Enriching the Brain

As teachers, we have little to say about the sleeping and eating habits of our students, yet we are responsible for "Enriching their brains". More often than not, we are asked to work with something that is busy trying to 'hang on' for dear life.

The child's brain is capable of compensating for what it lacks. But is compensating what a child should be doing? The brain should be gathering and growing. Enriching a brain somewhat implies that we are adding to, going over and above, the fertile soil of the child's brain.

Unfortunately, children come to lessons in need and struggling, despite the fact that they are dressed adorably and get a reward after lessons.

What basics should be place when we begin our enrichment?

SLEEP

Children need a full night's sleep. They need to be "up the wooden hill" early.

Adolescence need more sleep than the little ones, if that is possible. They are criticized for being lazy, undisciplined, and unmotivated. But they are suffering from neglect.

The culprits?
Part time work? no
Going to bed late? no
A multitude of classes and extra curricular activities? no

The culprit is puberty.

Sleep experts have found that adolescence brings with it an accumulation of extra hormones, one of which creates drowsiness and establishes an internal clock, requiring a bedtime of about midnight and a waking time of about 8:00. The few hours just before waking are essential for repair and memory. It is suggested that during the REM sleep the brain rehearses what it has recently learned. To wake them early for school deprives the brain of time to repair tissue.

FOOD

Kids need complex carbohydrates, fruits, unsaturated fats, vegetables, protein, and yes...sugars.

For the impulse to travel through the brain, the brain uses sugars to help jump the gaps (synapses). It has been discovered that if a somewhat distracted and anxious child takes a bit of sugar, the brain impulse, that was short circuiting and struggling to move on (creating the anxious behavior), now has what it needs to move along.

I once suggested the sugar thing to a parent. Just give them a tiny piece of candy if they seem to lack control of their focus. The mom was, unfortunately, a chocoholic and ate large amounts of chocolate with this new found license to indulge. The child followed her role model and seizured. Self discipline and moderation are key.

DRINKING WATER

If water is available in the teaching area, the student's body actually feels less stressed. It sounds crazy, but the brain is largely made up of water and dehydration is seen quickly in brain responses. It causes lethargy and inattentiveness.

STRESS

Stress reduces learning.

So get rid of the stressors FIRST

Here are a few.

Threats are stressors. Purge them from your teaching and life if possible.

• embarrassment and discomfort
• finger-pointing
• blameshifting
• accusations
• unrealistic deadlines
• humiliation
• self-consciousness sarcasm
• mocking bullying
• blaming, bossiness

Be sure that no other students are bringing these negatives into your studio.