Neurologist Schools Seven Arrows Parents on Brain Development

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Reporter

“Up to 50 percent of the facts today’s kindergarteners are learning will have changed by their high school graduation,” said Judy Willis, M.D., M. Ed., a neurologist, professor and teacher.

This was just one of the many surprising facts Willis shared with Seven Arrows Elementary School parents at a special forum on preparing elementary school children for 21st century success held at the Palisades Recreation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

“I consider Judy Willis one of the most amazing [neurologists] this country has,” said Margarita Pagliai, Executive Director of Seven Arrows, as parents sipped coffee and nibbled on fruit and croissants at the morning event.

“For us to bring this to our school is very important,” Pagliali added.

Willis, who travels nationally and internationally giving presentations and workshops, said that children are born with the facility to develop executive function skills, but they are not born with them.

They develop over time.

In fact, the prefrontal cortex, the “control center” of executive functions, is the last part of the brain to mature.

Executive function skills help children to be self-directed and goal-motivated, think critically, understand and adapt to new information, communicate and collaborate, anticipate consequences, develop emotional self-awareness and think in creative and innovative ways.

Willis said these skills are increasingly important for creative problem-solving in the 21st century as technology increases the need for students to be able to evaluate new information.

Willis said some children may struggle with these developing skills in early school years and have problems starting tasks, sticking with tasks long enough to get them done and planning long-term assignments.

They may also lose things frequently, forget to bring things in and have trouble following directions and staying organized.

Willis said that like anything else, practice makes perfect—“Each time a brain network is used or activated, this causes the circuit to get stronger,” Willis said.

See the “9 Ways to Help Your Child’s Brain” box for tips to help your child develop these skills.

For more information, visit: RADteach.com.