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concerned about the few facts before us. Yet, the reality is that the unconscious brain has
more to do with learning than the conscious brain. This approach works for any age.
5. Uncovers genius
Helping our children realize their highest potential, free from our expectations, is the greatest
gift we can give back to life. A newfound sense of self is the goal for any age. Accelerated
learning for 0 3 year olds embraces the same principles as for any other age, but it is not
remedial at this stage. Infants are at the peak of their ability to absorb with their right brain
functions. What can emerge is an ability that was dormant and might have stayed dormant
without the outside stimulation.
6. Continues the work nature has begun
It is now common knowledge that learning results from the stimulation of parts of the brain
that seem to activate and integrate the left and right hemispheres to work together
harmoniously in ways that increase cognitive power. Nature gives every infant a head start
for the first year of life. On its very own, the brain organizes millions of synapses into
coherent mental patterns that account for acute vision, mobility, speech, etc. 1
Researcher Craig Ramey found that brain power would level off after age one if exposure in
the environment didnt take over and continue to provide the brain with sufficient stimulus to
keep it growing and developing to its maximum capability. He found out that no amount of
stimulation later in life ever closes the gap between the trajectory of what might have been
with stimulation and what cognition is because of lack of stimulation. 2 That is a directive for
early stimulation from a mainstream theorist.
Still Not Convinced?
Do you still find yourself wondering about the premise of accelerated learning for babies? Are
you thinking, Arent they already so accelerated in their learning that they leave adults in the
dust anyway? Wont they just develop naturally if things are left to nature to prune and shape
the brain? People often ask why would you want a toddler to read or multiply in their
heads? The only answer that can be given is why not? But only if the learning that develops
the reading and math skills is completely stress free and fun for the infant.
Consider the way an infant learns language. All day long he/she hears sounds millions of
combinations of sounds and somehow from this exposure day in and day out, he/she develops
the ability to reproduce language correctly. Showing 15 minutes of images side by side
compared with a day spent absorbing sounds in the environment seems like it should be a
piece of cake to the infant mind and it is, if it is not forced on the infant.
Lifelong damage and a dislike of all that resembles formal schooling could result if the
learning were forced and regimented. This means that for success to occur the adult in the
equation must be totally nonattached to the results and this is not easy for some parents and
teachers who want their effectiveness to be measured by how well the child is doing, and what
they are learning. In the case of learning to speak, as adults, we cant be attached to the results
because we have to trust that our child will speak just like every other child we have
encountered, even if they arent speaking to us today. Its not unlike that with the visual
image input as well. Have faith and trust in the incredible brain of an infant.
If a child can read at 3, a whole world of information opens to them. If they develop perfect
pitch they will never lose it. If they can add in their heads, they will enjoy math class in
kindergarten and beyond. And they will have learned these things when the brain is at the
peak of absorption from the environment.
What scientists are learning is that when synapses fire over and over, they leave a myelinated
sequence of connections that result in learning. So by practicing by inputing information
to a young childs brain you are assisting in the myelination process and increasing
learning. That seems like working with nature not against it.
Conclusion
Right brain education will not be every ones cup of tea. There is a learning curve requiring
the shedding of a lot of preconceived ideas about how we teach and learn. It is not easy to
become a right brain educator if you are focused on the goals of learning and not the process.
It really helps if you have intuitive abilities developed yourself, are familiar with internal
brain wave states, and can relax and calm your mind and approach the child with all the love
in your heart. I have watched parents and teachers working with children using flashcards
and other accelerated techniques and it was obvious that not all led with love and respect for
the child as their primary motivator, or really understood the underlying reasons for what they
were doing. So, a very important concept I would like to underline is that accelerated
learning is maximized when there is a joyful, heartfelt exchange between the adult and the
child.
These techniques can be misused. Do we want to create children who have mental access to a
vast compendium of information but do not have a developed moral sense? From my own
meditations on the question Why use it? the answer goes beyond the obvious one of
developing the right brain abilities. I believe these abilities tie into the soul senses and create
the open door for a higher expression of the frequencies of caring and support between the
adult and child in learning environments which will follow the individual into adulthood.
My theory is that as trust and relaxation predominate in learning experiences and the imaging
abilities are enhanced as a vital tool, the soul too takes benefit from the right brain/accelerated
approach to learning. Without sounding too much like a romanticist, I believe I can foresee in
the far distant future a time when this type of education will become widespread. And as a
result, intuitive states will be heightened in people, meaning that there will be a friendlier,
more helpful, happier and contented civilization. Smarter too.
Dr. Celeste A. Miller
1. Ramey, C. (2007). Authors notes taken at Carolina Abecadarian Project Presentation
at the National Invitational Conference of the Early Childhood Research Collaborative
held at the University of Minnesota Center for Early Education and Development.
Imaging is Key
An aspect to this approach to learning that is perhaps the most powerful is the technique of
teaching children to image. The ability to image can be enhanced and opens cognition to
unconscious memory building. The discovery of this is usually attributed to Glenn Doman in
the 60s and then further refined by Makoto Shichida, (both now deceased) and others,
including Pamela Hickein. These individuals discovered that the brain has the ability to fast
map thousands of bits of information in a coherent way that allows for retrieval and increased
memory power. Apparently dormant senses in the brain are utilized in the approach to
learning often called right brain education. Marrying both hemispheres of the brain in a
harmonious working relationship results in an incredible acceleration of learning.
[1] Kotulak, R. (1996). Inside the brain. KS: Kansas City, McMeel Publishing
Education around the world is making a big change from what it has obviously followed up
until now, cramming information into children. It is moving toward developing children's
abilities to learn independently, think and live. Japan's educational system still has many
things to learn from other countries. Within this system however, Shichida Method education
was quickly recognized as an education that helps children develop rich hearts.
For children's important futures, it is necessary for parents to reconsider childcare during
infancy, heart care and the question of scholarly abilities.
Child rearing involves starting love education from the time a child is born as well as learning
about disciplining the child, for example, how to praise, scold and teach self-control. It
involves reaching a decision about how to develop the child's dreams and determination. It is
important to think about everything as one large flow, up through moral education and how to
contribute to society.
Of course, intellectual training and reasoning are also necessary. Soul education must do these
things as well as include educating the heart about the importance of considering others,
sensitivity education and teaching the child about maximizing his/her potential and being
useful to society.
Do you know what mothers should remember to do when they are pregnant or how mothers
should encourage their children in infancy?
The Shichida Method states that "love", "strictness", and "trust" are the three important parts
of child rearing. "Love" is the most important of these three.
When their children are babies, most mothers hold their babies, carry them around, rub cheeks
with them, gaze lovingly at them, speak kindly to them and convey their love to their babies.
However, as their babies grow, the number of times they tell their children "I love
you" decreases.
Even when your child grows up, don't be ashamed to tell your child that you love him/her. If it
is too awkward and you can't find a way to say it out loud, convey your love through your
actions.
The Shichida Method places importance on helping develop the amazing budding
potential that all children possess. I would like you to understand that these buds
of potential are best developed through parental love.
Born in 1963, in Shimane Prefecture, Japan; Makoto Shichida's second son; Graduated from
Tokyo Science University, Department of Science- Mathematics; Became CEO and President
of Shichida Educational Institute, Inc. in 1987; Special Advisor to Shichida Child Academy,
Inc.