Empowering Parents

Brain Development and Your Child

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..”

Jeremiah 1:5

The mind of a child is so amazing! We have a book coming out later this year called The Miracle of the Mind of the Child. The area of brain research has been a passion of mine for a number of years. Here are just a few tips for parents to help in enhancing their child’s brain development.

• Art and music enhance brain development – Play classical music for your children–even as early as in the womb. Piano lessons provide an excellent opportunity for your child to integrate learning on both hemispheres of the brain.

• Connections – The more you can connect new information to past experiences as well as life experiences, the smarter your child will become.

• Hydration – Drinking water throughout the day enhances brain connections.

• Literacy – Read, read, and read some more! Reading develops brain connections! Interactive language is excellent for brain development. Talking with your child develops the language areas of the brain more effectively than any learning program on television, videos or computer programs.

• Brain foods—Feed your child healthy food as much as possible to optimize brain development. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products and lean meats produce stronger brains. Check the labels for food additives and chemicals that inhibit brain functioning.

You will be hearing a lot more from me on this subject and I would love to hear from you!

Empowering Parents

You have the most important job— molding this precious life by the very way you are parenting. But wait—you never went to Parenting School! Isn’t it ironic that you have no training for the most difficult task you will ever undertake?

Through the Capehart Connection, it is my heart’s desire to provide practical pointers to help in the journey. We begin the “ABC’s of Parenting” with the letter “A” today.

Acknowledge that our children are a gift from God. Call on Him to help you and He will answer. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 3:33) God knows your child better than anyone. “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139: 13-14a)

The mind of the child is a miraculous thing to behold. The program next week will be on brain development. For today, let’s focus on just one aspect and that is the power of the young mind to absorb everything. Realize that your children are absorbing every word said and read, every image seen― whether in person or on television, and every experience in their days and nights. Their minds are like little computers that download information perfectly─ they do not miss a thing. Look around and ask yourself—“Is this what I want in my child’s brain and memory bank?” What goes in becomes embroidered in their life experiences and becomes part of the fabric of who they are.

As positive, proactive parents, let’s focus on these things this week:

~Acknowledge the Creator who gave you this precious child. Call upon Him to help you to be the best parent you can be. Ask Him for wisdom and guidance. Dear parents, He will answer you.

~Because of the powerful ability of the child’s mind to absorb everything, use it to give your children what you want them to soak up. Let your child’s mind absorb:

• Words and songs about how amazing God is!
  “God made this beautiful world—He is so good!”
  “I’m so happy that God gave you to me. God loves you and I love you!”
  
  
• Affirming words from you:
  
“I love you.”
“I like the way you obeyed me.”
“Thank you for helping your sister.”


• Appreciate their attempts to try new things.
  “I know it was hard to do this, but you’re trying and learning new things. I am so proud of you!”

I invite you join me for our next two programs on:
“B”: Brain Research and Your Child
“C”: Communication, Critical Spirits and Conflict Resolution

Click here for some recommended resources.