
Today I planned my Summer Intensive to help people who have ADHD. It will run June 9 through August 2 and consists of 2-3 weekly lessons, totaling at least 18 for the summer. The idea is that with this intense work, a child will be set up for a more productive school year.
Here's the web link for more information. Contact me to get the process started.
So what happens in a session? The short answer is "lots of movement!".
The long answer . . .
building timing
building coordination
building listening.
All three rewire the brain for better work.
The initial consultation is a history of behavior from the parents, a summary of likes/dislikes from the child, and a series of movement checks for reflexes that are still operating in the child's body. These reflex patterns are essential for early development, but some children don't outgrow them. This causes movement patterns that require work-arounds as they develop skills.
We all have these patterns to some extent. Why can one person write all morning with ease while another grips the pen too hard and tires or aches after a short while? Why can one person always kick the ball with good control while another always kicks across the body so the ball goes wild? Why is one person beautifully coordinated while another easily trips or constantly bumps into the world around them? The answer is reflexes.
The flip side of these movement patterns is that they govern how the brain works. Their initial purpose for babies is to provide a set of foundational movements that give them a start. Through their own activity and interaction with others, they move through these basic patterns to develop more complex movements. As they do this work, the brain grows. Movement is essential for brain growth!!
So when children have learning issues, I listen to the list of struggles, watch the child move through my checklist and then develop a series of movements that will allow the child to absorb (or integrate) these old, un-useful patterns. As the child's movement patterns change, behaviors and thinking patterns also change, so children can experience more success in school and activities.
How long does it take? Well, as babies take years to grow through these patterns, you can probably imagine that it's not a fast process. A year of consistent work* makes a large dent for most children. Sometimes there's not time to be consistent over the course of an entire year. That's why a Summer Intensive is helpful. We can meet 2-3 times a week to do this work (and include timing and listening as well if those are beneficial). It's a lot of change in a short period of time! Children may require more food or sleep. Or they may get a bit crabby as they adjust to their "new me". But it definitely can make a difference in their ability to handle school and activities in the next school year. The frustrations from the last year may be a thing of the past, and the child will feel a sense of hope, of possibility, of success.
And that's the whole point!
*Consistent work would be daily exercises at home as well as regular meetings with me.
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