Discover 5 Surprising benefits of prenatal yoga & chiropractic care and how they may help during pregnancy...

Attention is a complex brain skill that begins to develop from around 4 years old, and really establishes as a neural ability from around 6 years old.

It is a common phrase we hear from many parents and teachers alike that a child may have troubles sitting still, giving their attention and focusing!

In this blog we’ll explore why “paying attention” is no easy feat and what factors may affect your child’s ability (or inability) to pay attention, focus and potentially impact learning outcomes.

Muscle tone is the continual resistance in a muscle and tone is something that is present in our muscles from birth and is an important aspect of development from the very start of life

Learn the reasons why your child's muscle tone is so important!

How often should I breastfeed my newborn?

[Image Credit: @wildephotographyy]

The frequency of feeds can be such a hot topic for new parents and can be quite stressful especially the first time round. New Mum's can become overwhelmed with all of the information, instructions and learning the crying cues from your in the first couple weeks of becoming a mother.

Meanwhile its not uncommon that your family, friends and even strangers will often add their (well meaning) but often not needed piece of advice on how often your newborn 'should' be feeding. The hard part about this is that getting different pieces of advise can often be conflicting to what you may have been told firstly leading to stress and anxiety on exactly how often your newborn should be feeding.

Here are some great tips and advise from our Feeding Your Newborn workshop host; Emma Maher (Midwife/Lactation Consultant) from Empowered Lactation with Emma on how often newborns breastfeed.

How an organised, well functioning sensorimotor system helps prepare your child’s brain and body to be an effective and efficient learner to thrive in class and play. 

It is incredibly important for school readiness as it allows a child to receive feedback from their body effectively so that they can effectively perform new skills they’ll learn in class and play. 

How coordination can encompass your child's with every area of learning and play at school and home! 

Coordination is the ability to use our body in the way we want to attain a desired outcome. This definitely utilises some big brain control and consciousness however there are very important elements of the lower brain that help us move and control our bodies in ways that make us uniquely human. 

How good proprioception can help our child's body be strong and well balanced!

It is so important for a child entering school because knowing where they are in space helps them sit still in class for learning, and move their bodies well for play.

Proprioception is the ability to know where we are in space so that we can then control our body appropriately to keep ourselves balanced and strong.

How does an integrated brainstem help prepare your child's brain and body develop and thrive in class and play?

The brainstem is at the base of the brain and skull and it is the oldest and most primitive part of our human brains. The major role of the brainstem is to control the functions of basic survival. Things like breathing, swallowing, digesting and heart rate are examples of this.

How does posture help your child's brain and body to be an effective and efficient learner to thrive in class and play?

We want little brains and little bodies to be working so well that all a child has to do when they enter the classroom or playground is use their clever big thinking and doing brains to learn and play. 

Having optimal postural strength is an important driver for children to be able to use their brain effectively for concentration, focus and engagement; which in turn leads to better learning and more easeful play.