Lack of fun in play becomes a limiting form of neurofeedback, prevents healthy brain development
SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Lynette Louise aka THE BRAIN BROAD would like to remind families, especially those feeling stuck due to loss, extreme disabilities, or poverty, that purposeful play heals the body and encourages the brain to grow healthy. Also, it's fun!
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131223/PH37225-a)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131223/PH37225-b)
In her recently released book, The WingMaker, Lynette shares the true story of a girl with severe disabilities who had almost given up hope of ever becoming a contributing family member and playful sibling. Lynette explains with kindness how the mom—though never complaining and always doing what needed to be done—had begun to fear both play and believing in possibilities. However, when Lynette worked with the family everyone learned to fly with wings of hope. And with purposeful play they gained many skills once believed to be impossible.
"When I would play with Sarah," Lynette explains, talking about the girl with Cerebral Palsy that the book is fashioned after, "I would listen to her sounds for word approximations while we played. I would then pretend to be or do whatever I was guessing she had said. Eventually, she began to believe in her words and worked to make them clear. Knowing that I would act on her words was a great motivator." As Sarah was learning to speak through play, her body was also growing stronger. "I loved watching her push the spit tube away, insisting to be more and more herself! You see, we had played games where I gave her roles that encouraged her to practice arm strength and more. So, because it was such fun, and because we believed she could, she learned and got a little more independent."
Very often when families are struggling with extreme disabilities, poverty, or the loss of a loved one, they stop playing and just "do". Just teach, work, make rules, make charts—but this (when not coupled with age appropriate play or fun motivators) actually slows down success.
"The brain is always changing, growing, making new pathways and connections," Lynette explains in her book trailer for The WingMaker. "Whether it grows forwards or backwards is up to you." Lynette admits that having neurofeedback—biofeedback for the brain—is one of the reasons why she is so successful with all of her clients. But she also insists that even with purposeful play alone, anyone can make huge changes and gain impressive skills.
Having your own copy of The WingMaker may also make it easier. Not only does the story example how and why purposeful play works, the story also inspires the audience with moving imagery and rhyming prose.
Whether or not you choose to arm yourself with the book, or to hire Lynette Louise aka THE BRAIN BROAD as a therapist to come to your home or speak at your event, Lynette asks that you please begin the new year with a resolution to play with purpose, and believe in raising the bar. Your body, your brain, and your happiness are all connected, and you can control which direction they grow.
Lynette Louise aka THE BRAIN BROAD Is Doubly Board Certified in Neurofeedback and has an MS. She is studying for her PhD in Psychology with a specialty in Psychophysiology at Saybrook University.
Contact Lynette Louise aka THE BRAIN BROAD:
EMAIL PHONE: 713-213-7682
Brain and Body: 2018 Hull Ct., Simi Valley, CA 93063