Teenager's Brains

It's official - my husband is well on the way to going grey! Now that his 17-year-old daughter Sam is living with us, he is getting a full blown taster of parenting a teenager - and he is fretting like mad!

I think it's lovely to see how protective he is, and Sam appreciates it too - she loves that he cares about her so much.

But it's a difficult time for both of them - at 17, Sam needs to experiment with pulling away and dealing with problems and dilemmas (like how late to stay out on a Friday night when, unlike her friends, she has to work on Saturday morning!) - but at the same time she needs a lot of love and support.

The fact is that teenagers' brains don't function yet like those of adults, and I found a fascinating article that helps with some insight into that (see header link).

I've printed it off for hubbie to read - it might not stop his hair going grey, but trying to understand the Teenage Brain is a wonderful challenge for him!

And on that subject, my darling step-daughter has a lot to learn about teen sleep hygiene! :)

Cassie

Forgetfulness is OK

I have noticed that ever since I have I have entered my forties I have become much more forgetful. My memory definitely is not what it used to be and I am constantly misplacing my mail key and important papers that I put in a special place so I can find them but can't seem to remember where exactly the special place is. I am sure we all have fears that our memory is going slowly but surely and it is just a part of getting older but according to a recent study being a bit forgetful actually means your brain is working properly. The article states " the brain only chooses to remember memories it thinks are most relevant and suppresses those that are similar but less used helping to lessen the cognitive load and prevent confusion."

If you want to read how they came to this conclusion here is the article

So maybe being a bit forgetful is not all bad after all. :-)

Happy Thursday Everyone

Monicka

The controversial "Mozart Effect"

The "Mozart Effect" is a term used to describe the positive effect that music - in particular some of Mozart's compositions - may have on learning.

There's a lot of debate and controversy surrounding this topic, and having looked at both sides of the argument I think that people are arguing simply because certain researchers are trying to make hyped-up claims and producing flawed experiments. For instance, one study found that rats learned to complete a maze more rapidly if they had been exposed to Mozart music in the womb and as babies (1). The researches then drew the radical conclusion from this experiment that the music had a direct effect on the structure of the brain. They then strongly advocated using music in schools to improve math grades.

Other writers seek to disprove the effect, and they too come up with compelling negatory evidence. (2)

I prefer to take a much more pragmatic approach! Certainly music can be beneficial in lots of ways. Whether or not it can actually "re-wire" our kids' brains to perform mathematical calculations more easily, there are certainly fun and useful ways we can use music in our lives and the lives of our children to enhance their mood, and we'll be investigating some simple steps you can take in the KidsGoals newsletter very soon!

Cyberhugs,

Cassie

References:
(1) Rauscher, Robinson and Jens (1998)
(2) For example K. M. Steele (2003)

Appreciating your child's learning style

We all have a different learning style. Some of us are very logical thinkers, and thrive on lists and numbered tables - I'm a bit like that myself. Others are more artistically inclined and might naturally like to use lots of color when learning.

To help your child learn, encourage him to incorporate as many different senses into his study as possible. If he naturally makes lists, suggest colored pens to make the lists brighter and more welcoming.

Encourage humor! Laughing and enjoying learning help things sink into the brain.

Some kids are great listeners - if so, tell your child a story about what you want to teach him.

Other kids learn better visually and will want to see you draw something or point at pictures in a book when you are showing them.

Appreciate your child's learning style and marvel at your wonderful little person and his amazing brain!

Happy Parenting,

Cassie