No- nonsense advice for building wellbeing in kids
IN late May, renowned child therapist, neuro scientist, university lecturer and New Zealand radio and television personality Nathan Wallis headed to Mount Isa to present a two- day workshop on child brain development titled Building Blocks for Brains.
The workshop, sponsored by Centacare North Queensland, was geared to parents and service providers of children aged 0 to 12 years, and focused on recent discoveries in neuroscience and conscious intelligence, providing practical tips and guidance for optimum social and emotional wellbeing.
The Building Blocks for Brains workshop attracted over 80 attendees for the parents’ session and 70 attendees for Day 2’ s practical session.
Nathan wowed audiences with his no- nonsense handson advice for parenting and brain development including important advice about the relationship between parents and child in the first year of a child’s life, particularly the im- portance of frequent communication and hands- on activities with your child.
Day two involved a more hands- on approach for practitioners with Compass Seminars Australia’s Ben Monaghan leading groups through a challenging building exercise.
Groups were provided with the “foundations” for the brain with different experiences and challenges moulding the “brain” over time. Groups were required to build the strongest brain brain possible with the influence of these experiences changing the structure, to see how their ‘ brain’ would hold up in the long term.
“Most of your child’s brain develops in the interaction between their brain and other people’s. Hence, relationships between child and parent are vital for brain development,” Mr Wallis said.
“The more words parents speak to their children in the first year of life, the more they are earning at age 32.”
Centacare NQ Director Heather Alexander said she was delighted to have the opportunity to bring the highly renowned presenter and educator to the region.
“Nathan Wallis is the lead mind in neuroscience and child brain development — his no- nonsense approach and practical and useful advice and tips really resonate with parents,” Ms Alexander said.
“It is extremely rare that we have the opportunity to bring someone of his level of expertise to Mount Isa to facilitate this workshop.”
The Building Blocks for Brains workshop was made possible through funding received through the Department of Social Services Communities for Children and HIPPY programs.