Nurturing Pathways

I have been introduced to Nurturing Pathways® during a professional development meeting for the School and Family programs of the Seattle Aquarium back at in early October. This meeting was so fun and interesting. I left wanting to learn more about how movement can impact brain development and how to incorporate more movement into educational activities so I sign up for a "Digging Deeper" workshop. 



 Nurturing Pathways® is a program that offers creative dance classes for families, parent education workshops, educators’ workshops, training and certification for instructors and a line of Creative Play Products™. Their curriculum is built upon bonding and attachment, dance concepts, energy coordination patterns, and sensory pathways.



The Digging Deeper Course was about the power, potential, and profound impact of children's physical development on babies through kindergarten. I learned what the connection is between the body and the brain and its impact on learning. I also learned about how you can address specific issues from infancy through kindergarten with fun dance activities anybody can do. Finally, I learned how a world movement and dance can help in getting a child school ready.

Nurturing Pathways® opened my eyes to how important movement is to children's (birth to kindergarten) physical development especially in today's society in which they are many hindrances to healthy development so as container care for babies, high obesity rates and too much screen time.

 Hindrances to Healthy Development

 

Container Care

Baby containment in bumbo seats, bouncy seats, excersaucers, Johnny Jump Ups, infant seats, highchairs and infant swings for long periods of time restricts motor development by propping in positions.

 

Obesity Rates

In 2008, 14.6% of low-income families with children 2-4 were obese and spent only 3.4% of the preschool day engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity. (NIEER, Preschool Matters Jan/Feb 2010 Vol.8 No.1).  46% of all elementary schools in the United States have eliminated recess.

 

Screen Time

Babies learn 6-8 fewer words per hour of TV with the greatest harmful effects from 8-16 months (ILABS Seattle, WA 2010). Studies have shown that excessive media can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity (AAP 2013).

 

 

The Six Building Blocks of What Should Be Learned
 

Proprioception:

Knowing where your body is in space in relationship to others and objects. This is developed through heavy work, press, push, reach, and pull.  It provides inner security and safety.

 

Vestibular:

Position and movement of the head in relation to gravity which maintains posture and balance. The child's confidence is grounded in a strong sense of balance. Makes them feel capable.

 

Tactile:

Touch sensations tells us about our body position, activity and stability. Touching creates the framework for body image, movement patterns and motor planning.

 

Body Image:

Seeing your physical self with your mind's eyes.

 

Movement Patterns:

The basic neurological patterns of upper/lower, body side (homo-lateral), and body cross (cross-lateral). The ability to integrate them into complex sequences of movement.

 

Motor Planning:

The body's ability to break down a task and move smoothly through all the steps and navigating space successfully by using the motor patterns.