Dr. Robert Brooks and the Basics

I'm thinking about the Brooks guy from Brooklyn, not the gospel singer, but the one who grew up around the corner from my grandmother.  Something felt familiar in the accent and manner listening to the keynote last Friday. 

It never ceases to amaze how the basics are what matters as the good doctor reminded us:

• A good diet
• Regular exercise
• Intimacy and friendship

My own mantra and training plan has been: " Breathe, Drink, Eat, Move. Smile."  For me these are intentional components that if nurtured, perhaps can support that 'charismatic' and present adult that Dr. Brooks talked about.  But we need to practice each of these items with intention.  They don't come naturally, at least for me. So I train.

• Breathe.  The breath.  Without breath there is stress.   I try to get in just a few full breaths a day.  If I get one; which is rare I celebrate.  Practice a few when you are driving or sitting, that is a good time. Breathe through your nose long deep and slow with your tongue on the soft palate and you lips closed. Three seconds total or so works for me for an in AND out breath. This is a mind clearer.
• Drink: Hydration is essential to brain function. (Wait.  I 'm getting up to get a drink....That's better...and with 100 steps declogged my blood flow in my legs)  
• Eat: I wish we could have food in programs like at home.  Multiple nibbling options one 'feeding' time. Did someone say Knosh?
• Move:  This is about the need to move the body and brain. Daily aerobic options including high intensity time as well as reading and writing.  Dr Brooks gives good advice to go on a ten minute walk. We are biological walking machines so lets use what we were made for. Let's embed more 10-15 exercise breaks at wacky times in programming. Just do it!  
• Smile:  "Consider that fifty percent of your nerve endings are in your hands, feet and face. Each of those nerve endings represents data processing power".  I see why a handshake and a nice greeting mean so much. See: http://news360.com/article/260828463 for a far out view.

Here are some actions you might take now to better support kids:
( Whatever, Mr. Preacher....)

• Breathing: Might you encourage breathing exercises as part of your daily routine and then as part of a community meeting, or then integrated into a 'mindfulness' approach.  Talking about and modeling your own experience with breathing and stress as part of conversation is worth its weight in gold if the dialog comes from your own experience.
• Water:  Offering chances to drink more for yourself and ask kids.  Ask them more often if they are thirsty.  Did you ever notice how hard it is to get fresh delicious water in schools?  Do a water audit and figure out how to have more water available) It always amazes me how I forget daily to drink enough.  ( wait, I need another drink)
• Dr. Brookes says smiling is a key factor in building resilience in kids. Perhaps we can find new ways to support jokers more along with a little more fun.
•  Move:  our statewide evaluation plan expects kids have 20 minutes of exercise and movement every two hours as the afternoon progresses. Are you meeting this expectation?  And as we know, short 10 minute bursts of activity are always a great idea to refresh the body and brain which can happen anytime and anywhere. ( Okay I'm repeating myself)
• Cell phone shut downs: From Dr. Brookes: " I think cell phones should be turned off when working with kids".  This says to kids and others you are too important to have my attention on you interrupted.
• Music:  Find opportunities to play music appropriately.  Borrow or get a nice sound system or radio for your program. Google baroque music and the brain

Please share your ideas on the your 'basics," the foundations for success!

Emanuel

Zeroing In

As I get older, each visit to a program serving children becomes more interesting.  I find I am looking forward to a what is becoming more and more a suspension of judgement, preconceived notions, and desire.  It's sort of like learning the art of listening; something I've never been good at.

A breakthrough point for me was at the YPQA training where we learned about and practiced observing and writing down a stream of factual information.  This was very hard.  I had to focus ( for once), clear my mind, and just observe.  Suspend judgement.  Stick with facts and a clock.  Keep up with the activities. Watch my mind jump ahead of the pen and will the ball point forward at a faster rate. Just the facts maam.

Now having practiced this exercise many many times, it almost feels like a meditation or a giving act. Slowing down brings forward questions and challenges deeply held convictions. If a child is engaged, you are there to experience it.  If a teacher makes a mistake, you feel it.  You can elongate the little things: Smiles, anger, frustration, boredom; all the real emotions of humanity in a moment.

Zeroing in is to take an reading from which other readings are to be measures.  I see this as a laser beam in on the kids, the adults and the spaces in between.  I focus on nothing else.

The other day I was able to feel a juxtaposition of two programs, one of total structure and tradition; another of total freedom and spontaneity.  Free play outside and violin lessons.  Same time; next to each other; different kids.  These are two things I know a lot about and have put in my time.

In violin, kids were in rows, working on their posture, and holding violins and learning bow strokes while holding off on the third beat of four.

Outside kids were running, holding onto monkey bars and dropping with glee.


I tried to imagine what was going on in all of these brains.  What was being built and how.  And for what.

There was struggle and challenge on the fiddles.  It was not fun and games.  Yet it WAS all fun and games outside.



I wondered, which if anything, was better. And why.