"Parenting Evolution is Societal Evolution."
Robin Grille
Robin Grille
Parenting Evolution is us, it is you and me.
It's us following nature's child-rearing classic, "The Child’s Biology".
It's us matching our nurturing to the child's biological and emotional needs.
It’s us striving for a better ways to handle ourselves when the heat is on.
Parental evolution and societal evolution both begin in the heart.
We are the key to our children's happiness ~ no pressure.
We know a lot about the importance of the first thousand days in a child's life starting at conception thanks to very sophisticated 'research technology'. We the parents are the biggest influence on the actual cellular growth of our babies bodies and brains.
We know a lot about the importance of the first thousand days in a child's life starting at conception thanks to very sophisticated 'research technology'. We the parents are the biggest influence on the actual cellular growth of our babies bodies and brains.
Robin Grille states, "The human brain and heart that are met primarily with empathy in the critical early years cannot and will not grow to choose a violent or selfish life.”
What changes the structure and function of a child's brain?
1. A bonded secure attachment with the mother (or whoever stands in for her) which is the child's safe anchor in the big unknown world. This is fundamental to healthy brain development - and therefor all development. With this person as her anchor, the child extends her trust out to others, yet always returning to the 'trusted adult' with whom they have the 'this-feels-like-home-bond'.
2. The quality of care the child receives from her 'trusted adult'. If you think you're all good with #2, please take the quiz at the bottom of this page.
3. Stress affects brain growth badly. The three most common stressors are leaving a baby to cry it out, separation from the trusted adult, and childcare.
4. Over the last 30 years parents have come to believe it is 'normal' to put your baby into care. It is not even close to normal to have large numbers of children all the same age in a group. That's why home based care is a very good option. Here in New Zealand, the home-based group is never going to be greater than four. If you have to choose childcare, look for a centre that does primary care giving. This is your one major clue that the teachers there know that the bonded relationship is central to healthy unfolding and brain growth of babies and children.
5. Screens. The bad news is the younger the child, the greater the damage from time in front of a screen. Research shows us that the human brain does not grow in front of a screen. Encephalograms show the brain activity in people watching a screen reads close to brain dead. Hours in front of a screen are hours the child misses out on the activities that unfold their intelligences, naturally. Children need to
What changes the structure and function of a child's brain?
1. A bonded secure attachment with the mother (or whoever stands in for her) which is the child's safe anchor in the big unknown world. This is fundamental to healthy brain development - and therefor all development. With this person as her anchor, the child extends her trust out to others, yet always returning to the 'trusted adult' with whom they have the 'this-feels-like-home-bond'.
2. The quality of care the child receives from her 'trusted adult'. If you think you're all good with #2, please take the quiz at the bottom of this page.
3. Stress affects brain growth badly. The three most common stressors are leaving a baby to cry it out, separation from the trusted adult, and childcare.
4. Over the last 30 years parents have come to believe it is 'normal' to put your baby into care. It is not even close to normal to have large numbers of children all the same age in a group. That's why home based care is a very good option. Here in New Zealand, the home-based group is never going to be greater than four. If you have to choose childcare, look for a centre that does primary care giving. This is your one major clue that the teachers there know that the bonded relationship is central to healthy unfolding and brain growth of babies and children.
5. Screens. The bad news is the younger the child, the greater the damage from time in front of a screen. Research shows us that the human brain does not grow in front of a screen. Encephalograms show the brain activity in people watching a screen reads close to brain dead. Hours in front of a screen are hours the child misses out on the activities that unfold their intelligences, naturally. Children need to
- move, jump, dance, balance, do flips - because movement physically grows the brain
- problem solve as they play in the real three dimensional world
- perfect the physical skills that unfold their multiple intelligences.
Here's to our future of united efforts to make it better for our babies and toddlers, at home and in care.
Image: Theodore Robinson 'Mother and Child by the Hearth'
Image: Theodore Robinson 'Mother and Child by the Hearth'
e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e h e a d a n d t h e h e a r t
