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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.

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