Patterning

Below is a breif introduction to patterning. The concept behind it is to stimulate certain areas of the brain in order for development to happen.

NEUROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

*When a child is born he can move his arms, legs, blink, startle, and nurse
operating the lowest level of his brain – the medulla.

*At about 3 months he is strong enough to flip himself over and start crawling
on his stomach. Not just developing his leg, arm, neck and back muschles; his
brain is also developing. This pons level is responsible for developing the
important brain pathways for human speech. The child who has missed this stage
of development often develops poor speech or no speech.

* At about the age of 5-7 month the child is strong enough to get on his hands
and knees and creep. While creeping he develops steroptic vision. He is
teaching himself to focus his eyes on their target whether that be in space or
(later on) a line of print.

1)The ability to use both ears together develops, to put sound into space
(sterophonic sound). He will need this ability later in phonics class.

2) Depth perception develops as he measures the balance on his trip across
the room. Balance is acquired.

3) Above all, he is developing the corresponding level of his brain-the
midbrain. The child who has missed this stage of development is heading for a
reading problem.

* At about the age of 9-12 months the child gets up and walks. He begins to
talk. He is now developing the next level of his brain – the cortex. This area
is the main control center for language, bimanual functions, and cross pattern
walking.

Neurological development must be natural, sequential and orderly. Students are
failing because more often than not, they are not neurologically developed.

There are a number of schools in the US utilizing the brain organization
techniques with their learning disabled children.

A Chance to Grow?New Visions School in Minneapolis, MN

Drexel elementary school Drexel, NC

Nicholas School/ Piqua, OH

Patterning is a program of movement, which helps the brain develop.

Here is a list of activities that we may do with your child.

1. Patterning – Pons, medulla, spinal

2. Crawling – To develop the pons area of the brain. Improving learning.

3. Exercor – To learn proper rhythm for creeping.

4. Creeping – To develop misbrain; improve reading skills.

5. Tactile – Vibrator, ice spotting, blow dryer; sensory input is 40 percent
of the brain’s learning.

6. Visual Exercises – For pons, midbrain, cortex, develop perception skills
including tracking, convergence, and binocular skills.

7. Brachiation – Eye-hand coordiantion-using the cortex, cerebellum

8. Zip up – for energy.

After a child has been placed on a developmental program, the change is
usually quite noticeable. Personality changes, neater hand – writing, better
self image are all evedent.

Neurological organization is being achieved.

Recommended Readings:

What to do About Your Brain Injured Child
By Glenn Doman

The Ultimate Stranger: the Autistic Child
By Carl H. Delacato EdD.

Brain Gym
By Paul Dennison

The Genius Within Your Child
By Ray E. Nadeau, Ph.D

Is This Your Child
By Doris Rapp, M.D.

Wake Up, Rhonda
By Jo Knott

If Kids Just Came With Instruciton Sheets
By Svea J. Gold

Websites to check out:

www.familyhopecenter.com -The Family Hope Center

www.iahp.org -The Institutute for the Achievment of Human Potential