Neural Connections

I am fascinated by neural connections. In fact, the human brain is an amazing creation that never ceases to amaze me. As a mother and teacher, knowing what's going on in my kids' heads and in my own head, for that matter, helps me to understand the "why" and "how" of our personalities.

Knowing about the brain also keeps me motivated to make each minute in my kids' lives as well as my own life, meaningful and challenging. Neural connections are stimulated, expanded, and strengthened when we take part in activities that challenge our brains. This neural activity continues throughout our lifetime, which is why we should never think it's too late to learn a new skill. But the most pronounced opportunities for strengthening and growth are between the ages of 2 and 11! Can you see why parenting and teaching are among the most important jobs on this planet?

Here is another interesting tidbit for you to chew on: When children enjoy what they're doing, they're more apt to devote more time to it. We always need to be looking for ways to make learning (school time) fun.

Believe it or not, playing, which encourages creativity, is one of the best brain exercises. As parents we need to create and environment where creative thinking flourishes. When kids are actively engaged in playing, their connections get stronger. Every time they are successful, their motivation to learn is further enhanced. This is mostly made possible by a cool, "feel good" hormone called Dopamine.

More about Dopamine later! ;-)