It’s back to school time and loving parents everywhere are thinking about how they can help their kids succeed in school and in life. Billions of dollars and countless hours are spent on private schools, tutoring, sports activities, computer programs, music lessons, and even medications. It’s not just for struggling kids; it’s for high achievers as well.
I feel for the kids who are overscheduled and overstressed and don’t have time to just be kids. I feel for the parents, overwhelmed with what can be contradictory information, and trying to keep up with what society says is absolutely necessary.
The truth is, that while any of these activities may benefit the child, this “outside-in” approach will not have much effect if the child’s brain and nervous system aren’t developing or functioning the way they should.
Proper nerve flow through the brain and nervous system is necessary for memory recall, creative thinking, understanding concepts, coordination, balance, agility, strength, speed, fluidity of motion, growth, development, digestion, hormone production, homeostasis and reacting to changes in the external environment and internal needs.
Misalignments in the spine prevent the end organ or brain from functioning as it should. In a child, this can affect nerve growth and mental function and cause or exacerbate sensory processing disorders (SPD) such as Down’s syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, hyperactivity, or autistic spectrum disorder.
Do you know of children who complain about tags on their clothing bothering them? How about those who are excessively picky about the texture of their food? Or those who hate to be tickled or cuddled? These are signs of an over-responsive or ultra-sensitive nervous system. They are easily over-stimulated and find “normal” stimuli irritating or even painful.
What about children with poor gross motor skills for their age, i.e. difficulty running or riding a bike? Do you know a child with “selective” hearing or difficulty focusing or concentrating? This can be a sign of an under-responsive nervous system. Children whose nervous systems aren’t sensitive enough will either not respond or respond slower than normal to everyday stimuli. They might not notice obstacles in their path and appear clumsy or absent-minded.
