5 connections that will change children’s lives | Laura Jana | TEDxOmaha

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Early childhood development, personal health, and business performance are intertwined. Dr. Laura Jana takes a long view on merging these topics to improve children's lives.

Dr. Laura Jana’s is a pediatrician, health communicator and an award-winning author of two parenting books and three children’s books. Her focus extends far beyond a pediatric office, from health technology, vaccines and injury prevention to parenting, early literacy, brain and child development, and health and nutrition promotion/obesity prevention. She is currently collaborating with MIT Media Lab on global health technology innovation.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[thereGoMapo]

Here are 5 connections that changed my life:
1. Growing up with BOTH of my parents
2. Having many diverse friends from my neighborhood in my childhood
3. Growing up with an extended family and cousins around my age
4. Having Teachers that cared not just about our grades but how we were doing in life
5. Falling off my bike

[maryazaki]

Here's my summary. Hoping it will help you! Make the 5 connections
1. Connecting what we do now with what we want later - Connection with the big picture and WHY of parenthood. Don’t lose yourself in details.
2. Connect the playroom to the boardroom - Build strategic 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, questioning, creativity - skills that s/he will need to succeed in the future
3. Build connections in the brain by giving positive feedback - smile, coo, read, play with the baby to help her rapidly developing brain
4. Reconnect health and learning - the importance of sleep, nutrition, and exercise should be an integral part of learning as health and learning are codependent
5. Connecting to the world our children will live in - Help children get ready for the world we live in now! Help them learn technology wisely. Help them learn to communicate with the world as their future success depends on it. Interesting stat about children’s ability to read by third grade: Their 18 months' vocabulary :O .. That was a wow for me. I have a 9 months old and this is very pertinent information. Hope it will be helpful to you! I will be making videos on child development as well - as it has become my passion! See you there! :)

[DaisysmileAu]

As parents, the greatest gift we can offer is to encourage our children to give things a go regardless of ‘winning’ or ‘losing’. Attempting new things takes courage and the winning is learning from trial and error. There is no such thing as failure, only learning that leads to progress.

[robertportillo]

I am absolutely Blown Away by all the negative comments here. It's almost as if these people watched a different TED Talk. I can only assume that those who had nothing but negative things to say are unable to comprehend the angle from which you are speaking. I enjoyed your TED Talk and agree with almost every point that you made. I apologize on behalf of all of the idiotic commenters.

[loveofinquiry]

Pay at least one parent to stay home. Respect them for doing it!

[kash]

It seems to me like many viewers might have misunderstood the message. This talk was on purpose set in the economy style. Not because she only cares about children becoming money-makers but in order to point out that we, as the modern society, often put much less thought and effort to how we raise our children than how we do business. Every single thing we do with a baby matters so much and impacts who they grow up to be. And, as she said, this affects their future careers as well as overall well-being . So for me, this talk was about making sure we maximise our children's chances of becoming good, happy and successful (whatever that means - all up to the values you instil in them). Cheers all!

[srajensen]

So many amazing points! Yes, early childhood is so crucial in determining a child's education level and future career, as well as health. So worth the listen!

[sammy_lynn]

All I heard was read and talk to your kids, they'll be healthier and happier.

[hildaogutu]

Thank you for caring to share and relating your wealth of knowledge to parenting in the present day. Most comprehensive and holistic approach - integrates health, nutrition, technology to learning and eventual outcome as adults. I am priviledged to listen to your recording. Congrats Laura Jana.

[nancymohass]

Two thumps up for your thoughts ! We all need to be educated about raising children, before becoming parent, this means prevent lots or most of humans crisis, before they happen . Viva Parenting School!

[tiarayara]

My gosh! Thanks so much for the talk. It is what I have been looking for... the big picture and not to get lost in the day to day crying, eating, diapers etc and the fact that technology do exist and see the gap and help them to close that gap

[Womenmatter]

We are no longer called parents. We are "chief engagement officers".

[reynal_omnicide]

I understand the importance of creating healthy behavioral patterns in kids is very important, however, this approach of turning children into money maker machines feels oddly unsettling to listen to.

[remihumanantium]

Very interesting and making sense within the many assumptions stated along the speech.

[johnnyblatez]

I smile at everyone, 20% smile back the other 80% give me the "is he nutz look"

[amarya]

That its true we must connect the child with our Creator, now that I am going to be with childrens, thank you

[lferram]

This is definitely a very different perspective on parenting. I found it very depressing.

[goodmabel]

The Scandinavian cultures know how to educate children connected to nature where a child can explore and wonder and be creative. Learning to read is left to the age of 7. Didn't agree with Laura Jana at all.

[wirsiyjohnbongkiyii]

Congratulations dear Laura.
I am a proper parenting activist. Your presentation is awesome i enjoyed and learned a lot from it and i totally agree with you in your point of view. i will be glad if i can be opportune to discuss more of this with you.

[joohipillai]

so many points unaswered, what exactly were her opinion on technology?