subject: Anat Baniel Says "Do Not Praise Your Child"...Here's Why [print this page] Anat Baniel Says "Do Not Praise Your Child"...Here's Why
Anat Baniel studied under Moshe Feldenkrais for over two decades. Like any great teacher Moshe encouraged his student to use his method but to find her own voice. Anat Baniel found the magic of her abilities when working with special needs children. The Feldenkrais Method has evolved and became refined under Anat Baniel's capable hands. The Anat Baniel Method's roots can be found in the Feldenkrais Method but her individual voice can be heard loud and clear in her teachings. The method works with the brain, it recognizes the ability of the human brain to make changes and to form new patterns. It communicates with the nervous system and brain to wake it up so it can find alternative ways of doing something.
My two and half year old son was diagnosed with Microcephaly at five months old and after an MRI at one year old it was determined he had Cerebellar Hypoplasia. Liam was also given the Cerebral Palsy diagnosis due to his ataxia and global developmental delays. We worked with Early Intervention since he was ten months old and we have sought alternative therapies to support his developing needs.
Liam has been receiving Anat Baniel Method lessons for the last three months. Liam has flourished under this method.
Anat Baniel will tell you "do not praise or ask your special needs child to repeat this new movement". Here's why:
"The praise or clapping will inhibit change and startle your child." Imagine an image of a map in your brain. When a habit is formed a path on that map is created. When performing the habit repeatedly that path becomes clearer, the groove in the path gets deeper. When a change has occurred a new path is created but the path is shallow, with practice this path will get deeper and deeper. If you ask the child to repeat what s/he just learned, they will go back to using the original deeper path.
For example: When Liam stands his brain map for walking may indicate: lock knees, slide legs forcefully in any direction and reach out for something. For his brain stability equals locking his knees but the truth is when knees are soft we have more movement and balance. When Liam stand balanced and took a step forward with soften knees, I had quickly asked him to do it again and he immediately went back to his original way of what he knows walking means.
To quote Anat:
"Delight in the change and do not deny the fear but put it on hold for thirty seconds. Walk out of the room and call your spouse or a friend but do not ask your child to repeat the movement. Celebrate that which has been accomplished. Train yourself to go towards the change. Amplify and empower the changes internally. Celebrate small things. Love and appreciate the change. (This is my favorite part) The genius is in noticing the small changes. Any idiot can notice the big changes."
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