Anat Baniel Method Lessons for Children
|
Can the Anat Baniel Method (ABM) help your child?
The ABM is a learning based approach which uses gentle, innovative techniques to help the brain of the special needs child form new neural connections and patterns. The ABM helps take the child beyond their current limitations and often the changes begin happening right away and can be quite dramatic. The ABM is based on the understanding that many childhood diseases and traumas interrupt the brain's normal and spontaneous process of learning. This also interrupts the communication that needs to happen between the child's body, the child's world, and the child's brain. Often, it is possible to directly communicate with the child's nervous system in very gentle, yet powerful ways especially through movement, greater awareness and non-verbal kinesthetic experiences. Where in traditional therapies there is great emphasis on trying to get the child to do what they are supposed to be doing based on his or her age, a very different approach is taken with ABM. Instead of trying to directly fix the problem by focusing on what the child cannot do, whether that's trying to stretch a short muscle, practice reading repetitively, or instructing the child over and over how to relate to others, the focus is shifted to where the solutions actually lie - with the brain. Everything we see a healthy child do is the result of a complex process of differentiation in the brain, creating new connections and new patterns. All the child's experiences, whether by her own initial random movements or by what is done with her by those caring for her, is information used by her brain to develop and grow. When a problem like a stroke, autism, cerebral palsy, or some genetic disorder happens, this process is interrupted and the child manifests a host of limitations. Forcing a child to move a spastic arm will normally give very little, or no outcome. When a child is unable to recognize and sort emotional and social interactions and cues, repeated attempts to get that child to relate to others is at best only partially successful. This is because their brain is unable to transform the stimulation received into meaningful information. The ABM focuses on helping the brain do its job better. It helps the brain right itself and regain its ability to powerfully and consistently create new patterns and successful solutions. |
ABM Has Helped Children With:
Parents and Caregivers note that their child:
|
|
This process can often move surprisingly fast, as you can see in the videos of Carter, Grace, and Isabel. (refer to our Videos Section). When a child begins learning in this manner, significant progress often follows. Early intervention can yield very rapid results, but we have also had great successes with children who had many years of conventional treatments before discovering the ABM.
What Does Success with the special needs child Look Like? There is some progress/change within the first few lessons, or the child is not learning. The changes may be subtle or dramatic, but if the child is learning there will be some noticeable change. Recognizing even the subtle changes and building enthusiasm toward them will help changes happen even faster. The child should be safe, comfortable, and happy during their sessions. Learning is a pleasurable and satisfying experience leading to greater freedom and ease. While the diagnosis may remain, the quality of the child's experience and joy will increase. How do I get more information? Contact us or visit the links below to see more about how ABM has helped children and to learn what's possible with this method. Read the many success stories, watch video presentations, and find more information in our Resources section. To book an appointment refer to our Booking page. |