The book Enriching The Brain by Eric Jensen addresses your questions about IQ and he discusses ways to improve brain function in detail. There is also information on how educational programs affect brain function re: your concern of brain dead. I read a study that a diet in nutrient dense foods raised IQ's in children by 10-20 points. Early childhood events have been proven to affect children, in the ACE Study, Advisorial Childhood Experiences, provides medical study of the affects of enviormental stressors with statics so enlightening it is changing policys where State Departments are working with Mental Health to offer a program called PBIS,Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as professional developement to school districs. According to longititual studies children in enriched enviorments at home have 10 points higher IQ's. School Survival Skills are mentioned as esential to all childrens suscess at school allows children to deal with the enviormental stressors. Since stress directly affects IQ. Cognitive Therapy is possible option to help child if they are anxious,frustrated or enviormentally sensitive due to enhanced right-brain functioning. From personal experience it is the enriched enviorment at home that really can make the difference. DH and I provide learning experiences that are functionally relevent. Learning how to make a bow and arrow. Then doing target practicing is developing hand eye quordination and is wiring brain. Making 3-D shapes. Tracing designs at 4 years old helped develop fine motor skills necessary to write.A At 7 years old DH taught him to opperate backhoe,weld, do woodworking,At 11 years old they built a storage building for project. Learned math and design.At 4 yrs. took nature walks and gathered leaves,bugs,unusual sticks(he carved on the sticks,made a collection of bugs and looked up what they were, he copyed huge leaf and used for making a envelope. He collected and sorted rocks for hours. So I bought a rock tumbler and he designed jewelry and gave them as presents. All multisensory learning keeps brain learning and engaged if it is interesting and fuctionally relevent. His VMI score was in 99% at 11 years old. Pretty sure it was same at 3Years old since he perfectly organized Gdpa's tool trailer. When he plays card or dominos he remembers all the cards played and knows what you have. Beat his teacher at chess. DH bought small boat they rewired and restored as project, went fishing,took pictures of experience. Had him design money collection jar for PTO. PTO president said at PTO meeting someday he's going to be famous, she verbalized the amazing design of the money jar was why it collected such a large amount of money. I am new on this board, so it is a real learning experience. I've been trying to figure things out. These are things we did that are making the difference no matter what the school does or doesn't do. Hope something was of interest or helpful. Since I'm new on board, it's been a real learning experience! I sure do appreciate all of the great research information! Wishing you the best!
