By Kristy Palkovic OTR/L
TEIS Occupational Therapist
Did you ever think about the similarities between your baby's brain and a brand new computer waiting to be programmed? While this may be scary, it is also very good news!! YOU have the ability to alter how your computer... I mean child, performs based on the programs you give them.
Envision your bundle of joy being placed in your arms and noting something on their little belly...a keyboard! Through this keyboard, you have the ability to influence their behavior, development and self esteem. Now, surely there is not a keyboard appendage on any human being. However, it is the words, spoken around your child and directly to your child, that act as their programming.
The human brain is like a computer, in that it acts upon whatever programs it receives regardless if they are true or false. Imagine walking across a freshly cut field of grass. When you look back on your path, you may see some bent over blades of grass that will soon pop back up, virtually erasing the fact that you walked there. However, if you repeatedly walk this same path, it will eventually wear down to a hard path of dirt with an obvious pathway. You can actually walk the path without even thinking about it and possibly with your eyes closed! Well, scientists have studied our brains and found that we use the same methods to create "pathways" for our functioning. The first time you receive new information, or a program, there is not much evidence. But, when this program is repeated, the brain actually sends chemical nutrients to this pathway to strengthen it. This process essentially builds a super highway so that your body can be on cruise control next time it needs this program.
So, when your child first enters this world, they look to you for these programs to build their super highways. When you are speaking and interacting with your child, they are receiving so much information from your words, emotions, facial expressions, and bodily reactions. When they receive this feedback, their brain works hard to deliver chemical nutrients to those pathways, strengthening them.
Unfortunately, most parents fall into the trap of talking about the things that aren't going so well...and yes...right in front of their child or sometimes even to the child. Do any of these sound familiar:
- Janie is such a picky eater. She only eats pizza. She won't even touch or look at a fruit or vegetable.
- Mikey is so bad! I feel like all he does is tantrum. He just doesn't listen to a thing I say!
- Terrible Twos! Get ready, everything is a struggle!
- Billy is a terrible sleeper! He hasn't slept through the night since birth!
- Ah, Suzie, you are so shy! You are just afraid of everything, aren't you? Goochie, goo!!
- Johnny, math just isn't your thing. You were never good at it.
I know...guilty as charged. We have all made these mistakes. But the good news is, these programs can be overpowered by positive ones!
CLICK HERE to read some examples on how to transfer the above challenges into positive programs.
