Neurobics Kids

Why Is My Child Toe-Walking? Should I Be Concerned? 👣

🚼 First things first, toe walking is a common behaviour in children under the age of 2yo. However, if your child continues to toe-walk beyond this age, it's worth exploring further. 💡💙

Why is toe-walking not good? 🚫

Toe-walking can impact your child's development in several ways. It may affect their balance, coordination, muscle strength, & even hinder their participation in daily activities. Addressing the underlying causes can pave the way for healthy growth and motor skills! 💪✨

🔍 Possible explanations for toe-walking: Here's the scoop! 🤔💙

1️⃣ Visual-Vestibular: Our visual and vestibular systems influence how we perceive movement and balance. Visual-vestibular issues might make toe walking more comfortable for some children. 🌈

2️⃣ Sensory Sensitivities: Sensory processing differences can play a role in toe walking. The vestibular system, responsible for body awareness, and proprioception, the sense of body position, might be influencing their gait. 🧠💫

3️⃣ Touch: Some children may experience discomfort with tactile sensations. Toe walking can minimize the contact of the feet with the ground, relieving any sensory sensitivities they might have. 🖐️🌟

4️⃣ Low Tone and Misalignment: Weak abdominal muscles and misalignments can contribute to toe walking. Children with low muscle tone may rely on toe walking for stability during movement. It's important to address these underlying factors. 💪💙

5️⃣ Tight Calf Muscles: Tight calf muscles can affect the range of motion in the ankle joint, leading to toe walking. Stretching exercises and targeted interventions can help improve muscle flexibility. 🦵💪

6️⃣ Tight Achilles Tendon: A tight Achilles tendon can limit ankle movement and contribute to toe walking. Stretching and therapeutic techniques can help loosen the tendon and promote a more natural gait. 🦵💫

⚠️ Warning: Toe walking is commonly observed in children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Asperger's. Sensory sensitivities and poor vestibular function are prevalent in these conditions. If you’re concerned speak to a professional 💙

🌞 Get that movement IN this summer! 🏃🏻‍♀️🌿

Movement improves regulation and promotes brain growth!

Here are these 3 ways more movement can help your family:

1️⃣ Sensory input for a balanced day! Movement provides essential sensory input that helps regulate our nervous system throughout the day. Whether it's walking or playing sports, engaging in physical activities stimulates our senses and promotes sensory integration. It allows us to feel grounded, focused, and connected to the world around us. Let movement be your sensory superpower! 🌈🧠💪

2️⃣ Elevate brain growth through movement! When we engage in exercise, our brain is ignited with activity. This not only triggers the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) but also enhances neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new connections and grow. Movement nourishes our brain cells, improves cognitive function, and enhances learning and memory. Let movement be the fertilizer for your growing brain! 🌱🧠✨

3️⃣ Regulation for a harmonious life! Regular movement plays a crucial role in regulating our emotions, behaviour, and overall well-being. It helps reduce stress, anxiety, and restlessness by promoting the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Movement acts as a natural outlet for energy, allowing us to find balance and harmony within ourselves. Let movement be your secret to emotional regulation! 😌💖💪

This summer, embrace the power of movement to nourish your brain, regulate your emotions, and thrive!

Let sensory input and the joy of movement be your guiding forces towards a vibrant and balanced day! 🌞🌿💃

Parents, have you ever wondered why simple tasks like putting on shoes or brushing teeth can sometimes trigger meltdowns in your child?

Or why they seem to need help with tasks that you’re pretty sure they CAN DO FOR THEMSELVES?🤨🤨🤨

It’s called cumulative nervous system activation- let’s try and understand this using the sensory cup analogy: 🥤 🧠

Imagine your child's sensory system as a cup. 🥤

Throughout the day, their cup fills up with sensory input from activities, interactions, and the environment. ⬆️ ⬆️⬆️

Think of it as their "sensory cup" getting fuller and fuller.

Now, when you ask your child to put on their shoes or brush their teeth, it's like pouring more sensory input into their already full cup. Every task, action or movement involves sensory input.

Their nervous system, which is already stimulated, may become overwhelmed by this additional sensory demand.

Just like a cup overflowing when filled beyond its capacity, your child's sensory cup can overflow too. 🫗🫠

This can lead to meltdowns or strong reactions, not because they are being difficult, but because their nervous system is in OVERLOAD.

Understanding this concept helps us recognise that their reaction is a genuine response to sensory overwhelm rather than intentional misbehaviour. 💥

It reminds us to approach these situations with empathy and support. 🥰

To help your child, consider
✅ pay attention to their cues, so that you notice them reaching a full sensory cup BEFORE it overflows
✅ provide sensory breaks, GET MOVEMENT IN,
✅try proprioceptive or heavy-work activities to help the brain regulate
✅ create a calming environment, your stress adds to their stress
✅ find strategies that help them self-regulate and "empty their sensory cup."

By being mindful of their sensory needs, we can support their well-being and promote better flow during day.

Remember, every child's sensory cup has a different capacity, so tune in to your child's cues and adapt your approach accordingly.

Try these 8 sensory play ideas 💡

✅Rocking: Gently rock your baby back and forth in your arms or in a rocking chair. This rhythmic motion provides vestibular input and promotes a sense of calm. ✨

✅Tummy Time on a Stability Ball: Place your baby on their tummy on a large stability ball, gently rolling it back and forth or side to side. This helps develop balance and core strength. 💪

✅ Baby Yoga: Engage in baby yoga poses like gentle stretches, mini squats, or "airplane" pose (lifting baby gently by their arms) to provide proprioceptive input and promote body awareness. 💥

✅ Crawling and Creeping: Encourage your baby to explore crawling or creeping on hands and knees, allowing them to experience different surfaces and develop proprioceptive skills. 💪

✅ Body Massage: Give your baby a gentle massage, including light to medium pressure. This provides proprioceptive input and can be soothing. 💓

✅ Baby Gym or Play Mat: Use a baby gym or play mat with hanging toys for your baby to reach, grasp, and kick. This encourages reaching and stretching movements, stimulating both proprioception and vestibular systems. 😎

✅ Gentle Swinging or Bouncing: Support your baby securely in your arms and gently swing them side to side or bounce them up and down. This provides vestibular and proprioceptive input while being mindful of your baby's comfort. 💥

✅ Sensory Taste Exploration: Introduce your baby to different tastes and textures through safe, age-appropriate foods. Offer a variety of soft fruits, cooked vegetables, or baby-friendly purees. Allow them to explore and experience different flavors, encouraging self-feeding and sensory exploration. 🍓

✴️Remember to always prioritise your baby's safety, comfort, and developmental stage when engaging in vestibular and proprioception activities.

✴️ Start with gentle movements and gradually increase intensity as your baby grows.

✴️ Enjoy exploring and supporting their sensory development!

Have fun 🤩✨😀

When parents approach parenting with deep love, empathy, and mindfulness, they create a nurturing environment that fosters healthy brain development in their children. The love and care they provide shape the neural pathways and connections in their child's brain, influencing their cognitive, emotional, and social development. 🧠

By raising children in an environment filled with love, respect, and emotional support, conscious parents contribute to the cultivation of positive traits and values in the next generation. 💓

These children, in turn, carry forward the legacy of love and compassion, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond their own lives. 📈

Imagine a world where each generation is raised by deeply loving parents who prioritise emotional well-being, empathy, and connection. 🤩

This transformative approach to parenting has the power to bring about profound change, not only within families but also in our communities and society at large.
💪🔥💪🔥

How does movement boost learning?

Engaging in movement activities stimulates neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt. 🧠

These movements trigger the release of growth factors and chemicals that support the formation of new connections between neurons. 💥

These new connections, called synapses, enable the brain to reorganise itself and create alternative pathways for information processing. 🔗

This rewiring process enhances learning and memory by facilitating efficient signal transmission between different brain regions. 📈⬆️

Movements also increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial for neuron growth and survival. 🧠

BDNF plays a key role in creating new synapses and strengthening existing ones.💪

Movement provides the necessary stimulation for our brains to continuously adapt and improve cognitive functions.

Running, walking, hiking, exercising, biking, sports, skipping, jumping, movement in circle time and outdoor activities, all optimise learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Movement is a brain-body boost!

Lets explore the world of thumb sucking 👍 AND shed some light on WHY little ones engage in this behaviour.

🧠 The Thumb as a Comforting Tool:

Sucking on their thumbs is a natural instinct for babies and young children. It provides a sense of security, self-soothing, and comfort during times of stress, anxiety, or fatigue. It's their way of finding solace in a big, overwhelming world.

🖐️ Exploring the Senses:

Thumbsucking not only offers emotional comfort but also serves as a means of sensory exploration. The mouth is one of the primary areas where children explore different textures and sensations, aiding in their cognitive and sensory development.

💪 Strengthening Oral Muscles:

Thumbsucking helps exercise and strengthen the muscles in the mouth, including the tongue, lips, and jaw. This muscle development plays a crucial role in speech and overall oral motor skills.

🌟 Supporting Children's Self-Regulation:

It's important to remember that thumbsucking is typically a temporary phase that children outgrow on their own as they develop alternative coping mechanisms and self-regulation skills. For most children, it's a harmless behaviour that doesn't cause any long-term issues. (Stayed tuned for more on this topic - especially when to worry?)

💡 Gentle Guidance and Alternatives:

1. Encourage them but don’t insist

2. Finding the reason behind WHY they engage in thumb sucking, will help you find the best solutions

3. By understanding and respecting their need for comfort, we can support them in finding new ways to self-soothe.

4. Chewables are a good start- it’s really trial and error until you find the one that works for your child…

5. Sensory foods, like crunchy or chewy food might help replace the sensory seeking need the child is experiencing…

6. Don’t embarrass or shame children for thumb sucking, it’s not a “baby-thing” it’s a sensory processing need and/or soothing technique beyond their conscious control…

🤩 Speaking at a SPRINT FRANCE EVENT 🇫🇷 AND we’re inviting you to join us!

✅ Evening workshop 🌅
✅ ONLINE 💻
✅ For parents, teachers and
professionals working with
kids.. 👩🏻‍🏫 👨‍🏫 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

🗓️ Wednesday 24 May
🕟 19:40
🔗Link in Bio: YOU MUST REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
🆓🆓🆓

Sensory Processing and Learning: 10 ways our balance system influences our learning abilities 💪

Looking forward to seeing you there 👀❤️🥰

Here are 3 reasons why nurturing your vestibular system is crucial for a holistic approach to learning:

1️⃣ Building a Strong Foundation: 🌐🏗️ The vestibular system, nestled within our inner ear, plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance and coordinating movement. By developing a well-functioning vestibular system, we enhance our ability to sit upright, maintain focus, and engage in classroom activities. It's the foundation upon which learning takes flight, paving the way for improved attention, concentration, and overall academic performance.

2️⃣ Enhancing Sensory Integration: 🌈🙌 Our vestibular system seamlessly integrates with other senses, like vision and proprioception, to create a comprehensive sensory experience. A balanced vestibular system helps us make sense of our surroundings, regulate our body's responses, and navigate through learning environments with ease. By promoting vestibular stimulation through activities like spinning, swinging, and balance exercises, we enhance sensory integration, which can positively impact learning, memory, and information processing.

3️⃣ Boosting Cognitive Function: 🧠💡 Engaging in vestibular activities doesn't only stimulate our sense of balance; it also sparks cognitive growth. Research suggests that movement-based experiences activate neural connections, enhancing attention, executive functions, and problem-solving skills. By incorporating balance exercises and dynamic movement breaks into our learning routine, we activate the brain's potential, making knowledge acquisition a vibrant and engaging process.

⚖️ Balancing the vestibular system opens up a world of possibilities for mindful learning. It strengthens our foundation, promotes sensory integration, and supercharges cognitive function. Embrace the power of your vestibular system, and let balance guide you towards a remarkable learning journey! 🌟💫

Here are 3 reasons why nurturing your vestibular system is crucial for a holistic approach to learning:

1️⃣ Building a Strong Foundation: 🌐🏗️ The vestibular system, nestled within our inner ear, plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance and coordinating movement. By developing a well-functioning vestibular system, we enhance our ability to sit upright, maintain focus, and engage in classroom activities. It's the foundation upon which learning takes flight, paving the way for improved attention, concentration, and overall academic performance.

2️⃣ Enhancing Sensory Integration: 🌈🙌 Our vestibular system seamlessly integrates with other senses, like vision and proprioception, to create a comprehensive sensory experience. A balanced vestibular system helps us make sense of our surroundings, regulate our body's responses, and navigate through learning environments with ease. By promoting vestibular stimulation through activities like spinning, swinging, and balance exercises, we enhance sensory integration, which can positively impact learning, memory, and information processing.

3️⃣ Boosting Cognitive Function: 🧠💡 Engaging in vestibular activities doesn't only stimulate our sense of balance; it also sparks cognitive growth. Research suggests that movement-based experiences activate neural connections, enhancing attention, executive functions, and problem-solving skills. By incorporating balance exercises and dynamic movement breaks into our learning routine, we activate the brain's potential, making knowledge acquisition a vibrant and engaging process.

⚖️ Balancing the vestibular system opens up a world of possibilities for mindful learning. It strengthens our foundation, promotes sensory integration, and supercharges cognitive function. Embrace the power of your vestibular system, and let balance guide you towards a remarkable learning journey! 🌟💫

Sunlight + Exercise ☀️🏃‍♀️
are a MUST for every child’s morning routine…this will support their overall well-being and development.

1. Promotes better sleep: Exposure to natural sunlight in the morning can help regulate a child's circadian rhythm, making it easier for them to fall asleep at night. 😴

Additionally, morning exercise can also promote better sleep by reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. ✨

2. Enhances mood and cognitive function: Exposure to natural sunlight has been linked to improved mood and cognitive 🧠 function, including better memory, attention, and creativity.

Morning exercise can also have a similar effect by releasing endorphins, which can boost mood and reduce stress. ✨

3. Supports physical development: Regular exercise is crucial for children's physical development, including building strength, improving balance and coordination, and maintaining a healthy body.

Morning sunlight can also help the body absorb vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune system function.

And yes 🙌 this is really for all of us, parents, teachers and kids… we can all start the day feeling our best 💪🤗

5 reasons WHY sensory play is important and how it can impact different areas of a development ✨

Let’s break it down

💥 Develops Sensory Systems: Sensory play engages the proprioceptive, vestibular, visual, auditory, and tactile systems in a child's body. These systems work together to provide children with information about their body's position, movement, balance, and environment. By stimulating these systems, children can improve their overall sensory processing abilities.

💪Supports Motor Skills: Sensory play is essential for both gross and fine motor skill development. Gross motor skills involve the use of larger muscle groups for movements such as crawling, walking, and jumping, while fine motor skills require the use of smaller muscles for tasks such as writing, drawing, and grasping small objects.

🔥Enhances Attention and Focus: Sensory play can improve a child's attention and focus skills because the development of attention skills has its foundation in sensory and movement development. It also provides them with opportunities to concentrate on specific tasks and stimuli. It helps children develop self-regulation and control their impulses, which are crucial for learning and social interaction.

💓Boosts Emotional Regulation: Sensory play can be a calming and soothing activity for children, as it provides opportunities for self-regulation and emotional expression. It can help children cope with difficult emotions such as anxiety or frustration by providing a safe and engaging outlet for their feelings.

✅Improves Situational Awareness: Sensory play can help children become more aware of their surroundings and the world around them. By providing opportunities for exploration and engagement with different sensory stimuli, children can improve their overall understanding and appreciation of their environment.

Sensory and movement play hold the foundation for more complex skills. Yep, play IS serious work 😉

💥Remember to actually HAVE FUN 🤩

💥COMMENT SENSORY PLAY TO RECEIVE YOUR FREEBIE 🎁🎁👍