Why This Works

Written by Sarah Caleb, Mindset Coach and Registered Nurse

What is Neuroplasticity?

Glad you asked! In a nutshell, neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain and the nervous system to change in response to external or internal influences. This might not seem like a big deal, but when we think back to previous scientific thought about intelligence and the brain, it is. Leading minds used to think that intelligence was fixed: you are born as smart as you’ll ever be, and there is nothing you can do about it. Fortunately, science today is proving this wrong. We can get smarter both intellectually and emotionally, and neuroplasticity is showing us that our brains can physically change too!

Why does it matter?

There you go asking all the right questions! If you’re a parent or a caregiver to children, it matters a lot. While it can happen at any age, research shows that neuroplasticity happens the most in the first five years of life. That means the type of brain your child will have is largely decided in those early years.

Well great. Now you’ve depressed me!

Don’t freak out! There’s hope! While adverse circumstances can permanently damage children’s brains, children can reverse and replace negative neural pathways that lead to damaging habits and personality disorders (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2014). Techniques that support emotional regulation such as emotional coaching have been proven to reduce the risks that adverse circumstances have on creating personality disorders and lasting negative neuro-effects in children (Ellis et. al., 2014). That means that even if your child hasn’t had the best environment you would like to give them, you are still empowered to help them bounce back now!

How am I supposed to figure out how to do that? I work full time! I’m not a child psychologist! (Or maybe you are … mad respect if so!)

We got you! MILLU was designed to do just that! Pulling heavily from the concepts of play therapy, our kits were developed to make the process of building healthy neuropathways fun and engaging for both children and adults. Our exercises create both internal and external prompts to build confidence, support cognitive development, and enhance communication skills. We will break-it-DOWN for you! We have comprehensive instructions for adults that help facilitate healthy interactions and bonding that build self-esteem, teach children to embrace the differences in themselves and others, and increase a sense of personal identity and belonging. Exercises that engage children’s need for tactile movement are also paired with prompts that engage imagination and conceptual thinking. So, you can let the kids play and have fun, and have meaningful connection at the same time! Win win!

In an age of digital disconnection, it is more imperative than ever to intentionally engage in activities that support our brains - especially now that they are being exhausted by continuous and damaging bombardment. Forming sustainable, meaningful bonds across generational gaps can be daunting, but regardless of age or background, MILLU is designed to easily transition us back to the connection we all need and were built to thrive in.

References

Written by Sarah Caleb (Mindset coach and RN)

Ellis, B.H., Alisic, E., Reiss, A., Dishion, T., Fisher, P.A. (2014). Emotion regulation among preschoolers on a continuum of risk: The role of maternal emotion coaching. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23, 965-974.

Gözaydınoğlu Ş. , Anılgan T., Kürüm G., Uğurlu Ü. Experiential Design – Rethinking Relations Between People, Objects and Environments , Florida, United States Of America, 16 - 17 January 2020, pp.1-3

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2005/2014). Excessive stress disrupts the architecture of the developing brain: Working paper 3. Updated edition.