074. Understanding Child Development: The 12 Senses with Hannah Freed

I find parenting to be easier in some ways when we as parents are working with some basic child development information. For example, it’s easier for me to understand why my baby wants to put everything in their mouth if I know they are teething and that biting down on anything provides some relief from the pain of teething. Or that if a tween is unusually moody or distant it could be because she is getting ready to get her first period. These are all basic child development facts that are easy to remember…and easy to forget in the moment. There are lots of developmental milestones that come at various ages and the more we can learn about these milestones as parents—see them in our kids now AND have some info about what is to come—the more we can show up with compassion for what is happening (or going to happen) naturally. We’ve all heard of the 5 senses (maybe you’ve even heard of a 6th sense), but in some education circles, there are 12 senses that develop in 7-year cycles over 21+ years. Our guest today, Hannah Freed, is here to share her incredibly comprehensive knowledge about the 12 senses with us as a way to empower us as parents. The more we know, the better we can show up and support our kids where they are developmentally. Hannah’s Bio: Hannah first experienced her passion for serving populations with special needs when she was 16 and an exchange student in Germany. She did an internship during her 11th grade year at a Camphill community. Camphill is an international movement of intentional communities designed to meet the needs of children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities through a combination of community life, the arts, and work on the land. (She talks more about it in the show—it’s really interesting). Since then she has continued on a path of working with children to help make their learning experiences are positive and fun. Hannah has taught in both public and private schools for 20 years. For the past 13 years she has been the Educational Support Therapist in two different Waldorf schools, addressing foundational learning and behavioral issues. She is also a mama of two amazing boys. In her spare time, she paddles and races Hawaiian outrigger canoes and soaks up vitamin D and Sea. CREDENTIALS: · BS Special Ed. from Appalachian State University in NC · MEd. Elementary Ed. with Waldorf Teacher Certification from Antioch University of New England in NH · Waldorf Remedial Teacher certification through Association of Healing Arts · Advanced Practitioner certification through Integrated Listening Systems · Safe and Sound Protocol Certification · Trained in HANDEL and Brain Gym Methods You are going to learn a lot today. (I know I did!) And I am so excited for you, mama! In this episode Hannah & I talk about: · What the 12 senses of child development are · The Lower Senses: (0-7yo) Touch, Life, Movement, & Balance · The Middle Senses: (7-14yo) Smell, Taste, Sight, & Warmth · The Higher Senses: (14-21yo) Hearing, Speech, Concept, & Ego · We dive into each of the senses—what they are, how to support them, healthy & unhealthy presentations of them, and more · The reality of children today · The importance of meaningful work (i.e. chores) · How we can have sensory issues as adults (and see ourselves in the 12 senses even years later) · Healthy diet and the role of food in development FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM Follow Lori Beth on Instagram: www.instagram.com/loribethauldridge