Episode 266: Understanding Your Child’s Brain: How Brain Development Shapes Behavior and Learning with Dr. Robert Melillo
/What if understanding your child’s developing brain could help you better understand their strengths, struggles, and the ways they experience the world?
In this fascinating and thought-provoking episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I am joined by Dr. Robert Melillo, a clinician, researcher, and developmental cognitive neuroscientist, to talk about brain development, developmental milestones, movement, primitive reflexes, and the developing nervous system.
Here are the topics we covered:
Why the brain continues developing so much after birth
How developmental milestones can provide insight into brain development
The role of movement and sensory experiences in childhood
What primitive reflexes are and what it means when they are retained
How brain development can influence learning, communication, and regulation
Why children can have significant strengths and challenges at the same time
Understanding neurodivergent children through their individual strengths and needs
Supporting children without making them feel like they need to be “fixed”
How parents can better understand their child’s unique development
When families might consider seeking additional support
Resources:
You can learn more about Dr. Robert Melillo, his work, and his resources through his website www.drrobertmelillo.com, including his “Report of Findings” video.
Remember, understanding your child’s brain can help you better support their needs while honoring who they are.
Tune in to learn more about child development, neurodiversity, and the ways we can better understand and support our children as their brains and nervous systems grow.