Child development programmes
There are a number of child development styles or programmes, some of the most well known ones being:
Montessori Method – founded by Dr. Maria Montessori
Language workshop for Children – founded by Francois Thibaut.
Doman Method – founded by Glenn Doman.
Shichida Method™ – founded by Professor Makoto Shichida.
Brain Gym® – which grew out of studies by Paul E Dennison Ph.D.
There are also some very useful prenatal education book resources:
While You are expecting..Your Own prenatal Classroom – written by F. Rene Van de Carr, M.D and Marc Lehrer, Ph.D. buy this book
Super Baby – written by Dr. Sarah Brewer
These programmes have associated reference information (link shop) and many have developed educational establishments.
Right brain vs. left brain development
Before we describe the programmes above it is worth also discussing the concepts of right brain verses left brain development and abilities.
The left and right hemispheres of the brain have different capabilities. It has been known for a long period that functionally in mammals these hemispheres are connected to opposite sides of the body, the right brain controls action and sensation on the left side of the body and the left brain action and sensation on the right side of the body. But it was not until the 1960’s that the different roles were further identified.
The left brain is now often referred to as the “language brain” it deals more with conscious thought; thinking is typically rational, analytical, logical, sequential and objective. It takes in information slowly and likes repetition. Most traditional education systems are left brain biased.
The right brain is now often referred to as the “image brain”, dealing more with unconscious thought; thinking is random, holistic, intuitive and subjective. It takes in information quickly and requires no repetition. It also has the ability to retain complete images of things rather than individual facts.
So presenting information slowly and repetitively exercises the left brain whilst presenting information rapidly often in the form of images develops the right brain.
Babies are born right brain dominant hence their intuitive abilities to grasp things quickly and with such ease. As the baby develops the left brain becomes more dominant and unless the right brain is stimulated it becomes increasingly more difficult to bring forward the abilities of the right brain.
There is a window of opportunity before the age of six because it is around this time that the left brain becomes more dominant than the right brain thus suppressing its activities. This potentially limits an increased capacity for creativity and inspirational thought.
Most traditional education systems are left brain biased because they focus on the acquisition of knowledge through logical and analytical strategies but right brain development requires a more holistic approach towards promoting creativity and free intuitive thought processes.
More information on right brain development.
The programmes:
The Montessori Method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori through direct observation of children. It is not just a system for training children in academic studies; it is a method of observing and supporting the natural development of children that covers many aspects of their development not just education. She believed that each child is born with a unique potential that has to be revealed: “education is a natural process carried out by the individual not by listening but by experiences”.
Montessori revealed to the world that a child has an absorbent mind from birth through to about six years of age. She divides the absorbent mind into two phases; in the first phase (infancy to pre-school – about three years of age) the child's mind functions at the unconscious level, in the second phase, or preschool stage, we see the mind as functioning largely from the subconscious level. Before the age of six a child is learning mainly from direct contact with the environment, it is a time when all things are possible.
The unconscious mind of the child will absorb any amount of information it is provided with and will do so without a single thought to discriminate or attempt to screen the data, as to the content and value of the information. It has vast space with which to take in, or absorb, an inconceivable amount of data. She stated that three years of age was too late to support the work and development of children.
The system or methodology used is quite unique and has the basis in continually adapting the environment in order that the child may fulfil his or her greatest potential; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Children are allowed to follow their own individual interests and learn through their own open-ended work or research rather than being led by a teacher. The method encourages them to learn to find answers for themselves.
Experienced practitioners usually teach the Montessori Methodology; there are a large number of Montessori schools and accredited courses worldwide. The programmes are geared to ages from 0 to 18 years of age.
For information on implementing Montessori philosophy at home, from birth to three, go to: http://www.montessori.edu/AtoI.html Montessori Assistants to Infancy
The Language Workshop for Children has been running classes developed by Dr Francois Thibaut, since 1973, that are designed to assist in the learning of multiple languages through educational play. Students are exposed to language through structured play with words, phrases and songs.
Thibaut believes that babies can recognise language as early as 4 months and that between the ages of about 6 to 9 months, they begin comprehending. By the 12th month, they start repeating words that they have heard. He says “The first three years are critical to developing the intellectual potential a youngster carries for life."
He has nine schools around the East Coast of America that have workshops for children from 6 months to 9 years old and offer courses in Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese.
The key to Thibaut’s method is to present the material in two main ways:
- In the form of a background, by playing music/song/language tapes while they are busy with other activities
- In the form of play, as lively fun activities using puppets, music videos, flashcards, song and dance.
From birth babies have to learn a new language from scratch so why not learn another one?
If you do not know a foreign language you can start your own home library containing a variety of language tapes, videos, cassettes or CD’s. Buy singalong music CD's.
The Doman Method came about through the endeavours of Glenn Doman and Carl Delacato who, over 40 years ago, developed an approach to improving the health of children with brain injury. From this developed an organisation The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential.
Although Doman developed programmes for brain-injured children, in the context that we are describing, the Doman Method is the accelerated development and learning capacity of ‘normal’ children. Doman pioneered these programmes for accelerated learning; these techniques are well recognised and well used and emulated in many early learning programmes worldwide. This system primarily uses images and flashcards to increase learning potential and in developing skills for reading, maths and encyclopaedic knowledge. They could be termed as left brain learning techniques as they rely on the repetitive exposure to different stimuli.
Glenn and Janet Doman have written a number of books, since 1964, that distill the knowledge that they have gained into practical home programmes. They propose that what children learn without any conscious effort at two, three or four years of age can only be learned with great effort, or may not be learned at all, in later life. This reinforces a body of opinion that the earlier these programmes are started the better.
Their objective is: “to give all parents the knowledge required to make highly intelligent, extremely capable, and delightful children, and, by so doing, to make a highly humane, sane and decent world.”
The Shichida Method™ grew from research undertaken since 1951 by Professor Makoto Shichida on education methods used with preschool children. Shichida’s philosophy is one of nurturing the child’s ability rather than focusing on educational goals. The Shichida Methodä believes in not over-emphasizing knowledge but sees the cultivation of the child’s ability to learn on his own is of utmost importance. The objective is to develop well-balanced, intellectually and emotionally well-developed children that have a good moral outlook; within this development process the relationship between parents and children is very important, love is a key ingredient!
His methods also promote Taikyo (prenatal training), breastfeeding and good nutrition; a more holistic approach to child development.
The Shichida Method™ focuses in some aspects on right brain development to promote a whole-brain approach towards learning, using imaging techniques and rapid presentation of materials to stimulate the right brain. Shichida says that presenting large amounts of information at a fast pace to infants, toddlers and preschoolers stimulates the right brain and can activate photographic memory.
These methods need to be taught by experienced practitioners, there are Shichida certified schools in Japan, America, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
The Brain Gym® programme was developed by Dr. Paul Dennison and Gail E. Dennison.
They drew on a large body of research by developmental specialists who had been experimenting with using physical movement to enhance learning ability; developing the brain's neural pathways naturally through movement. It uses a programme of 26 targeted physical movements that makes brain body connections designed to bring about improvements in: concentration, memory, reading, writing, organising, listening, physical coordination, and more.
Their programme of movements produced an innovative new approach to learning: the Brain Gym® activities, and the field known as Education Kinesiology (Edu-K), “learning through movement.”
Brain Gym® is used in more than 80 countries and is taught in thousands of public and private schools worldwide and in corporate, performing arts, and athletic training programmes.
Brain Gym® is a programme of physical activities that can be used by anyone, they are best learned when taught by a licensed Brain Gym® Instructor or Consultant but a book is available that will provide basic information and illustrations of each of the 26 movements.
Book resources:
While You are expecting..Your Own prenatal Classroom written by F. Rene Van de Carr, M.D and Marc Lehrer Ph.D is a roadmap for stimulation of your child while you are pregnant; covering healthy hints for pregnancy and a range of activities to promote learning and bonding within your preborn baby. Buy this book.
Super Baby is a good reference guide on how to boost your baby’s intelligence; written by Dr. Sarah Brewer. It covers such topics as nutrition and brain development with suggested activities to undertake during pregnancy and after birth.
Unfortunately this book is no longer in print, contact us and we will try to get a 2nd hand copy. contact@from-little-acorns.com
Conclusion
There are many methodologies, but what is clear is that children can and should follow some form of development programme from birth. They have an extraordinary capacity and need to learn.
Instead of immersing yourself for a long period of time in the study of each of these programmes you can construct your own programme tailoured to suit you and your baby, during pregnancy, prenatal learning and after birth, early learning from birth.
Finding out what works best for you and your child may take some experimentation, but just remember that the most important thing that you can give your child is a loving, caring, safe environment.
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