A Comprehensive Guide To Right Brain Training in Singapore

The brain is an amazing organ that interprets information from the outside world, and controls all functions of the body. Thought processes, memory, emotion, touch, temperature, breathing, hunger, are a few of the many things governed by the brain. On top of that, it’s also responsible for directing our motor responses. Together, the brain and spinal cord that extends from it make up the central nervous system, also known as CNS. The brain is composed of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and composes of two halves, namely the right and left hemispheres. Joined by fibres called the corpus callosum that transmits messages from one side to the other, this part of the brain takes care of higher functions like interpreting touch, sight and hearing, speech, reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine movement control.

In recent years, there have been numerous discoveries about the learning brain. You have probably also heard or read about left or right-brained dominance, where each side of the brain controls different types of thinking. The left brain aids in logical sequencing, rational thought, and analytical reasoning. The right brain, on the other hand, is in charge of subjective thought, holistic thinking, and intuition, which are all essential parts of development and learning. Some other abilities often associated with the right side of the brain are expressing emotions, creativity, and imagination. In this article, we’ll take a look at right brain training such as the Heguru Method, and the role it can play in your child’s development.

The importance of training the brain at a young age

The right brain usually develops by the time children are 6 years of age, with 90% of brain growth happening before kindergarten. The left brain, on the other hand, doesn’t fully develop until children are approximately seven years old; hence the first seven years are seen as a critical period, and the best window of opportunity for a child’s brain to develop the connections they need to be healthy, capable, and successful adults. The right brain is an important part of who we are, but most educational systems in Singapore focus more on training the left-brain, often resulting in right brain training being neglected. This in turn, leaves out an important aspect of brain development, when in actual fact, it’s vital that the whole brain is well developed for children to perform in all areas of learning. Additionally, if the right brain of your child is left untrained during this time frame, the rate of learning decreases and your child’s innate right brain abilities become dormant beyond the age of six. Understanding this can help us better appreciate the importance of right brain training in a child’s learning and development, and why we need to be extra careful with the type of academic agendas created for children.

Benefits of right brain training for children

• Boost in confidence
  Every child has their own talents. The confidence of each child is boosted through the exploration of their unique potential through right brain training.

• Train problem solving skills
  Right brain training activities will help to sharpen the mind and thinking skills, in turn developing problem solving abilities.

• Independence
  Right brain training will develop the ability for a child to think logically and make decisions calmly, nurturing observant and independent thinkers.

• Improvement in attention span and memory
  ​Memory games and puzzles help to train their cognitive functions. With repeated practice, children will be able to pay attention better, learn at a faster pace and retain information for longer.

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Factors to consider before sending your child for right brain training

It’s common for many parents to send their children to learning centres and enrichment classes in Singapore. Young, eager minds should be engaged in an environment that can stimulate their interests accordingly in order to nurture their development to the next level. This is where enrichment classes come in, providing a different environment from what children would usually experience at home. However, it is important to factor in certain considerations before deciding on a learning centre as this will be a long term investment. Below are some things you might want to consider.

• Identify your goal 
  Ask yourself what your goal for the enrichment classes is, including what specific skills you hope for your child to gain from it. Perhaps you’re hoping that enrichment lessons will reinforce and go beyond what’s being taught in preschool to prepare your child for the higher demands in primary school. Or maybe you simply want them to meet and play with other kids, even if they don’t end up acquiring an academic skill. Whatever classes you’re considering, make sure to have a clear objective for it first.

• Keep your expectations reasonable
  ​It is important to set reasonable expectations when sending your child for a particular enrichment class to avoid feelings of disappointment. Doing so will also help to alleviate the pressure of learning off your child, especially in cases of children with shorter attention spans. Respect that every child has a different attention span; children of younger age tend to have shorter attention spans, but can improve with the right training and practice. This is especially so if this is the very first in-class enrichment lesson that your child is attending.

• Consider your child’s learning style
  ​​There are various ways to learn effectively, so it is essential for parents to figure out what works best for their child. Each child has their own strengths and weaknesses. Does your child learn better in a group, or as an individual? It is important for parents to identify their child’s learning style in order to hone their potential and capabilities.

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What makes a good right brain training learning centre?

Every parent wants to help their child reach their greatest potential. That is why many choose to turn to right brain training learning centres to stimulate their child’s mind, hoping to develop a love for learning from a young, tender age. Here are some key elements when selecting a good learning centre for your child.

• Credible and passionate teachers
  Having an educator who is passionate about teaching is essential in developing your child’s love for learning. This can be the defining factor between a child who dreads going for enrichment classes and one who embraces learning and possesses a thirst for knowledge. Apart from that, it is important to also take note of their credentials and experience. Heguru education centre in Singapore consists of only the best educators who have gone through rigorous training and certification in Japan, coached personally by Heguru Japanese founders Mrs Ruiko Henmi, and Mr Hirotada Henmi to ensure the original Heguru programmes are effectively delivered.

• Holistic learning 
  A good right brain training centre will focus not just only on the right brain, but also learning as a holistic approach, in turn training also the left brain. The Heguru Method is a proven right brain training, and whole brain development programme that places emphasis on both imaginative exploration and critical thinking in a fun-filled environment for your child.

• Look for well-planned out, comprehensive programmes 
  ​The curriculum of the right brain training centre you are signing your child up for should be current, comprehensive, and in alignment with the Ministry of Education in Singapore. Heguru education offers comprehensive programmes designed for infants and toddlers, children in pre-school and primary school, all in a nurturing environment.

Right brain training through childhood

Training the right brain is a critical aspect of your child’s brain development. Doing so will bring about abilities that can be applied to all areas of learning, not just academically, but even in sports and music. This ensures that they grow to become well rounded individuals. As such, right brain training should start as early as possible, preferably during the formative years of 6 months to 4 years of age. While the early years are a critical time for brain development, the brain still needs a lot of remodelling before it can function fully as an adult brain. This brain remodelling happens intensively during adolescence, up until your child is in their mid-20s. Which is why it is still recommended for the training to continue into your child’s adolescent years.If you’re looking at right brain training for infants and toddlers, we recommend the Heguru Method baby classes and toddler classes for children from 6 months to 3 years old. Each lesson is packed with over 50 right brain training activities for babies conducted in a fun way to not only keep them engaged, but also effectively build their fundamental abilities during this crucial period.

Heguru Method’s Preschool Class is ideal for those between the ages of 4-6 years old. Specially curated programmes for preschoolers will see left brain activities being introduced to stimulate overall development of the brain, nurturing high-speed processing and memorization skills, and improved concentration. Lessons are fun and engaging involving puzzles, memory games, handicraft, moral stories, and more. Children are also encouraged to express themselves and trained in their comprehension abilities. Independence and responsibility will also be nurtured as children will be required to attend classes on their own.

For those in primary school between the ages of 7-12, Heguru Method’s Primary Classes are designed to unleash the full potential of your child’s unique abilities with speed reading development and increased visualisation powers. The syllabus for the primary classes uses the Hado Reading method, a skill that equips learners with the incredible ability to understand the contents of any book within a single second. This is touted to be achievable if training commences from an early age. Children are also trained to develop skill sets outside of the local education system such as Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

Benefits of a learning centre environment

Learning centres are usually equipped with credible and supportive teachers that provide extra help for children in areas where they are weaker in. While schools are more rigid with their curriculums, enrichment centres tend to be more flexible in how classes are taught, creating the ideal learning environment that may help children unlock and achieve their fullest potential. The student to teacher ratio is also typically smaller, allowing children to focus better and develop a deeper understanding of  concepts or theories. Below are more examples of the benefits involved.

• Greater interaction, more one on one time between student and the teacher
  Having a smaller teacher to student ratio allows teachers to be more flexible in their approach. They can better assess the learning abilities of their students, creating an individualised approach, hence increasing comprehension for all students. Students also get added time to study, ask questions, and improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a relaxed environment.

• Lighten a parent’s load of being solely responsible for their child’s development
  Sending your child to a learning centre can also help lighten the load on you, as busy parents, of being solely responsible for your child’s learning and development. Doing so will also provide greater assurance knowing that your child is in the good hands of a professionally trained team.

• Inculcate a love of learning among students
  A learning centre with programmes that expose children to new things through fun and innovative activities can inculcate a love for learning at a young age. Activities should capture their attention and encourage them to find out even more. This will help children grasp and understand new concepts as they grow, because they are consistently eager to acquire more content and knowledge.

• Bonding between parent and child increased in shared classroom activities
  ​A good learning centre will also place emphasis on working together with parents to build close relationships with their little ones. One way of doing so is by grasping opportunities for special parent-child bonding activities whenever possible, such as through scaffolding activities. Such activities are also beneficial for facilitating right brain development and learning.

Skills your little one can acquire at a right brain training centre

Right brain training learning centres place young learners in a fun-filled environment where emphasis is placed on both creative and critical thinking. They are nurtured into positive and confident leaders with an accelerated learning pace, enabling them to excel in various fields such as academics, sports, music, arts, and many more. Baby and toddler classes at learning centres also tap into a child’s innate need to explore through being engaged in hands-on activities, as they experiment and learn through fun and play. This encourages your child to develop self-expression and mastery in learning. Here are examples of skills your child will naturally develop from attending a right brain training learning centre.

• Independent learning 
  Right brain training cultivates independent learning habits and develops creative learning strategies in children before they start formal education. The specially designed activities are aimed at giving your child’s cognitive skills a workout, strengthening existing skills and developing new abilities. With targeted training and regular practice, learners can make dramatic gains in a relatively short period of time, bringing about confidence to take in new information, make critical decisions, and process the world around them.

• Motor skills and visual cognition
  Hone your child’s fine motor skills and visual cognition with right brain training. This involves smaller actions, such as grasping an object between the thumb and a finger. Benefits include maintaining attention and focus on a specific task for an extended period of time, body awareness, hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and sensory processing.

• Emotional development
  We know that a high IQ alone is no longer sufficient in today’s society, and in order for our children to excel, a strong EQ is also a vital aspect for them to succeed in the long-run. The right hemisphere of your brain is home to emotion, intuition, sensitivities, and impulses. Right brain training in the developmental period will help to boost children’s EQ and allow them to develop self-confidence. With right brain training, your child will be able to develop the skills to manage emotional complexity well, moulding them into well-rounded adults in the future.

Right brain training beyond the learning centre

Right brain training need not be solely carried out at a learning centre. The key to strong and successful right brain activities are the high speed techniques which engages young kids while developing their focus. There are several activities that parents can implement into their children’s daily lives to improve their cognitive skills and support their learning process. This gives them the practice they might require, and a holistic learning experience.

• Flashcards
  ​Flashcards are ideal for brain stimulation and fun learning. When we flash cards at high speed and in great quantities to your child, your child’s left brain will not be quick enough to process a large amount of information. That is when the right brain will take over and get stimulated during the process. This activates the potential of your child’s right brain to start processing a massive amount of information at a very high speed.

• Storytelling
  The left hemisphere of the brain is logical, it’s linear and it uses language. The right side of the brain is all about emotion, empathy, intuition, feelings. During storytelling, words from our left brain integrate with experiences from our right. An integrated brain is a healthy one that allows us to understand ourselves, and our world by using both our left and right hemispheres together. This sparks a child’s imagination and stimulates curiosity, builds a foundation for strong literacy skills, and develops social and communication skills.​When reading to your child, hold them close and ensure that they are comfortable and alert.. Alternate the pitch of your voice and read with emotions. It is also best to choose books with vivid pictures as these will hold their attention and encourage interest.

• Music
  ​Research has shown that having musical training is highly beneficial for long-term memory and leads to better brain development for those who start at a young age. Guiding children towards more deliberate and active listening engages the brain and all of its neural connections. This also allows them to uncover cognitive meaning and memory aspects of the song that stimulate all of the parts of the brain.

• Visual memory games
  ​​Doing fun visual memory activities can be good exercises for the right brain. These could involve children looking at, and remembering images of different shapes and colours quickly, then replicating them through drawings. You can also try laying out 5 cards in front of the child. Mix them up, add one new card, then lay out the now 6 cards. Get them to identify which the new card is. This game doesn’t just work as right brain training, it also improves attention and memory skills. If you’re looking for ways to increase right brain activity, give these memory games a try!

To conclude, effective right brain training enables a child to think more efficiently and acquire skills such as a photographic memory, speed reading and overall brain development. This enables your child to increase their potential intake of knowledge and process a larger amount of information at a faster speed, equipping them with beneficial skills throughout their growing years. It is important to take advantage of the critical window of your child’s learning to stimulate and develop your child’s brain abilities.

The Heguru Method was developed by the Henmi Educational General Laboratory (HEGL) in Japan over 30 years ago. Through extensive scientific research, it consists of programmes meant for early childhood education and right brain training, enhancing brain development of your baby, toddler or preschooler. When the child’s ability to receive and acquire knowledge is brought to the highest possible level, they will have the skills to adapt seamlessly to any aspect of learning in various environments. Want your child to be a happy, positive, motivated learner? Contact Heguru at either our HarbourFront or Choa Chu Kang outlets in Singapore to find out more today!