Attention to change: the brain, behavior and self-perception

3pm - 4pm, Deborah McNelis, Brain Insights, New Berlin, WI

This workshop was packed - very good information about babies brain development and the importance of positive reinforcement vs. focusing on negative behaviors.

90% of babies brain develops during preschool years - 85% by age of 3
Development experience dependent - loving interaction and Play develops baby's brain
Brain adapts to the environment - lack of experiences literally results in smaller brain size - it will adapt to negative experiences as readily as it will adopt to a positive one
Brain prunes or gets rid of connections that haven't been used a lot and forms myelin sheaths on connections to transmit information more quickly = hardwiring the brain
Pathways are developed but can also branch out and leave pathways - can change in a postitive way (child can recover from a bad experience)
Brain can always change and make new pathways - plasticity
Repetitive experiences changes a child's life - learning

The presenters second half of the workshop sort of jumped ahead in a child's life and focused on parenting behaviors and how they affecting a child's self perception. Basically she said that a child's self perception was based on transferance from their parent's perception. She hoped that a parent would focus on the responsible or positive behaviors of a child: tell the child when you notice responsible behavior. Much attention is given to when a child does not do something - leaves clothes on floor, doesn't brush teeth, etc. and they will perpetuate negative behaviors. She stressed keeping track of good behaviors; using a positive tone of voice and providing encouragement vs. focusing on the negative to foster a child's self esteem.