The Brain Architect

The MN Department of Human Services is making an effort to work with informal care providers to confront some of these issues.

In summary, the key issue is encouraging day care providers not to relegate their call to give attention to the TV or older children.

Here are some thoughts for day care provider looking for ways to be a better brain architect:

• Hearing: Couple repeated exposure to calming, harmonious sounds with comfort.
• Coordination: Encourage interactive (sensory) games involving fine & major motor.
• Vision: Engage attention but don’t overload, use picture books, revisit familiar.
• Reading: Reread familiar books. Link written word to known sights and sounds.
• Music: Link to feelings to music. Music provides foundation for emotional memory.
• Emotion: Help children name physical responses (feelings) to create emotional intelligence
• Thinking: Allow children to experience natural consequences but only within safe limits * See following section on safety
• 2nd language: 2nd languages are easiest to learn in grade school time frame