Maximising children's learning experiences for brain development

Maximising children's learning experiences for brain development

A newborn’s brain contains 100 billion brain cells or neurons. These neurons are highly connected as one of their roles is communication, and amazingly a single cell can connect with as many as 15,000 other neurons. These connections are created through experience and learning and lead to a network which is referred to as the brain’s “wiring”. In the research, it is known that “cells that fire together, wire together”. So cells which repeatedly connect or fire together, will create a stronger, lasting bond and will therefore wire together.

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Love is a choice

Love is a choice

We all have stories within us. Most of us have many stories. 

What are the stories we tell ourselves about love and relationships?

Are you someone who tells yourself that all the good relationships happen to other people?

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This is how stress derails healthy development

This is how stress derails healthy development

Learning how to cope with adversity is an important part of healthy development. While moderate, short-lived stress responses in the body can promote growth, toxic stress is the strong, unrelieved activation of the body's stress management system in the absence of protective adult support.

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Let children run wild - it could even improve their academic performance

Let children run wild - it could even improve their academic performance

Physical fitness and agility are linked to bigger brains and better test scores....

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Girls bullying (gossiping, secret-telling & lying) can trigger Eating Disorders

Girls bullying (gossiping, secret-telling & lying) can trigger Eating Disorders

Relational bullying is escalating at a rapid rate throughout our country. This is bullying that transpires within female friendships. It starts very young, as early as second and third grade, and can have profoundly negative long-term consequences such as eating disorders. 

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Do you think your judgements are correct? Let's have a look at what affects them..

Do you think your judgements are correct? Let's have a look at what affects them..

Did you know that in relationships, we often prefer the familiar (staying together) to the unfamiliar (breaking up), even if we're currently unhappy with our partner. This is called Status Quo bias. There are many of these biases affecting our behaviour and choices every day. 

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Teenage substance abuse? Here is Iceland's answer to it. And it works, so why don't we adopt it?

Teenage substance abuse? Here is Iceland's answer to it. And it works, so why don't we adopt it?

Iceland knows how to stop teenage substance abuse. Smoking, drinking and drug use have been radically cut in the past 20 years. Emma Young finds out how they did it, and why other countries won’t follow suit.

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Relationships are everything - Let's talk about how to get them right!

Relationships are everything - Let's talk about how to get them right!

Harry is 45-year old. He has been married for 16 years, but his marriage has been very troubled. He and his wife are often resentful of each other, they rarely communicate on an intimate level, and they have few moments of real pleasure.

Other aspects of Harry’s life have been equally unsatisfying. He doesn’t enjoy his work, primarily because he doesn’t get along with his co-workers. He is often intimidated by his boss and other people at the office. He has a few friends outside of work, but none that he considers close.

During the past year Harry’s mood became

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Signs of stress in your children and teens

Signs of stress in your children and teens

Young people, like adults, experience stress. It can come from a variety of sources including doing well in school, making and sustaining friendships, or managing perceived expectations from their parents, teachers or coaches. Some stress can be positive in that it provides the energy to tackle a big test, presentation or sports event. Too much stress, however, can create unnecessary hardship and challenge. Adults can sometimes be unaware when their children or teens are experiencing overwhelming feelings of stress.

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Confidence - research shows independent schools' focus on mental toughness

Confidence - research shows independent schools' focus on mental toughness

Pupils in independent schools are controlled, committed, confident and like a challenge, new research into soft skills and mental toughness reveals.

Pupil confidence high as research shows independent schools' focus on mental toughness Findings to enable schools to target and boost pupil wellbeing

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