With the incredible and steady rise in learning, social, and behavioral disorders in the US, the health care world is scrambling to come up with an answer. Modern medicine has been unable to agree on any explanation for this trend, and it has had even less success in finding a solution.
As we wrap up another incredible and eye-opening weekend of Melillo Method brain balance training, I’m left wondering how many of these cases would exist if complex physical movement was a regular part of these kids’ lives. Granted, I’m aware through our studies of brain development that there is no one answer. There are a multitude of factors that play into proper progression through the many phases. But one thing that is consistent throughout development is the need for stimulation from movement.
Movement During Development
The brain is not just involved in outgoing messages. It doesn’t only give orders. The brain is dependent on stimulation FROM the body to do its job. This is true at any age, but it is ESPECIALLY important during development. Specific body movements play a major role in triggering the development of interconnections between neural pathways in different areas of the brain that lead to complex skills such as communication, processing emotion, problem-solving, and many others. These interconnections between different regions of the brain must happen at specific times during development. Further, they must happen in a specific order, as each progressive step is dependent on the preceding one.
ADHD, Dyslexia, & Autism
Health statistics both in our country and around the world show that the incidence of behavioral problems such as ADHD, dyslexia, and even autism are much lower in rural areas. They are also lower in less developed countries (not including those cases arising from toxic injury or genetic mutation). What this information suggests is that the more developed a child’s place of upbringing, the more risk they have of these disorders, despite having access to better health care and other resources.
What do people in developing countries do more of?
Manual labor, work and play outside, interact with extended family, live with less stimulation from electronic devices, less radiation from WiFi, Bluetooth, and EMF.
What do people in developed countries do?
We put our kids in chairs and make them sit still for 7-8 hours a day, then give them video games, television, phones, and other artificial stimulation. In researching this article, I found that the CDC’s official recommendation for the minimum amount of physical activity a child should have is one hour. ONE HOUR!! Are we insane? No wonder our kids are having trouble.
Movement Is Life
Please understand I know that the answer is more complicated than this. But I truly believe that we as a society are, at the very least, not helping the situation. Kids should be outside and moving all day long. They should be using their minds creatively. They should be flooding their senses with stimulation of a wide variety of types. Movement is life. Stimulation is life. My kids may get mad at me and think I’m being a mean old troll when I make them go outside and play. But you know what? When they come back in, they are happy and have forgotten about how awful I was to make them do it. They sleep better, they get along better (usually), and they surprise me time and time again with their creativity.
So why not try it? Kill your TV. Kill your phone or tablet. If the kids won’t or can’t go outside and play by themselves, then do it with them. It’s good for you, too.
PS. Considering how important body movement is in your kids’ development, do you think maybe you ought to have your chiropractor check and make sure their spine is moving optimally? :)
A referral is the best compliment we could receive.
