The Parents Pyramid
Promoting your child's brain development
During the elementary years the child's brain learns at a rapid rate and through the teens years is what is known as the Use-it-or loose-it phase. The Parent's Pyramid provides parents with a guide to daily activities that help stimulate brain activity and improve learning. Throughout elementary and teen years, children are agents of their own learning. They model from friends, relationships they are exposed to and learn from their parents' behaviors. Allow children to explore their interests, encourage them, validate (support) them, allow these opportunities for their interests and your child and teen will succeed. These are lessons from recent neuroscience. Whereas neurons that fire together, wire together. In other words, your child must “use-it” (their brain) by exploring and practicing the skills and activities they enjoy most, or they will “loose-it" (increasing risky behaviors during adolescence).
From birth through adolescence, validate your child. As a newborn or toddler, when you see them smile or look at something, encourage exploration and emotions but validating, encouraging, commenting on them. This encourages your child’s learning and increase connections in the brain.
- As a toddler allow them to explore, while continuing to notice and encourage them. This help to motivate learning and makes more connections in the brain to promote learning and creativity.
- In elementary school, and middle and high school, continue validate and encourage them. Expose them to learning activities to grow physically, socially, and emotionally. Including school clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities, such as dance, music, equestrian, gymnastics, etc. Remember when allowing them to explore and learn, notice their accomplishments. Show them how proud you are of them. Be there for them.
Here as a few ideas to consider as you go through the Parents Pyramid.
- You made a mistake so what are you going to do about it?
- If you’re not pleased, what can you do?
- Well done. You should be proud of yourself
- It’s up to you
- What do you think
- I like how much you really enjoy doing this
- You have really improved
- I like how you handled that
- I’m sure you can do it
The Parents Pyramid
Pro Consumer Safety provides programs for new parents and also parents and teens that will help provide you with guidance to make sure your child can have the best opportunity for success and happiness in their future. Visit:
For questions, call 323-491-6197
