feel works for you and your family. Too much information about parenting is anxiety inducing.  I know this from personal experience.  Yes, there is always more, or something better you can do, but go back to the first suggestion on this list: Give yourself grace. Just give lots of love and affection, don't worry what others might thi...