Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids » brain training for kids

5 reasons why intensive brain training may not be the answer

colleen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:00:02 +0000

Introduction

Brain training is considered to be intensive when your child is working on a brain training program 5x a week for 1 hour at a time. It can be very intensive when your child is working 1:1 with a brain training coach – in person. Brain trainers are taught to recognize when a child is stressed and will not benefit from brain training work. Why is your child unable to train intensively? This article explains 5 reasons why intensive braining training may not work for your child.

Reason #1

If your child is under constant anxiety or stress. Research shows us that your child's brain is less likely to learn when in a state of anxiety. The Franklin Institute states if your child's brain is under chronic stress, it will go into overload and the result can lead to damaged neurons. This means that your child's wiring and communication system can get damaged or negatively impacted. When this is the case, your child is less likely to handle the additional stress and overwhelm of intensive brain training.

Reason #2

If your child has a traumatic brain injury. If your child suffers from a traumatic brain injury, like my daughter, you have to be careful when you engage in brain training in an intensive manner. Since my daughter has suffered from several TBI's from her auto immune disorder, we have to wait a certain period of time to engage the brain and possible raise the stress level.

Initially, after the brain injury, your child will need to allow the brain to rest and heal itself as much as possible. You will witness your child in a state of anxiety and confusion until the brain "resets" itself and you are able to return to a baseline. At this point in time, you need to evaluate how much your child can attend without overwhelm.

The most recent attack for my daughter put her brain in a state of confusion and flux for 3.5 months. She basically slept on/off most the time and was unable to focus and retain. After the 3.5 months, she was then able to begin to process small amounts of information at a time.

We worked with her for 1-2 hours a day with breaks as needed. It has been 5 months since her last attack on her brain and I still won't engage in intensive brain training because I know her brain isn't ready yet. Instead I will use a less intensive method to achieve similar results. I will provide examples at the end of this article.

Reason #3

If your child suffers from seizures. It does depend on the type of seizures. Computer based brain training may be a trigger for some types of seizures. This is up to you and your doctor to determine if its safe for your child to engage in CBT brain training 5x a week. Your child's doctor may say it is fine but only for 3x a week for 30 minutes at a time. Seizures are often triggered by lack of sleep and stress to name a few. Your brain trainer needs to be aware of this and should not overwhelm your child in the sessions thinking they will help your child push through when they should be slowing down.

Reason #4

So far we talked about some medical reasons why intensive brain training may not be the answer. Another reason may be your child's schedule is too busy. You do not or will not make brain training a priority for your child. In this case, adding more to your child's already packed day will not be successful. Instead, you will see your child perform worse across the board because the brain can only take so much at once. I have had some families who have their child busy from 6am to 9 pm and they want some ideas of how to fit brain training into the day. It won't work …

Reason #5

The last reason would be that you want the brain training more than your child. Your child is not interested and is not trying at all. In fact, you spend most of the sessions just trying to get your child to stop arguing and do the darn program already! Your brain trainer needs to be trained in recognizing children who will not fit the program. Your brain trainer should say no to your child starting a program until they are ready. If your child is not fully engaged, brain training will not occur and no changes will take place in your child's brain.

In Closing

Intensive brain training may not be the answer for your child. The good news is that there are other options to reach similar changes in your child's brain. There are also cognitive strategies that you can use to help your child compensate and be successful. On my live interview tonight with Gerald Hughes, Cognitive Strategies Expert, we will discuss what you can do to help your child succeed.

For example, there are easy spelling strategies to help your child remember words when you are unable to brain train. You can also brain train with any of the popular brain training programs at a modified schedule. It may take your child a year to get through what some children may accomplish within 12-16 weeks. There are also some games that can be used for a little time every day over a long period time to reach success.

How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child

colleen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:23:04 +0000

I am often asked to explain what brain training means relative to helping your child be able to learn easier and more efficiently. I often find myself listing out the many benefits that your child can experience. For example, your child will be able to remember more with better imagery and recall the information faster, concepts whether imagery or auditory based will be understood, manipulated and ordered with much greater ease and organization.

Taking tests and studying will become much easier and less anxiety-driven as your child begins to transfer skills back into the classroom. Following your multi-step directions at home will be completed when asked without multiple requests to repeat the information. Your child will be able to follow along in class better and become a more active participant in the overall learning process.

Let’s not forget attending, focus and less fidgeting will be experienced. While this sounds wonderful, I do point out to parents that the joy and life-changing events do not stop there. As your child’s brain continues to dynamically change to the environment, cognitive skills and processing abilities will strengthen even more. Even though we all know that the magic pill, one-stop shopping, does not exist, brain training comes pretty close.

Why? Because, when you provide your child with a stronger foundation and capacity to learn, your child’s horizon has just expanded. Where your child may never had interest in reading before, books are now curiously interesting.

Usually, at this point in the conversation I would begin discussing the “How Can This Be Accomplished?” question. All of this wonderful changes in your child is possible because of the Theory of Neuroplasticity.

“Santiago Ramon y Cajal (a founder of modern neuroscience) expressed this theory in 1894, three years before Charles Sherrington coined the term synapse to describe the connections made between neurons. In the late 1940s the neuroplasticity model was advanced by Jerzy Konorski, who used the word plasticity to describe “permanent functional transformations,” and Donald Hebb, who ascribed testable physiologic characteristics to synaptic plasticity. However, experimental evidence that synapses are capable of long-lasting changes in synaptic strength did not come until the early 1970s, when Timothy Bliss and Terry Lomo described an increase in the synaptic strength of neurons in the mammalian hippocampus (a region of the brain critical for some forms of memory) following electrical stimulation. They termed this increase long-lasting potentiation, now referred to as long-term potentiation (LTP).” (novelguide.com, 2011)

The best part is that you can accomplish a stronger foundation and cognitive skills within 90 days in most cases. For example, I often recommend that while you are still getting “educated” on my site to start out with a home-based program that can be completed with a computer and internet connection.

BrainSkills and BrainWare Safari can begin the whole process of neuroplasticity and strengthening your child’s capacity to learn, remember and process by working the program 3x a week for 30 min. Then, if you even need more intensive brain training and help with transferring the new skills into everyday life and the classroom, you can work with me in-person.

Setting Goals with Physical Activity

colleen — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:23:34 +0000

Are you looking for a way to get your child motivated when it comes to exercise? It's difficult to keep track of your child's physical activity—or lack of it—as he gets older. One of the health content standards for middle school students is to make a personal plan to improve each child's nutrition and incorporate physical activity into his daily routine. This activity helps your child set and maintain his health goals! You'll both be surprised at the difference that setting and sticking to an exercise routine can make to his overall well-being.

What You Need:

Lined paper
Calendar template
Pen or pencil

What You Do:

Have your child write down his average Monday through Sunday schedule on a sheet of lined paper. Try to make it as detailed as possible. Start with the time he wakes up in the morning, until the time he goes to bed at night. For example, 7:00 a.m. – wake up, 7:20 a.m. – Take a shower, 7:45 a.m. – Eat breakfast, etc.
Next, take another sheet of lined paper and encourage him to come up with activities he enjoys doing that are of a moderate activity level. These activities may also include chores that are already part of his schedule. For example, washing a car, shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing the lawn, etc. Some other examples are brisk walking, jogging, jumping rope, bike riding, etc.
Then, help your child incorporate the list of activities into his daily routine. For example, instead of getting a ride to school at 8:15 a.m., he could leave earlier and ride his bike to school on Mondays. Or, instead of watching television for one hour, he could watch television for a half an hour and then briskly walk around the block for a half an hour on Tuesdays. If your child presently has very little activity in his schedule, start with having him try to incorporate at least 10 minutes of physical activity a day, to make it an attainable goal. If your child is already quite active, encourage him to incorporate about 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity per day into his schedule.
Next, print out the calendar template and fill out the month, days, and dates in the empty boxes. If you are beginning mid-month you may want to print out another calendar template.
Then, have him fill in the calendar with the type and length of physical activity per day for two weeks.
After a two week period, encourage him to analyze his progress. Did he meet his physical activity goals? How does he feel physically? Is he able to add an activity or increase the length of his activities? Or, does he need to slow down and take a step back?
Then, fill in the rest of the month based on his responses.
Finally, have your child continue to set physical activity goals and analyze his progress. This will encourage him to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will continue through adulthood!

http://www.education.com/activity/article/setting-goals-physical-activity/

P3 Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

colleen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:00:48 +0000

This week we discuss what to do if you do not know how to help your child with the subject matter causing stress. For example, with math, you may be a math wiz but your child's school is teaching math a totally different way than how you learned math. To add to this complexity, your child must show their work exactly how the teacher is teaching them.

This leaves quite a few challenges for parents, right? On one hand you are a math wiz and on the other hand, you cannot help your child due to the new math being taught in schools today.

So, here is what you can do. First watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8aW4YuFSiY&feature=related and chuckle a bit to understand it is not just you. Many parents are in the same situation. Their child is struggling but cannot be helped by a parent because the parent was not taught this method.

Next, if you are really that stuck with the new math, search youtube for your child's curriculum. The name on your child's textbook/workbook/journal will let you know what to search for on youtube. Then you can refine your search for specific concepts being taught with the new math approach.

Everyday Math Lattice Method – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y29XL99qM6s
Everyday Math Division – partial quotient method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWstA8EZr2w

If after viewing the video, the math still seems way too foreign for you, let your child take a look at the video or corresponding videos. The videos may do the trick and help your child internalize the concept and process easier.

If you still have difficulty after looking at these options, I would look for a tutor that knows your child's curriculum or your child's teacher may be able to tutor before/after school.

Remember, your child could be having math difficulty because of weak cognitive skills!

Please do yourself and your child a favor and purchase the online assessment today. You will get immediate results on the screen and understand exactly why your child is struggling with homework and what options you can take to help your child overcome the weaknesses.

Even if you do not opt to overcome the weaknesses, you will be armed with many "AH HA" moments to better manage the daily homework sessions. Stay tuned for next week's continued article on homework meltdowns and strategies to overcome them.

P3 Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

colleen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:00:48 +0000

This leaves quite a few challenges for parents, right? On one hand you are a math wiz and on the other hand, you cannot help your child due to the new math being taught in schools today.

So, here is what you can do. First watch this http://youtu.be/Vetg7vWitTU and chuckle a bit to understand it is not just you. Many parents are in the same situation. Their child is struggling but cannot be helped by a parent because the parent was not taught this method.

Everyday Math Lattice Method – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y29XL99qM6s
Everyday Math Division – partial quotient method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWstA8EZr2w

If you still have difficulty after looking at these options, I would look for a tutor that knows your child's curriculum or your child's teacher may be able to tutor before/after school.

Remember, your child could be having math difficulty because of weak cognitive skills!

Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

colleen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:00:21 +0000

Well, it is almost back-to-school for our children. Some schools will be opening doors in August across our country. Others will start after Labor Day. The one thing they all have in common is homework. For those students who do get homework, this can be the most stressful time of the day. For families dealing with these students, this can be the time of day that you wish never occurred.

Moms will find themselves up against a child that presents like an oppositional one. Moms and/or dads will raise their voices, some will challenge and yet others will flat out punish their child that presents oppositional towards homework time.

Although parents can google and find hundreds of articles about homework time. All of the articles will most likely tell you how to set up an area for your child to do homework, void of distractions, be sure to have ample supplies in this area, set up a routine for your family and most of all, have patience.

What these articles won't do is help you survive and even overcome the horrid homework sessions. In fact, homework sessions will become independent and fun. Does that sound like a dream to you?

We will begin exploring homework sessions, why they are challenging for some and down right avoided – at all costs – by others. You will begin to understand and even manage your child's homework sessions to eventually lend to overcoming them.

Let's begin. This is week 1 of several week's of pertinent information that will help you, as a parent, take more responsibility towards your child's learning and homework.

For those parents in desperate need of surviving homework sessions, I want to give you some compensatory strategies to keep you moving forward and getting the homework sessions completed while you are learning how to overcome them.

Step 1: When your child begins to avoid homework and procrastinates in starting the homework until the very last possible moment, you need to understand that there is a real reason other than avoidance of homework at play here. Unless your child is perfectly fine, even gifted, and is bored with homework, your child is most likely avoiding it because it is difficult.

For now, your end goal as a parent is to get the homework completed with as little stress as possible while gathering as much information from your child as possible. You will become a detective, skilled at observing your child's mannerisms and responses when working through homework together.

For students that are older and refuse to even allow you to observe, you need to negotiate with them to get your answers. Literally offer them a free pass at something in return for writing you a list of 10 things or less that you hate about doing homework. If you get this much from them, you are off to a great start!

For younger students who will gladly let you sit with them or at least observe them attempting homework, your job is to observe and watch for the following behaviors:

For math homework
- observe if the homework is on a worksheet or in a workbook
- observe how many equations/problems are on one page
- observe when your child's frustrations start —
  - does your child get frustrated when the page is presented?
  - does your child get frustrated after starting on the page of work?
  - does your child get frustrated while involved in showing the work to solve the problem?
  - does your child get frustrated if you begin to "talk" them through the problem?
  - does your child only get frustrated on word problems (maybe trying to read/understand them)?
- For managing the frustration - observe any change in your child's behavior when you
  - only show one equation at a time by covering up the page with extra piece of paper
  - use a whiteboard to actively engage your child to solve the problem using a marker and eraser (its like playing but uses different cognitive skills)
  - use manipulative to actively engage the solving of the problem (helps your child visualize what the problem is asking)
  - use a number line on the table for those students who have not mastered number facts yet (alleviates memory and/or processing speed weaknesses)
  - provide your child with down time during the homework session (allow your child to work for 10 minutes, if possible and then break for 10 min)
For spelling homework
- observe if the spelling words are on a worksheet, word ring or in a textbook
- observe how many words your child is being requested to memorize and spell
- observe when your child's frustrations start–
  - does your child get frustrated when you start "asking" how to spell a word?
  - does your child get frustrated when looking at the list of words to remember?
  - does your child get frustrated when trying to "verbalize" the spelling of the words?
  - does your child get frustrated when "listening" to you read words and often asks you to repeat them?
  - does your child get frustrated when having to "write" the spelling words on paper?
- For managing the frustration- observe any change in your child's behavior when you
  - only show one word at a time by covering up all the other words on the page using an extra piece of paper
  - use a whiteboard to engage and play a game — play hangman, for example using the spelling words
  - use index cards and make 2 cards of the same word. let your child play matching game
  - use a computer and have your child type the correct spelling of the words
  - have your child close their eyes and use skywriting – they use their finger and point to each letter in the sky in the word in the correct order as they spell the word.
  - have your child use different colored ink for each letter of the word when writing it on paper (if allowed by teacher)
  - have your child throw a ball to you as they spell the word out loud

Just understand as a parent, there are many ways that you can manage the homework session successfully while improving your relationship with your child, too. Once you can find a way to lessen the frustration, stick with that approach for now. The homework gets done correctly and neatly while the two of you are having a blast.

It is a matter of knowing what to do and what not do under certain circumstances. It is also very important to understand what weak skills your child is suffering from so you are well prepared before homework sessions resume for the upcoming school year.

What To Do If Your Child’s Teacher Suggests ADHD

colleen — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:04:51 +0000

ADHD is an illness that is diagnosed mainly in children. There isn’t a test that you can give a child to physically diagnose it, but there are behaviors that trigger one to think that’s what it is.

There are times when a child is diagnosed with ADHD or ADD and it’s incorrect. It’s possible they have a learning problem and that is leading the teacher to think it’s ADHD instead.

Since there isn’t a real way to test this, it’s hard to say that’s what the problem is, but it could be the problem. The best way to make this decision is to take your child to a psychiatrist and let them evaluate them.

You should also have your child go through a physical exam through a healthcare professional. This process will take some time as the psychiatrist may order tests to help them determine the correct diagnosis.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you have to decide what to do to handle this problem.

There are medications you can use, but there are other treatments you can use as well.

Course, if your child is medically diagnosed, this is your only option. Non-medication treatments include brain training, change in diet, change in activities, and a change in how the child is treated.

The teacher will need to help your child get through this difficult time in their life. It doesn’t matter if you choose to place your child on medications or if you choose the natural route, they’ll need to be included in the process.

The teachers will need to change the way they teacher your child. When they do this your child will learn better and they will start to overcome the challenges that they are currently facing.

Studies show the best thing to do with your child’s learning is to break it down into small pieces. When they don’t have the entire thing to look at they won’t feel so stressed.

They will understand things better when the teacher shows them step by step in small pieces. They will be make sure they understand the current step before moving on to the next.

Routines are also very important for children with ADHD. When things are the same day after day they won’t have to think about it so much.

They’ll get to a point where it will become second nature to them and they will remember what needs to be done and how to do it. If a routine changes, remember that your child will struggle with it so you’ll need to help them through it until it goes back to normal or until they get used to the changes.

It’s also important that you encourage your child every step of the way. Praising them when they are successful and helping them when they don’t understand will be huge. You don’t want to discipline your child when they don’t get it because that will only make things worse.

There are many other things that will cause problems when it comes to your child learning and moving through this disability. Things like distracting children, assignments that require group interaction, and things hanging on the walls in the classroom can cause issues with these children. Your child’s teacher will have to accommodate him in whatever way is possible.

No matter what disability your child has, dealing with it is the important thing and it’s something that must be done as soon as possible. There are many things that are common between ADHD and other disorders. This article will help you to decide if your child needs to be tested for ADHD.

What To Do If Your Child's Teacher Suggests ADHD

colleen — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:04:51 +0000

There are times when a child is diagnosed with ADHD or ADD and it’s incorrect. It’s possible they have a learning problem and that is leading the teacher to think it’s ADHD instead.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you have to decide what to do to handle this problem.

There are medications you can use, but there are other treatments you can use as well.

The teachers will need to change the way they teacher your child. When they do this your child will learn better and they will start to overcome the challenges that they are currently facing.

Studies show the best thing to do with your child’s learning is to break it down into small pieces. When they don’t have the entire thing to look at they won’t feel so stressed.

They will understand things better when the teacher shows them step by step in small pieces. They will be make sure they understand the current step before moving on to the next.

Routines are also very important for children with ADHD. When things are the same day after day they won’t have to think about it so much.

Colleen Bain, M.A. Awarded Industry Expert for 2010 by Who’s Who of Cambridge

colleen — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:33:56 +0000

Colleen Bain, M.A. was Awarded Industry Expert for 2010 on May 10, 2010 by Who's Who of Cambridge. She won the exemplary honor of being the one person in the field of Education – Specifically within Brain Training (Neuroplasticity) working with children. An Official Press Release is forthcoming.

Colleen dedicates this award to her family, her husband, Thomas who has supported her efforts and continues to do so when times are tough realizing the importance of her work for children around the country and the school systems. She gives special thanks in forms of hugs and kisses to her two children, Shannon and Sean. Both have been the driving force behind her business and advocacy efforts of neuroplasticity.

A very special thank you goes out to all of the families that have entrusted their child with Colleen's expertise. With their help, together, they have changed many lives.

Mrs. Bain will be highlighted on a special website honoring her achievements and successes. She will also have a full chapter dedicated to her lifelong passion of working with children and families in assisting children enhance their ability to learn easier and more efficiently. Her chapter will discuss her journey, discussing how she became who she is today, her Student Transformation System and her recent efforts towards creation of a Student Transformation Certificaction Program to help others who share her passion become independent brain trainers using some of the top brain training tools on the market.

Published by Cambridge Who’s Who Publishing, Inc., the Top 101 Industry Experts book features biographical information and exclusive interviews with prominent Cambridge Who’s Who members. Selected from more than 400,000 executives, professionals and entrepreneurs, these exemplary leaders stay at the top of their fields by possessing unique experience and wisdom, all the while exhibiting innovation in their work.

Categorized into 20 industries and 113 individualized fields, each chapter conveys the objectives and triumphs these experts have achieved to earn success. While people become experts for many reasons (due to mastery over their work or after years spent cultivating the solution to a problem, for instance), it is not clear at what point a layman becomes an expert. This abstract concept of expertise is explored in detail in many of the interviews. Each offers tangible advice on getting ahead in your field.To explore Top 101 Industry Experts, click here to read the foreward, introduction and browse a few chapters of the book.

For more information about the Cambridge Who’s Who members who were selected to appear in Top 101 Industry Experts, click here.

Colleen Bain, M.A. Awarded Industry Expert for 2010 by Who's Who of Cambridge

colleen — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:33:56 +0000

A very special thank you goes out to all of the families that have entrusted their child with Colleen's expertise. With their help, together, they have changed many lives.

Published by Cambridge Who’s Who Publishing, Inc., the Top 101 Industry Experts book features biographical information and exclusive interviews with prominent Cambridge Who’s Who members. Selected from more than 400,000 executives, professionals and entrepreneurs, these exemplary leaders stay at the top of their fields by possessing unique experience and wisdom, all the while exhibiting innovation in their work.

Categorized into 20 industries and 113 individualized fields, each chapter conveys the objectives and triumphs these experts have achieved to earn success. While people become experts for many reasons (due to mastery over their work or after years spent cultivating the solution to a problem, for instance), it is not clear at what point a layman becomes an expert. This abstract concept of expertise is explored in detail in many of the interviews. Each offers tangible advice on getting ahead in your field.To explore Top 101 Industry Experts, click here to read the foreward, introduction and browse a few chapters of the book.

For more information about the Cambridge Who’s Who members who were selected to appear in Top 101 Industry Experts, click here.

Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids » brain training for kids

5 reasons why intensive brain training may not be the answer

Introduction

Reason #1

Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4

Reason #5

In Closing

Related Posts:

How Enhanced Learning Skills for Kids Can Help Your Child

Related Posts:

Setting Goals with Physical Activity

What You Need:

What You Do:

Related Posts:

P3 Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

Related Posts:

P3 Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

Related Posts:

Back-to-School Homework Meltdowns and How to Overcome Them

Related Posts:

What To Do If Your Child’s Teacher Suggests ADHD

Related Posts:

What To Do If Your Child's Teacher Suggests ADHD

Related Posts:

Colleen Bain, M.A. Awarded Industry Expert for 2010 by Who’s Who of Cambridge

Related Posts:

Colleen Bain, M.A. Awarded Industry Expert for 2010 by Who's Who of Cambridge

Related Posts: