Ready, Set, Summer!

Summer Fun Builds Brains!

Summer is a great time to slow down and enjoy a different pace. This summer I'm moving my garden boxes closer to my house. I want to plan and plant a garden for all the seasons. I'm sure I will have some successes and even more challenges. It's hard to find success without some challenges along the way! 

At neuroBridge we often talk about helping children develop strong executive function skills—the mental processes that help them focus, plan, organize, regulate emotions, and adapt to challenges. In April, I attended a 3 day Learning and the Brain conference in NYC. These skills are part of what neuroscientist David Badre calls cognitive control—our ability to direct our thoughts and actions toward goals rather than simply reacting to whatever is happening around us. Research shows that cognitive control is foundational for learning, problem-solving, independence, and lifelong success. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12203801/

According to Dr. Badre, we need 3 things to build cognitive control.

Enrichment – Parents can give their kids a variety of experiences that help with enrichment:

• Helping in the garden
• Planting flowers
• Exploring a creek
• Making fairy/gnome houses
• Going to a new park or playground
• Going on a family hike
• Going to a museum or the library

They don't have to be expensive or complicated or schedule driven.

Unstructured activities – These are activities where adults are not directing. Kids can plan, have a goal (or not have a goal), make up their own rules…

• Imaginary play
• Making a fort
• Building with blocks, sticks, cardboard
• Making up games with friends
• Making obstacle courses
• Digging in the dirt or sand

Often the skills we hope to build through structured activities are strengthened even more through child-led play.

"Error Driven Learning" – In order for kids to learn what works for them they have to be able to fail.

• The fort collapses
• The building falls down
• They lose a game
• They have a disagreement with a friend
• They try a new skill and don't succeed right away

It's hard not to step in when we see our kids experience failure, but our chief goal is to help kids develop the skills they need to find their own success.

Send the kids outside this summer and build those brains!