Your Brain on Music, Part 2

One of the things we strive to create in every Studio3Music Kindermusik class is an enviornment where children are safe – safe to explore and learn as they need, where they can be physically  and emotionally safe and secure, and where they are absolutely, positively, unconditionally loved. Here’s one of the reasons why:

Relationships and Emotion
Brain research shows that personal relationships are vital to a healthy brain, especially in young children. Though most don’t realize it, the caregiver-child attachment is extremely important to brain development, says Barry Chaloner (Director of the Center for Early Intervention). Some research says that 83 percent of children with impaired caregiver-child attachments have significant behavior and language problems; and any time a child experiences trauma or neglect, it hardwires the developing brain for these types of problems, Chalenor added.

Unfortunately, today many families to do not provide opportunities for adult-child interactions, which can impair caregiver-child attachment and therefore healthy brain development. Likewise, brain research reveals the importance of emotion in learning. CAT scans show that children process information through their emotions first. Then information goes through the neocortex, or rational part, of the brain. In fact, all learning is driven by emotions, says Wesson, and information that is the most emotional is what students remember best. On the other hand, fear can bring learning to a screeching halt. When a child is afraid, he or she goes into flight or fight mode, too much cortisol and adrenaline are in the brain, and learning is blocked.

Excerpted from an article for the Council for Exceptional Children, authored by Ken Wesson, Educational Consultant, neuroscience.

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who will have over 20 years of wonderful bonding time with her own three by the time they are graduated from Kindermusik!

Your Brain on Music, Part 1