Epigenetics, as opposed to genetics, play a bigger role here. Epigenetics are the external influences promoting gene expression or suppression. Although there may be a small chance a parent suffering from major depression passes this on to their child, the child’s mood and behavior is shaped more by the narrative and habits they are exposed to.
Read MoreOne common biological barricade is the presence of the STNR or Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, a retained transitional reflex common to many children with developmental and mental health disorders.
Read MoreVideo games are like “empty” calories. They don’t add positive value. Just like junk food, video games harm proportional to the regularity of indulgence. And just like junk food, video games replace something better. What is better? Almost everything else.
Read MoreRarely are you going to solve a child’s sensory motor skill problem, attention problem, self-regulation problem or mood problem with your box of standardized assessments, participation in meetings or completion of paperwork.
Read MoreOne of the most neglected sensory organs is our skin…it’s also the largest sense organ. For some children with sensory processing challenges, not having enough input to their skin is the problem, but we don’t always address the root cause, so the resultant “issues” persist.
Read MoreThe beginning of this new decade comes with challenges AND endless possibilities. On my last scheduled, out of the home office, workday of 2019 this became clearer to me.
Read MoreElectronics are here to stay, so how do we navigate in a world with so many distractions for us and for our even more vulnerable children? Cell phones, I-pads, laptop computers and video game consoles have made instant gratification and constant release of dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain) easy to achieve and addictive.
Read MoreSelf-regulation is a term we use most often working with children who lack this skill. For instance, “Sally can’t self-regulate enough to stay seated during math class”, or “Johnny can’t control his emotions, so when he gets to a test question he can’t answer he gets so upset he can’t finish the rest of the test”, and “Jimmy can’t keep his hands to himself on the playground, he keeps pushing and hitting kids when they get too close to him”.
Read MoreI have never met Desi. I know of Desi through her maternal grandmother. She and I were in the same Feldenkrais Training program many moons ago in Santa Fe, NM. I say this so the reader understands I did no physical work with Desi. Desi’s amazing progress came about, because her family were resourceful, took the initiative to try alternative methods and did the work despite not having any definitive test results nor formal diagnosis. The family continues to provide Desi with every opportunity to learn, explore and move.
Read MorePoor digestion, slow elimination and food sensitivities often go hand-in-hand with a diagnosis of a Brain-Based Disorder (BBD). Colic in infancy, unexplained rashes of early childhood, ongoing constipation, fear of pooping and poor self-regulation can be traced back to gut issues and are typically more common in children with other behavioral, sensory and learning difficulties.
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