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Playgrounds, Mental Health, & Brain Development Presented by: JC Boushh [email protected]

Mental Health & Playgrounds

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.Participants will be able to Better Define the Brain Development Benefits of Playgrounds in Child Development 2.Participants will be able to Better Analyzing playground Structures based on Brain Development. 3.Learn How to Design Play Environments Based on the Knowledge as to How Playgrounds Effect Brain Development. Activities to be Conducted: Interactive learning occurs as participants discuss newest research on the brain value of playgrounds.

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Page 1: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Playgrounds, Mental Health, & Brain Development

Presented by: JC Boushh

[email protected]

Page 2: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

The Amazing Brain

Page 3: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

The Amazing Brain: Cerebral Arteries

Page 4: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

The Amazing Brain: Neurons

Page 5: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

The Amazing Brain: Synapse

Page 6: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

The Vestibular System

1. Facilitates children’s development of the following skills:

• Balance• Learned motor skills: walking,

hopping, & running.

2. Children love to spin or ride, activating the vestibular system.

3. The rhythmic movement of play: • supports language development

(eye-tracking necessary for reading)

Page 7: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

What Is BDNF?

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF):

• a protein which has activity on certain neurons of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

• it supports the survival of existing neurons, and encourages the growth of new synapses connections.

Page 8: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

BDNF BenefitsVigorous physical activity does the following:

• activates genes in the brain • generates the production of BDNF

BDNF does the following:• stimulates neurogenesis (nerve cell development) • production is stunted by stress

Page 9: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Environments changes the brain!

A busier, more complex outside environment will physically alter the physical structure inside the brain!

Page 10: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Novelty & Complexity in the Brain:Playing a Computer Game

Page 11: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Novelty & Complexity in the Brain:Playing a Computer Game

Experienced Player

Inexperienced Player

Page 12: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Novelty & Complexity on the Playground

Sand

Loose Parts

Water

Page 13: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Physical Activity & the BrainThe cyclical process between the brain and physical activity has a role in neurogenesis. Leshner (2002)

• Muscles in the body rely on the brain for cues to begin movement or react to a stimulus.

•This movement, in-turn, regulates blood flow

•Blood-flow feeds the brain both oxygen and nutrients.

Page 14: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

0-

1000-

2000-

3000-

4000-

5000-

6000-

With Exercise

Without Exercise

Neu

rog

enesis in

fou

r weeks

Exercise Doubles Neurogenesis

Source: From H. Van Praag, G. Kempermann, and F. Gage, “Running Increases Cell Poliferation and Neurogenesis in the Adult Mouse Dentate Gyrus,” Nature Neoroscience 1999, 2, 266-270

Page 15: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Mirror Neurons

“Mirror Neurons make it possible for people to learn complex motor skills simply by seeing others perform them”.

(Hamilton, 2008)

Page 16: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Play = Learning

Page 17: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Questions & Discussions

Page 18: Mental Health  & Playgrounds

Resource Supplement• Magic Trees of the Mind (1998)Diamond, M.• Enriching the Brain (2005) Jensen, E.• The Amazing Brain (2007) Wolfe, P.• A Nation of Wimps; The High Cost of Invasive

Parenting (2008) Marano, H.• The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog (2006)

Perry, B.• The Developmental Benefits of Playgrounds

(2004) Frost, J. & Szalavitz, M.• Einstein Never Used Flash Cards (2003) Hirsh-

Pasek, K. & Golinkoff, R.