The best compliment I got as a mom was his I was giving my kids an 80's childhood. My kids are outside a lot and I've noticed my oldest (boy) is learning how to lead his little sister through fair play. It's fun to watch them interact socially together.
Thank you for this! I see it in my students every day. Many of the ones who find the most success are the ones whose parents cultivate creative outlets for their children even within the standard school environment.
The "Ipad" kids (for lack of a better term) are really struggling and it breaks my heart. I've done all I can within my limited leeway to get my students outside daily, playing in the grass, and enjoying being kids. Even in that limited way, I've seen some improvements.
I am troubled by the suggestion that dyslexics have weaker brains. Few children have as much time outside running, hiking, climbing mountains and splashing in creeks as my three homeschooled children, and yet all three are dyslexic. Dyslexic brains have existed for ages and seem to be specialized for cognitive explorative search, rather than exploitation. They are different, not deficient. Indeed dyslexia exists across the spectrum of IQ, and many dyslexics are in the very superior range for IQ. So, while I completely agree with the notion that children need the sorts of activities you describe for healthy development overall, not just cognitive, I don't think that explains neurodivergence. Oh and since dyslexic brain differences have been identified as early as 3 months of age, they do not seem to be a cultural phenomenon. Dyslexia is not something to be cured.
Jessica, I'm very sorry you're are upset. I have so much respect for the masterful way you have raised your children.
I suspect you missed my authors note which specifically states that lack of these activities does not cause dyslexia but rather these activities are analogous to therapies and thus are even more essential for this population(as it is for all children). Part of the reason your children have been so successful is because your ensured these activities for them as well as a number of other enriching experiences uniquely suited to their brains.
As you know, dyslexic brains do not develop a specific region in the parietal cortex. The anterior region should develop but does not. Further it does not project to the prefrontal cortex the way it should. That is why therapies and interventions with children who have dyslexia revolve around trying to make use of other brain structures to do what that piece of the brain is supposed to.
Children with dyslexia therefore especially need multi-sensory experiences like I discuss above. I think you would agree that this is perhaps even more necessary for them. Your children have been so incredibly cared for by you, but so many children sadly are not given these opportunities.
The term weaker above refers to any number of other weaknesses including lack of development, lack of connections, and reduced cortical thickness. It does not mean less. As we have personally discussed, there are advantages to having a more connected brain- which happens if children with dyslexia have proper interventions.
However if children with dyslexia are NOT given these interventions they will have significant disabilities and challenges long-term. Again, marking the significance and importance of the activities I describe. In that way dyslexia is something that must be managed thoughtfuly.
Thank you so much for writing. As always, I respect your thoughts and wisdom. It's important that we discuss and highlight the importance of helping children live their best lives.
It's all good. I wasn't upset, just disagree, which I can do in an open-hearted way. I have spent a lot of years reframing the deficit view of dyslexia and it is something I am passionate about. There is much learned and much still to be learned about dyslexic brains. Imaging and metabolic studies finding under-activation in some areas also find increased activation in other areas, as well as benefits in areas such divergent thinking that seem to be related to what appear to be weaker or less efficient processing. So there are benefits to having a more connected brain, but perhaps also benefits to having a less connected one (using "connected" as a shorthand here). I suspect studies, because they are so precise, can be a bit like the blind men and the elephant. Living with multiple dyslexic children gives one a broad view of the whole elephant. The long term disadvantages of dyslexia are real, but also seem to be predominantly cultural - ie we as a society (literate, post industrial etc) have so significantly narrowed the path of skills necessary to achieve basic human security that dyslexia (which is itself neutral) can be damaging and deadly. But that is a social problem and not a brain problem.
That’s how I grew up. Limited television (the only screen back then), exploring the woods, riding bikes, playing baseball…
I love it ❤️
The best compliment I got as a mom was his I was giving my kids an 80's childhood. My kids are outside a lot and I've noticed my oldest (boy) is learning how to lead his little sister through fair play. It's fun to watch them interact socially together.
Thank you for this! I see it in my students every day. Many of the ones who find the most success are the ones whose parents cultivate creative outlets for their children even within the standard school environment.
The "Ipad" kids (for lack of a better term) are really struggling and it breaks my heart. I've done all I can within my limited leeway to get my students outside daily, playing in the grass, and enjoying being kids. Even in that limited way, I've seen some improvements.
I am troubled by the suggestion that dyslexics have weaker brains. Few children have as much time outside running, hiking, climbing mountains and splashing in creeks as my three homeschooled children, and yet all three are dyslexic. Dyslexic brains have existed for ages and seem to be specialized for cognitive explorative search, rather than exploitation. They are different, not deficient. Indeed dyslexia exists across the spectrum of IQ, and many dyslexics are in the very superior range for IQ. So, while I completely agree with the notion that children need the sorts of activities you describe for healthy development overall, not just cognitive, I don't think that explains neurodivergence. Oh and since dyslexic brain differences have been identified as early as 3 months of age, they do not seem to be a cultural phenomenon. Dyslexia is not something to be cured.
Jessica, I'm very sorry you're are upset. I have so much respect for the masterful way you have raised your children.
I suspect you missed my authors note which specifically states that lack of these activities does not cause dyslexia but rather these activities are analogous to therapies and thus are even more essential for this population(as it is for all children). Part of the reason your children have been so successful is because your ensured these activities for them as well as a number of other enriching experiences uniquely suited to their brains.
As you know, dyslexic brains do not develop a specific region in the parietal cortex. The anterior region should develop but does not. Further it does not project to the prefrontal cortex the way it should. That is why therapies and interventions with children who have dyslexia revolve around trying to make use of other brain structures to do what that piece of the brain is supposed to.
Children with dyslexia therefore especially need multi-sensory experiences like I discuss above. I think you would agree that this is perhaps even more necessary for them. Your children have been so incredibly cared for by you, but so many children sadly are not given these opportunities.
The term weaker above refers to any number of other weaknesses including lack of development, lack of connections, and reduced cortical thickness. It does not mean less. As we have personally discussed, there are advantages to having a more connected brain- which happens if children with dyslexia have proper interventions.
However if children with dyslexia are NOT given these interventions they will have significant disabilities and challenges long-term. Again, marking the significance and importance of the activities I describe. In that way dyslexia is something that must be managed thoughtfuly.
Thank you so much for writing. As always, I respect your thoughts and wisdom. It's important that we discuss and highlight the importance of helping children live their best lives.
It's all good. I wasn't upset, just disagree, which I can do in an open-hearted way. I have spent a lot of years reframing the deficit view of dyslexia and it is something I am passionate about. There is much learned and much still to be learned about dyslexic brains. Imaging and metabolic studies finding under-activation in some areas also find increased activation in other areas, as well as benefits in areas such divergent thinking that seem to be related to what appear to be weaker or less efficient processing. So there are benefits to having a more connected brain, but perhaps also benefits to having a less connected one (using "connected" as a shorthand here). I suspect studies, because they are so precise, can be a bit like the blind men and the elephant. Living with multiple dyslexic children gives one a broad view of the whole elephant. The long term disadvantages of dyslexia are real, but also seem to be predominantly cultural - ie we as a society (literate, post industrial etc) have so significantly narrowed the path of skills necessary to achieve basic human security that dyslexia (which is itself neutral) can be damaging and deadly. But that is a social problem and not a brain problem.