Comments on: Easy Spending Cuts http://benjamin-gray.com/2009/06/easy-spending-cuts.html Conservative Commentary Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:36:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Benjamin Gray http://benjamin-gray.com/2009/06/easy-spending-cuts.html/comment-page-1#comment-820 Benjamin Gray Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:29:56 +0000 http://benjamin-gray.com/?p=860#comment-820 Pauline, thank you for taking the time to post that response. First, it is not entirely accurate to say that the claims of Brain Gym simply "do not stand up to scientific scrutiny"; many them (such as the ones I have quoted) are entirely false. Many of the developmental skills you mention could be acquired from exercises other than those proposed by "Brain Gym", and at far less cost. There is a vast difference in cost between "structured repetitive physical movement" (i.e. exercise), and the proprietary programme of "Brain Gym". The former can cost virtually nothing, while the latter charges thousands of pounds. Brain Gym ought to have some very good reasons to justify its price, yet none of the ones it gives do so. Like you say, you are not a brain gym instructor, yet you appear to work in a related field; surely that is evidence that alternatives exist to that massively expensive programme? Pauline, thank you for taking the time to post that response.

First, it is not entirely accurate to say that the claims of Brain Gym simply “do not stand up to scientific scrutiny”; many them (such as the ones I have quoted) are entirely false.

Many of the developmental skills you mention could be acquired from exercises other than those proposed by “Brain Gym”, and at far less cost. There is a vast difference in cost between “structured repetitive physical movement” (i.e. exercise), and the proprietary programme of “Brain Gym”. The former can cost virtually nothing, while the latter charges thousands of pounds. Brain Gym ought to have some very good reasons to justify its price, yet none of the ones it gives do so.

Like you say, you are not a brain gym instructor, yet you appear to work in a related field; surely that is evidence that alternatives exist to that massively expensive programme?

]]> By: pauline oliver http://benjamin-gray.com/2009/06/easy-spending-cuts.html/comment-page-1#comment-819 pauline oliver Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:30:48 +0000 http://benjamin-gray.com/?p=860#comment-819 According to Wikipedia and other sources, Applied Kinesiology,the basis of Brain Gym does not stand up to scientific scrutiny...but neither does Homeopathy or Acupuncture. For me the two basic brain gym exercises of lazy 8's and cross-crawl are a skill-set, that most children have achieved comfortably by a certain age. We have received many children into school who have not achieved their developmental 'milestones' at the appropriate age and who have not received any intervention at all. My experiences using just the two basic exrcises have demonstrated considerable improvement for hundreds of children in:- attention, hand-eye co-ordination, non-verbal learning skills, organisational skills, written work and self-esteem. It is particularly relevant for children with dyspraxia, dydlexia, down syndrome, asperger sydrome and adhd, and provides positive and effective intervention with great results. ( www.happinesspages.com/brain-gym-exercises.html) I am not a brain gym instructor, but I witnessed very damaged children who learned to walk using brain re-patterning (via physical movemnt of the limbs and head by a team of dedicated team of volunteers B.I.B.I.C) If structured repetitive physical movement works at that level, then it enhances function for most kids. It is not money wasted and will I believe bring better results than the proposed government initiative of 1-1 teaching. Been there, done that, it's not cost effective. According to Wikipedia and other sources, Applied Kinesiology,the basis of Brain Gym does not stand up to scientific scrutiny…but neither does Homeopathy or Acupuncture.
For me the two basic brain gym exercises of lazy 8’s and cross-crawl are a skill-set, that most children have achieved comfortably by a certain age. We have received many children into school who have not achieved their developmental ‘milestones’ at the appropriate age and who have not received any intervention at all.
My experiences using just the two basic exrcises have demonstrated considerable improvement for hundreds of children in:-
attention, hand-eye co-ordination, non-verbal learning skills, organisational skills, written work and self-esteem.
It is particularly relevant for children with dyspraxia, dydlexia, down syndrome, asperger sydrome and adhd, and provides positive and effective intervention with great results. ( http://www.happinesspages.com/brain-gym-exercises.html)
I am not a brain gym instructor, but I witnessed very damaged children who learned to walk using brain re-patterning (via physical movemnt of the limbs and head by a team of dedicated team of volunteers B.I.B.I.C) If structured repetitive physical movement works at that level, then it enhances function for most kids.
It is not money wasted and will I believe bring better results than the proposed government initiative of 1-1 teaching. Been there, done that, it’s not cost effective.

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