Stimulation experienced through the five senses encourages a child's brain to develop and make connections. Neurons, or cells that carry and transmit impulses, in a child's brain actually grow!
Therefore, more experiences = more neural connections
Using the holistic approach, you can reach each section of a child's brain, allowing these neurons to multiply through various experiences.
Let's take a look at what skills are related to each main area of development. The image provided shares a brief overview of information for each area.
Developmental Skills
Cognitive
Cognitive development refers to a child's overall intelligence, or how he or she continues to learn and process new information. It requires a mastery of skills and progress in all four domains. A child's brain grows to 80% of its adult size by age three. By age five, 90% of a child's brain has already developed, allowing him or her to more efficiently and quickly retain information.
Language
When given the right opportunities, children, particularly those from birth to age 5, rapidly develop language skills. That's why it's so important to expose children to language on a daily basis, which allows the brain to develop connections related to speech.
Social-Emotional
Children also need experiences that help them develop the social-emotional parts of the brain, including those related to positive relationships. Beginning at birth, they should feel safe and trust their parents, which can help to build a strong foundation for future attachments as they gain confidence.
Young children also need encouragement and support when it comes to controlling and expressing emotions. For example, there's a reason why we call them the ''Terrible Twos''. As a child's brain develops, he or she may be overwhelmed with emotions and may need assistance in taking charge of those emotions. Healthy social-emotional development allows a child to be more readily available to learn and make connections in all other developmental areas.
Physical
Finally, energy and physical activity promote the neural connections required for overall development. Exercise and movement increase blood flow to the brain, providing it with the energy it needs to acquire new information. Early experiences where children learn through their senses can help them understand the world around them. New concepts can be digested as students learn through applicable concrete activities.
Learning Environments
Learning environments, both at home and at school, play a vital role in holistic development. As mentioned, most of a child's brain development occurs even before he or she enters Kindergarten. This is why it is crucial to provide a rich learning environment that fosters the development of the whole child.
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Health can be measured in many ways and is often broken down into a variety of numbers and diagnoses that don’t often provide the best picture of what a truly healthy body and mind look like.
While modern-day western medicine has brought many wonderful and life-saving advancements, one of the downfalls of western medicine is the often siloed approach to health, which looks at the body in sections of individual symptoms and pieces rather than the whole system it really is.
This is why holistic health is so important because to truly achieve optimal wellness in the physical, mental, and spiritual sense we have to be viewing and supporting the body as the incredible system it is.
WHAT IS HOLISTIC HEALTH?
Holistic health or holistic healing is often defined as a form of healing that looks at the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. This kind of holistic healing often involves multiple complimentary medicines and alternative healthcare practices that can overlap with modern-day western medicine but will go beyond the singular treatment of symptoms to support more than just the body.
Some alternative healthcare practices that often are found within the realm of holistic health are:
- chiropractic
- herbalism
- massage
- energy work [reiki]
- therapy
- yoga/meditation
- acupuncture
- physical therapy
- general western medicine
- nutrition
- personal training
When all of these complimentary therapies come together for holistic healing, a person is much more likely to experience wellness on a deeper level that allows for a more joyful and truly healthy way of living.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLISTIC HEALTH
While people are living longer today they also are experiencing chronically high levels of stress and fatigue, are consuming nutrient-depleted foods, and are exposed to hundreds of potentially harmful chemically through our air, water, cleaning, and personal care products daily. So to say that holistic health is important would be an understatement.
For many living with chronic disease and undiagnosable symptoms, the modern-day healthcare industry has failed them, and it is time that a more holistic, whole-body solution became a standard part of the way we treat and support the health of the billions of people living on this planet.
Holistic health also takes into account the many external and environmental factors which could be supporting or impacting our overall health and wellness, and with climate change impacting our surrounding environments more and more each day, it is important that we have a systematic way of addressing health in the future.
THE 5 ASPECTS OF HOLISTIC HEALTH: PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND MENTAL
When it comes to holistic health we are looking beyond the physical body and are addressing physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health. All of these 5 aspects of holistic health are what enables a person to truly live each day in the healthiest, happiest way possible and if one area is compromised, most likely other areas will be as well.
PHYSICAL
Our physical health is what most people think about when they think of health. This is mostly because it is the physical body that often shows us physical signs and symptoms of either optimal or sub-optimal health. These physical signs and symptoms are also easier to track and measure, versus other non-physical signs and symptoms that can feel more abstract.
When it comes to supporting your physical health there are few key practices that everyone can benefit from and can make a huge difference in your overall well-being:
- Sleep for 8 hours each night. This will allow your body to truly rest and repair from the day.
- Eat a nutrient-dense diet that is high in plant-based foods and organic/pastured animal products.
- Maintain a balanced blood sugar by eating meals and snacks that contain fat, carbohydrates, and protein every 3-4 hours.
- Move your body for 30 minutes each day. While every person’s exercise routine will be different, everyone can benefit from at least 30 minutes of movement each day.
- Limit processed foods and hydrogenated oils which are highly inflammatory and can increase the risk of chronic disease.
- Do not smoke, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
EMOTIONAL
While often overlooked, our emotional health is just as important as our physical health — especially because our emotional health can affect our physical health if it is not prioritized.
Ways you can support your emotional health:
- Seek out therapy when needed. Therapy is an essential part of supporting our emotional health and should be utilized whenever necessary.
- Practice mindfulness and stress reduction habits that can help you better manage life’s daily stressors.
- Keep a journal to record your thoughts and feelings. Use your journal to record what you are grateful for as it can help bring positivity into times of stress.
SOCIAL
Research has shown that the happiest people on earth have deep connections with their friends, family, and community. This is often why religion is connected with happiness as it can provide a deep sense of community and support, no matter what faith a person chooses.
Ways that you can support your social health:
- Make time for in-person connection. While technology has allowed for us to feel connected more, research has shown that virtual connection still does not provide us with the same level of happiness as an in-person connection does.
- Get involved in your local community. Whether this is through your church, local volunteer organizations, clubs, or programs at your kids’ school — getting involved in your local community is one of the best ways you can support your social health and improve happiness.
- Set boundaries with people in your life that may increase stress or bring about toxic energy. Also do not be afraid to walk away from friendships and relationships that are negatively affecting your health.
SPIRITUAL
Spiritual wellness does not necessarily mean that you need to become religious, although the two often have overlapping practices and principles. Instead, your spiritual health should focus on how you are connecting with your inner soul and the greater world around you.
Ways you can support your spiritual health:
- Spend time in nature
- Spend a few minutes each day meditating
- If you are religious, take the time to practice your faith
MENTAL
The last aspect of holistic health is our mental health, which often overlaps with both our emotional and physical health. The big distinction between our mental and emotional health though is that while our emotional health refers mostly to our daily mood and emotions, our mental health refers to our cognitive abilities that affect how our brain functions.
Ways that you can support your mental health:
- Always keep your mind active by seeking out learning opportunities and problem-solving practices that challenge your brain.
- Consume nutrient-dense foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that will help reduce overall inflammation and support cognitive function.
- Avoid excessive drinking, smoking, and consuming recreational drugs.
- Improve gut health with gut-healing foods like bone broth and prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods. Since the brain is directly connected to the gut a healthy gut is essential for a healthy mind.
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