In this fascinating, info-packed episode, neurodevelopment specialist Janet Oliver joins Melanie and Michael go discuss Montessori-based and neurodevelopmental insights into human growth, development, learning, behavior, and physical and mental function -- and how many things we take too much in isolation are connected holistically.

We discuss:
-Janet’s background, career, and interests
-human neurodevelopment basics
-the importance of "tummy time” for babies -- and the adults they become
-the deep importance of holistic thinking
-how movement when young has profound influences on our biology, lives, and social behavior as adults
-the importance of the Moro reflex to breathing later when we are adults

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About Janet (see also: https://www.planforlearning.com/bio): "My name is Janet Oliver. I am a neurodevelopmental detective. I look at the evidence of sensory-motor development to help people in learning and life. Physical or emotional trauma at any time of life can affect our life’s developmental arc.

"I am finishing my psychology PhD in cognition. My dissertation topic reflects my interest in neurodevelopment and the sensory-motor-reflex development approach.

"I started my career as a Montessori teacher in Seattle, Washington. Later, I help found Classical Academy in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Classical Academy used a fusion of classical and Montessori education and neurodevelopmental approaches.

"I then went on to earn my master’s degree in Human Development from St. Mary's University in Minneapolis. At that time, I became a Certified HANDLE Practitioner in neurodevelopment and have been in private practice for over 20 years.

"I live with my husband in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I travel frequently to many states, especially Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington to give courses in neurodevelopment, train interns and see clients. I am a mother of four adult daughters."

Janet's Website: https://www.planforlearning.com

Contact Melanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-katragadda-nctm-9b14522a
Contact Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/ or http://goldams.com/

External links:
1. The HANDLE Institute: https://www.handle.org

2. Montessori Education
a. https://www.montessori.edu
b. http://imsmontessori.org/index.html
c. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_education
d. https://amiusa.org

3. Biography of Maria Montessori
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXqeTYHn0p4
b. https://www.whitepaperpress.us/bbc-documentary-on-maria-montessori/
c. https://montessori-ami.org/resource-library/facts/biography-dr-maria-montessori

4. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. The Workout the Wold Forgot video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGF-ErsJiI
d. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
e. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
f. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
g. Erwan LeCorre's bio: https://www.movnat.com/erwan-le-corre/
h. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/
j. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
k. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib

5. Katy Bowman
a. Website: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com
b. Dani Hemmat, who trained with Katy: http://www.moveyourbodybetter.com
c Katy's book Move Your DNA: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-DNA-Movement-Expanded/dp/1943370109/
d. More of Katy's books: https://www.amazon.com/Katy-Bowman/e/B0057HLJY2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
e. Katy Bowman on breast-feeding
i. https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/podcast-transcript-ep-72-breastfeeding-ecology-part-1/
ii. https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/podcast-transcript-ep-77-breastfeeding-ecology-part-2/

6. The Moro Reflex: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_reflex

7. Parkour
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour
b. Dr. Ben Waller on safety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCLTcQ9i6rI
c. Fight Science - Parkour Ryan Doyle & Daniel Ilabaca
i. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQSyEwQ-j3U
ii. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cHW7atJ-VY
iii. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQYuZQ_WsEc

8. Some good Parkour gyms and training centers
a. Urban Movement: https://urban-movement.com
b. Fugitive Fitness: https://www.fugitivefit.com

9. A Chance To Grow: https://actg.org/about

10. J.J. Gibson
a. Ecological theory of perception: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_psychology
b. J.J. Gibson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Gibson
c. Gibson’s book The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception: https://www.amazon.com/Ecological-Approach-Perceptual-Learning-Development-ebook/dp/B000QFAKUY/

11. The Soul of a Horse by Joe (and Kathleen) Camp: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Horse-Life-Lessons-Herd/dp/0307406865/


See also:
1. John Boyd's OODA Loop: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop
1.a. Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram: https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed/dp/0316796883/

2. The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Nadine Burke Harris M.D.: https://www.amazon.com/Deepest-Well-Long-Term-Childhood-Adversity/dp/0544828704/

3. The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be by Dr. Martha Herbert and Karen Weintraub: https://www.amazon.com/Autism-Revolution-Whole-Body-Strategies-Making/dp/0345527208/

4. Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by E.O. Wilson: https://www.amazon.com/Consilience-Knowledge-Edward-Osborne-Wilson/dp/067976867X/

5. Epigenetics
a. Books about epigenetics (have not read them, just mentioning them for your consideration).
i. The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology Is Rewriting Our Understanding of Genetics, Disease, and Inheritance by Nessa Carey: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-Revolution-Rewriting-Understanding-Inheritance-ebook/dp/B0074MTTEK/
ii. Epigenetics: The Death of the Genetic Theory of Disease Transmission First Edition
by Joel D. Wallach D.V.M, Ma Lan M.D., Gerhard N. Schrauzer Ph.D.: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-Genetic-Theory-Disease-Transmission/dp/1590791495/
iii. Epigenetics: How Environment Shapes Our Genes by Richard C. Francis: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-How-Environment-Shapes-Genes/dp/039334228X/
iv. You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease by Judith Finlayson and Kent Thornburg: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-What-Your-Grandparents/dp/0778806332/

5. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey: https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-Brain/dp/B001GAUS6E/


Picture courtesy of Janet Oliver.