Awakening the Child Heart by Carla Hannaford

Childhood & the effects of the environment (including in utero) on the brain/body. Science & personal story combined.

I was impressed with the book. Brief notes on some of the topics it covered:

• the physiological effects of stress on the brain (including in utero)
• effects of cortisol, stress hormones, on children with parental loss
• how to "truly be present with our children"
• the power of the electrical field of the heart and the effects of this
• nervous information from the heart affects the brain
• whole chapter on in utero stress (discusses Moro Reflex)

Help Your Child to Learn by Barbara Pheloung

Sometimes learning problems are a mystery; the child seems intelligent yet there is a block. Barbara Pheloung, a resource teacher, has worked for the past 30 years helping children to achieve their full potential through the developmental approach. Although most of the children referred to on A4everFamily aren’t learning disabled per se, many of them do have issues or blocks that prevent them from reaching their full potential without some kind of assistance. Pheloung profiles nine children, several of them adopted, that have benefited from different types of intervention: food/diet, medical, movement, communication (hearing, listening, understanding), eyes & eye movement, and organizational skills. Checklists help the parent or professional to assess development in each of these major areas. In addition, a checklist is included to assist parents in evaluating toddler or preschool development.

Move to Learn (VHS) by Barbara Pheloung

Highly recommended. See review here.

Neurodevelopment Through Movements (DVD) by Suzanne Day

Suzanne Day, a Canadian Neuropsychologist, has produced a DVD demonstrating sequencial movements designed to activate “brain pathways for learning and attention span.” Day’s program, “Neurodevelopment Through Movements,” based on the work of Dr. Temple Fay, neurologist, comes from the idea that neuroplasticity allows people to improve brain function, even wiring areas that may have problems due to interruptions in development…which can be caused by any number of things, including deficits or stressors in the early environment. In her DVD she describes the role of each part of the brain and explains how issues in various areas may relate to certain behaviors. She goes on to outline how normal development happens and suggests intervention that can help children who’ve undergone neurodevelopmental interruption. Day presents a step-by-step program designed for children to do at home each day in an effort to improve neurological function, giving the brain a “second chance” from the brain stem to the cortex. See review here.

Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior by Billye Ann Cheatum & Allison Hammond

Helps to diagnose difficulties & implement exercise plan.

Reflexes, Learning,and Behavior by Sally Goddard

Detection and analysis of primitive and postural reflexes.

What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child by Glenn Doman

Although "Brain-Injured Child" sounds ominous, since attachment/trauma have neurological roots, the theories in the book are very helpful in understanding how the brain develops. It explains the basic principles of brain development and describes a treatment protocol that many of us have found helpful in healing our children.