mental health & playgrounds

Playgrounds, Mental Health, & Brain Development

Presented by: JC Boushh

playitsafesigns@aol.com

The Amazing Brain

The Amazing Brain: Cerebral Arteries

The Amazing Brain: Neurons

The Amazing Brain: Synapse

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)

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.

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

Environments changes the brain!

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

Novelty & Complexity in the Brain:Playing a Computer Game

Novelty & Complexity in the Brain:Playing a Computer Game

Experienced Player

Inexperienced Player

Novelty & Complexity on the Playground

Sand

Loose Parts

Water

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.

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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

Mirror Neurons

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

(Hamilton, 2008)

Play = Learning

Questions & Discussions

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.