The well balanced Child

I just read half a book today, because I found in one book what I have been trying to piece together for 3 years in the many books I have read. There is more to learn, as always, but like I said, this book was the most complete information I have ever read under one cover.

This blog will be about the first half, and then I will do another about the final chapters in the book.

Here is the book

http://www.amazon.com/Well-Balanced-Child-Movement-Learning/dp/1903458633

I loved something written in the forward by Harold N Levinson, MD. " Science progresses not by convincing the adherents of old theories that they are wrong but by allowing enough time to pass so that a new generation can arise unencumbered by the old errors" Nobel Physicist Max Plank

The forward talks about why it has taken so long to put together this information for learning disabilities! I think of RDI with this too, that the Science community ( some of them anyway) are resistant to anything that is different then what they know! Change is a hard concept for people to embrace!

The introduction talks about when you strip a child of his capability to cope with his environment, no amount of coaching, bribing or bullying will get him to want to do what you want! He actually becomes a larger problem. On page 2, the author states " I became fascinated at the functional impact of any stage of development.....what does each stage of child development actually do in helping to build the architecture of the brain?"

Chapter one starts the movement of a baby in their mothers womb thru birth.

Chapter two talks about balance... " the art of not moving". Balance helps our kids know where they are at in space. This chapter basically goes over the vestibular system and how our vestibular system talks to our brain. And how what we do to our vestibular system effects our balance. Then it goes into talking about how babies learn about balance, and sense of direction.

"Types of movements that help to train balance involve changes of movement in space..1. Up and down movements 2. to and fro 3. Centrifungal force- carousels 4. turning movements of the body, and 5. Depth ( riding on a scooter board) She goes into signs and symptoms that would indicate problems.....

Chapter 3 talks about the developing the mind. This chapter was the eye opener for me, as she then talks about reflexes! There are three groups of reflexes that support the child thru its first 3.5 year of life. 1. Intra Uterine reflexes 2. Primitive reflexes 3. Postural reflexes ( page 24). She talks about what they are for, and when they are supposed to end. Chapter 4 pretty much continues talking about reflexes but adds coordination and the developing mind. She goes over the Moro reflex. This was so interesting to me because I remember my SIL told me about this, when Jesse was a baby. If you let go of the top half of the baby (like you are going to drop the baby), an infants Moro reflex tells the brain to extend their arms! If this does not happen, there is something going on developmentally! She continues to talk about the Moro reflex, along with the Tonic Labyrinthine reflex, The Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, and The Symmetrical tonic neck reflex. Then she talks about the rooting and sucking reflexes, The Palmar and Plantar reflexes, the babinski reflex, and the spinal galant reflex.

As I read this information, the last few years flashed before my eyes. Why was it that my son could not grasp my hand with a good grip when holding my hand to cross the street? Why was he totally confused when he did not understand how to do a jumping jack? Why could he not chew for the first few years of his life? These answers and many more were in this chapter! And while we have worked to help my sons issues, I never understood what went wrong....until this book! After each section with each reflex, is information on how each reflex functions, and the effects of the retained reflex. Then in the back are 20 exercises to help brain and body integration! Upon reading this book so far, I can see that the program ( DVD) I purchased last year, Move to learn, mimics working on reflexes with helping the child go thru the stages. It is great to understand why the program does what it does now! Many of the things I do with Jesse I know see why it helps because this book has explained it to me. Here is the blog again with all the things I'm currently doing http://dynamicdarrowduo.blogspot.com/2008/07/neurodevelopmental-health.html

After she covers reflexes, Chapter 5 and 6 are about music and the brain. I pretty much am familiar with the information because of the Listening program. I do see how if the listening program, or anything for that manner, is done without the proper developmental prerequistes, it is not to the maximum benefit. This would be why some people may say it did not work for their child!

Still have to read Chapters 8-11...and will blog about those when I do :) Please ask me questions...... I could not of possibly covered the material in one blog for this book.....there is alot, but I can answer specific questions for members at the RDI homeschooling board and/or The Autism remediation board. Or you can just post your questions in the comments section here.