More to the point, practice wires the brain for whatever it is we practice. By routinely engaging in a behavior or skill, that ability “wires” in the brain. This is true for the behaviors we value as well as those less desirable habits.  As the saying goes, “what fires together wires together.”

For example, imagine your child comes home from school and plops a book bag right inside the door, tosses a coat somewhere nearby and happily zips off to some activity.  Moments later your child hears the familiar sounds of frustration, as this is a scene that plays out every day.  It is you stating in exasperation, “How many times do I have to tell you not to leave your stuff all over.  Get back here and take care of this immediately.”  So here is the “practice” that is wiring together in your child’s brain.

            1.         Come in the door.

            2.         Toss things down.

            3.         Go play.

            4.         Get yelled at.

            5.         Complain.

            6.         Pick things up.

If it happens every day, like a well rehearsed play, a pattern forms with little thought toward changing it. It’s the only script in your child’s possession for the “Home from School” play.  If it is not the script you want, then it is up to you to change the script.  Practice for a different play – a better play!

When your child walks through the door, explain that there’s a better, shorter version of the “Home from School” play.  You might share how the brain patterns by saying that every time we do something, a pathway for that action is created in the brain.  The more we do it, the stronger and faster the pathway becomes.  Find examples in nature and in the community that show pathways; like well worn footpaths or sledding hills.

Begin a new pathway by practicing what you do want.  Have your child practice coming in the door and hanging up his or her things.  Practice again. Practice again.  Now you’re ready for the real thing.  When your child comes home and hangs his or her things up right away say, “You did it! You wired your brain for success. Yeah for you!”  If an old pattern creeps back in, practice again.  We do it in sports, music, acting – why not with book bags?