Early Loving, Early Learning - Loving Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

Recording #1 – Lauren Porter, Co- Director, Centre for Attachment
First relationships: Love, emotional intelligence and the foundations for life

It has become a cliche to talk about the importance of first relationships in a child's life. But what do they really mean? And how do you grow a relationship that has the capacity to truly nourish body and soul, both yours and your child's? Parents get conflicting advice from a myriad of experts, yet the heart of the matter is both simple and difficult... can you be truly present for your baby? To facilitate that, it is helpful to understand:

• What attachment is - and isn't
• The meaning of 'regulation' and the parent's role
• Attunement and the process of tuning in to self and other
• The implications for 'coal face' issues like sleep and feeding

Lauren Porter is the Co-Director of the Centre for Attachment www.centreforattachment.com

She obtained her Masters Degree in Social Work from New York University, USA in 1995 and has since been dedicated to working with families, children and adolescents in the field of mental health counselling and training. Her current professional focus is the merging of attachment theory with neuro-scientific data, with an eye toward the practical applications of everyday life. She has published in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. She is a member of the External Advisory Group for the NZ Government Taskforce on Child Maltreatment, a member of the Attachment Parenting International Research Group (API-RG) and an Infant Mental Health Association Aotearoa New Zealand (IMHAANZ) Executive Committee (Secretary). She is the mother of two children.

"As a Psychologist who has specialised in helping people to work through the faulty thinking caused by the ignorance surrounding child development, some well intentioned and unfortunately some that is not, I really appreciated what Lauren was talking about in terms of biofeedback. The neurobiology research that is coming to the forefront of today's information on child development is so empowering both in terms of clients and therapists who for years have been ignored over this issue in favour of the quick fix. The impact of early preverbal stress has huge implications for a child's emotional intelligence, reaching into adulthood. So I would like to thank you."

Susan Dalby

Recording #2 – Dr Sarah Buckley, GP (Family physician), author of 'Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.' Giving your baby the best start in pregnancy and birth

On this call you will discover how you and your baby can get the best possible start in life, from preconception through to birth.

• How superbly designed your female body is for birth, and how this superb design can maximise safety, ease and pleasure for you and your baby, as well as giving ongoing and life-long health benefits for both of you.
• The benefits of a drug free birth for you and your baby
• How you can maximise your chances of a drug free birth
• How you can help yourself and your baby if you have experienced a difficult or traumatic birth

Dr Sarah J Buckley (www.sarahjbuckley.com) is a GP, author of the internationally-acclaimed book Gentle Birth. Gentle Mothering and currently full-time mother to her four children, all born at home. Sarah encourages us all to be well informed, to trust our hearts and instincts and to take our rightful place as the real experts in our bodies and our babies.

I was induced with Tahlia due to pre-eclampsia and it's just like Sarah said (and even mum who was there commented) the contractions were close together and oh so painful from the start, that I had to move to gas to pethidine to an epidural within hours. I am not cross nor disappointed in myself, just sad that the natural birth I wanted did not happen. But after all I have heard on Sarah's talk, I am determined as much as I can control, not to let this happen with the next one. I will grab a copy of her book. What a brilliant talk and wonderful woman -- I learnt just so much.

Alison Walsh

Recording #3 – Amy Spangler, MN, RN, IBCLC,
Parenting-What makes it easy? What makes it hard? What you can do to make it simple.

Every parent wants to be a good parent...to help their babies grow up healthy and smart. Parents know 'what to expect when they're expecting', but after their babies are born they need to know what to expect during the early days and weeks.

As well as discussing how infant feeding affects your baby's growth and development, Amy will share the answers to important questions about what to expect in the early days and weeks.

• How often should your baby eat? Poop? Pee?
• What is normal when it comes to crying, sleeping and growing?
• How you can respond to your baby in ways that will help him grow healthy and smart.

When you are armed with these facts, you will gain confidence in your ability to meet your baby's needs and you will be able to ignore inappropriate advice and enjoy your baby.

Amy Spangler (www.babygooroo.com) and (www.amysbabies.com) is a wife, mother, nurse, lactation consultant, educator, author and breastfeeding expert. Amy earned her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Ohio State University and her master's degree in maternal and child health from the University of Florida. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a former president of the International Lactation Consultant Association, and a former chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Amy is the author of BREASTFEEDING, A Parent's Guide, BREASTFEEDING, Keep It Simple, BREASTFEEDING, Your guide to healthy, happy baby, and Guidelines for the Establishment of Exclusive Breastfeeding. She currently serves as president of Amy's Babies and Baby Gooroo. Amy lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Dennis. They have two sons, Matthew and Adam.

Recording #4 – Sally Goddard Blythe MSc.FRSA
The Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP Ltd).
Physical interaction and social engagement - essential ingredients for learning

Despite all the inventions and wonders of the modern technological age, human beings were designed to grow up in the physical world receiving sensory stimulation, movement opportunity and engagement with the primary source of love in the early years. Just as the processes of maturation and development are hard wired into the brain before birth, so environmental opportunity and experience are like the software which enables the hard drive not only to reveal its potential, but which more importantly in living creatures, also changes the architecture of the developing brain and nervous system. This dual relationship of nature and nurture is what makes us who we are.

Sally will reveal:

• What are some of the essential ingredients of "nurture" in the early years?
• Why is reflex development important for later learning?
• How do early movement and sensory experiences develop brain pathways for later formal learning such as reading and writing

Sally Blythe (www.sallygoddardblythe.co.uk) and (www.inpp.org.uk) is the author of several books and published papers on child development and neuro-developmental factors in specific learning difficulties including: Reflexes, Learning and Behavior, The Well Balanced Child and What Babies and Children REALLY Need. Her newest book, Attention, Balance and Coordination - the A,B,C of Learning Success was published by Wiley-Blackwell in April this year. Details of all books can be found at: http://www.inpp.org.uk/inpp_publications/books.php

She is the author of The INPP Test Battery and Developmental Exercise Programme for use in Schools - a programme of daily exercises designed to be used in schools with a whole class of children over one academic year - this programme has been the subject of published research[1] involving 810 children across schools in the UK. The aim of the programme has been to provide teachers with a method to help them identify physical readiness for learning and a programme of exercises designed to encourage physical readiness in children with problems.

INPP Chester is the international training centre for professionals wishing to access The INPP Method. INPP training is also available in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Information about training can be found at: www.inpp.org.uk/special_needs_training/index.php

Sally has lectured on the role of infant reflexes in development and later learning problems to many different groups throughout Europe and in different parts of the United States. She is a member of the International Alliance for Childhood and the "Open EYE" campaign - a pressure group dedicated to ensuring that children's developmental needs remain at the top of the agenda for government recommendations for early years education in England.

I don't have much time to prepare detailed feedback but for what it's worth, Sally absolutely blew me away! WoW, Wow, WoW!!!! I wish I was on the line live - I would have loved to hear more about how Sally has been able to use her knowledge to help her 2 children that she mentioned on the call as her reasons for pursuing the knowledge. Thanks again for putting on such a great suite of seminars.

Felise Fraser

Recording #5 – Hilary Henshaw, A.C.M.M., A.Mus.A., A.T.C.Lond.
Early childhood music and language specialist; Creator of 'Growing with Music' and "MusicaLanguage" (in collaboration with Dr. Beverly Joffe)

Babies and young children love music and respond to it in many ways. They may be stimulated, soothed, excited or motivated. These responses can be seen in children of all ages and stages and with varying abilities. Music is a powerful tool that can be used to enrich our children's lives and enhance their development...from making musical connections before birth and bonding with a newborn to developing cognitive, physical and personal skills and building self-awareness and confidence. Music is also a very effective way to help children develop their speech, language and emergent literacy skills. Absolutely no musical knowledge or skills is required to help your baby grow through music. Every parent can help children develop through:

• singing, moving and making musical sounds
• games that develop listening skills
• interactive musical fun to enhance speech and language
• encouraging creativity and self-expression

Hear how to give your children and your family the gift of music for life!

Hilary Henshaw A.C.M.M., A.Mus.A., A.T.C.Lond. www.hilaryhenshaw.com, www.growingwithmusic.com.au and www.musicalanguage.com is a professional singer, actor, speaker, educator and qualified music and speech teacher. A past Melba Scholar, Hilary has worked with major theatrical companies throughout Australia. For more information please visit www.hilaryhenshaw.com.

While raising her four daughters Hilary decided to combine her love of music with her love of children and specialize in music for early childhood, teaching, writing and recording original material. More than twenty years later her "Growing With Music" series of seven CDs and books is one of Australia's most highly acclaimed and widely used early childhood music resources. The newest series, "MusicaLanguage", created in collaboration with Dr. Beverly Joffe, speech pathologist, lecturer and leader in paediatric speech and language pathology at La Trobe University, focuses on enhancing young children's speech, language and emergent literacy skills, through music.

Hilary's keynote presentations and professional development workshops have made her one of Australia's most sought-after early childhood music specialists. Her work currently involves performing, speaking, recording and educating.

Recording #6 – Jo Kennedy, DipT.ACU.Vic Aust; BEd.VU.Vic Aust; PPG Gifted UConn USA; PGdHIC.OBU,UK

Teacher, early intervention advisor, baby signing specialist and founder/ director of Fingers and Thumbs.

Smile! Your Baby is Signing.

We all know the joy of a baby's first smile. Remember the excitement everyone feels? Your baby's first smile is a milestone and recognition of the adult/baby bond. We know we are doing something right. Our baby can show us they are happy. Our joy is a positive and natural response which is fundamental to human kind. A smile is often deliberate and serves to engage another to illicit some kind of response. It is an effective form of communication celebrated all over the world. The positive response the baby receives encourages the baby to repeat the act over and over to the delight of all. A smile shows parents that the baby wants to connect with its world and the people in it. The brain is switched on, eyes light up ready to receive. The baby has indicated he/she wants to learn, be loved, have his/her needs met. Interacting with another human is at the core of any culture and essential to positive relationships especially in a family. These are the principals of Baby Signing. Baby Signing extends the joy of a smile with more pre-verbal gestures. Jo will enthusiastically explore the real joys, great fun of learning and sharing Baby Signing.

Jo will discuss:

• How early can you start signing with your baby?
• When and where to introduce signing,
• How Baby Signing supports gentle parenting
• How Baby Signing promotes speech
• How Baby Signing develops neurological pathways
• How it can reduce screaming and tantrums in baby and parent!

Jo will also let you in on the ONE BIG SECRET about Baby Signing that even surprised her when teaching her own 4 wonderful children.

Jo Kennedy (www.babysigning.com.au) is the founder of Fingers & Thumbs IncTM (F&ThTM) As a DHS Parent Adviser in Early Intervention Jo had to respond to the needs of families who needed to communicate with their babies who were deaf or had special needs. Jo developed a range of Auslan signing programs, DVDs, classes and books. She continues to research and develop products, calling on her 20 years experience as a Teacher of the Deaf, Special Needs Visiting Teacher for Hearing, Gifted and Physical having studied in the UK and USA. She has Directed and created the Sign HereTM series of DVDs and is one of Australia's most experienced Baby Signing experts. Jo practises and enjoys attachment parenting, is a passionate breastfeeding advocate, is a full time mother of 4 young children, married to Paul and is based in Melbourne.