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Two Swedish vestibular-stimulation
experts, Mats and Irene Niklasson, have also achieved great results using techniques
similar to Palmer. At their Vistabularis organization, they've found that slow spinning
and slow movement is ideal for many children, particularly those diagnosed as having
severe learning problems. Says Mats Niklasson: "Most learning problems, I found,
relate to lack of balance and difficulty with the reflexes." Through spinning and
other motor activities, the Niklassons "rewire the brain".13
They also agree that effective learning starts from
the moment of birth. Again, the main points are simple:
1. The vital importance of step-by-step
movement
Infants grow in a patterned way. They're born
explorers. So encourage them to explore in a safe, environment.
In New Zealand two Irish migrants, Jerome and Sophie
Hartigan, have combined their talents to introduce a parent-involvement program based very
much on children's natural physical development. Jerome is a former Olympic pentathlete,
has a masters degree from Ithaca College, New York, and is a scientist and physical
training specialist. Sophie is an accomplished music teacher. Their Jumping Beans
child-development centers, now springing up around New Zealand, involve parents in regular
one-hour sessions.
Jerome Hartigan says "physical, motor
learning" forms the basis for all learning, including reading, writing, arithmetic
and music. "Without motor learning," he says," the brain simply will not
develop."14 He says specific movement
patterns "wire up" the whole brain.
The Hartigans say it's important that physical routines
should link in with the way the brain grows.
Janet Doman, director of The Institutes for the
Achievement of Human Potential, in Philadelphia, agrees. And those routines should start
from day one. "Give children the chance to crawl from as early an age as
possible," she says. "Babies can actually crawl from birth, but generally they
are restricted by so much clothing that they don't develop this ability till later." 15
So long as children are warm, she says, parents should
not limit their movements with too much clothing.
"Very simply, the more they crawl the sooner
they're going to creep, and the more they creep the more they'll be able to walk. And each
of
Contents Page Preface
Introduction
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