Create your own summer brain training program

Remember when you were a kid? All day you would play - lots and lots of play! If it was nice outside you exercised your body with swimming, playing ball, climbing trees and making forts. If it was raining, you went inside and exercised your brain. What? Yup - that was exactly what you did! When you were baking cookies you were learning about fractions, measuring and chemistry; about reading and following directions; and if you had to double a recipe, about multiplication.

Perhaps you played cards. Remember the game memory? You would take a number of pairs of cards - perhaps eight pairs. You would shuffle them, and place them on the floor upside down. You then would turn only two over. If they matched, you removed them. If not, you turned them back upside down and turned over others. You continue until you have found all of the pairs. You were working on visual memory. The larger the number of pairs, the more you were working to improve working memory.

Other card games, like Crazy Eights and Uno, where you were matching and sorting, works on logic. Games like Slap Jack worked on processing speed as well as logic. War helps build understanding of numbers and their values, and the comparisons help with logic as well.

When traveling in the car, you might have played the game where one person starts by saying "We are going to Grandmother's house and I packed an apple". The next person repeats that and adds an object starting with a b, like banana. This game continues until everyone has had several turns and hopefully the family got to z. Here, you were working on auditory memory, and maybe visualization, if that is how a person was trying to remember.

Building forts, whether inside or out, require planning, gathering materials, experimenting with different options that may or may not work, and visualizing the finished product from different angles.

"I spy with my little eye something red" helps build visual attention. You increase divided attention (the ability to do two things at once) when you have a partner that you chant and clap, crossing at time with. Auditory attention and memory is built by working on identifying bird calls and songs.

Simon says improves listening skills, and if you have more than one direction at a time, you are building working memory.

Any beat the clock type of game is working on processing speed.

Jigsaw puzzles work on visualization. I remember when my daughter was very young, she would take many of the 10 piece puzzles, put them together, line them up, then walk on them, as if to say HA I conquered you!!

There are many workbooks that actually look like fun, while they are improving the brain. Word searches and mazes improve visual attention, while Sudoku works on logic and working memory.

So, you and your family, friends, and clients can have so much fun this summer playing games like you did when you were kids, and they won't even know that they are improving their brain at the same time. Enjoy!!

If you are looking for a good cognitive program, I have several suggestions. The very best is working one-on-one with someone experienced, but if that is not available try one of the following, all of which can be found at http://www.pyramidofpotential.com/products-for-parents (and all are 10% off in June!):

• BrainWare Safari is a video-game like program that works on the computer.
• Equipping Minds Workbook, which I use, includes many exercises with many levels. It is up to you to create your own schedule to individualize training. Some additional materials are suggested to purchase
• BrainSpark! is a kit that is all inclusive, and is similar to Equipping Minds
• Growing Brains Everyday is a 150-day curriculum for elementary school children. It is written for teachers in mind, and can be completed in as little as 10 minutes a day.

It is now time to set up your professional development at your school - Kathy is available for many dates this summer! Call now to secure YOUR date!

Below are the upcoming workshops that Kathy Johnson is giving. If she is not coming to your area, why not hire her for your next professional development?

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia: An Integrated Approach 
Monday, September 15, 2014 in ELLICOTT CITY, MD 
Speaker: KATHY JOHNSON, MS ED
Early Registration: $189.99
** Early Registration Prices Available Until 8/26/2014 **   

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia: An Integrated Approach

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 in 

TOWSON, MD   

Speaker: KATHY JOHNSON, MS ED
Early Registration: $189.99
** Early Registration Prices Available Until 8/26/2014 **  

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia: An Integrated Approach

 Wednesday, September 17, 2014 in 

ANNAPOLIS, MD 

 Speaker: KATHY JOHNSON, MS ED
Early Registration: $189.99
** Early Registration Prices Available Until 8/26/2014 **  

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia: An Integrated Approach

Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse NY, December 10, 11, 12

If you aren't near any of these on-site professional development conferences, consider the following:

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia: An Integrated Approach   Price: $169.99  Author: Kathy Johnson, MS Ed.  Format: DVD