Patricia Bennett, LPC

09/20/2025

A new wave of research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is challenging one of today’s biggest parenting trends. While many families rush to enroll their children in computer coding classes, MIT scientists now suggest that music lessons may do far more to boost brain development and overall intelligence.

The study reveals that learning music—whether through playing an instrument, singing, or reading musical notes, activates and strengthens areas of the brain responsible for memory, attention, problem-solving, and language skills. These neural networks overlap with those used in math and reasoning, giving children a deep cognitive workout that coding lessons can’t yet match. Music education engages both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, forging connections that sharpen focus and enhance long-term learning abilities.

While coding builds logical thinking and digital fluency, it typically stimulates fewer brain regions and relies more on repetition and structured problem-solving. Music, by contrast, combines creativity, pattern recognition, and emotional expression, creating a richer and more versatile mental environment. Children who play instruments or participate in music programs often show stronger academic performance, improved verbal abilities, and better emotional regulation.

Researchers also emphasize the social and emotional benefits of music. Playing in an ensemble or practicing with others fosters teamwork, patience, and communication—skills critical for success in any field, including technology. By developing these qualities early, children gain confidence and adaptability that can help them thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Importantly, MIT’s findings don’t dismiss the value of coding. Rather, they highlight music as a foundational tool for brain growth. A child who starts with music will likely learn coding more easily later, thanks to the enhanced memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills cultivated through musical training.

For parents, the message is clear: encourage your child to explore instruments, join a choir, or take music theory classes. These experiences not only nurture creativity but also lay down the mental wiring that supports all future learning—including technology.

As the digital world expands, it may be music, not machines, that gives young minds the strongest foundation for innovation and lifelong intelligence.

09/03/2025

07/16/2025

Playing Music Helps Older Brains Stay Sharp

Musical training may protect the aging brain by preserving neural networks critical for understanding speech in noisy settings, according to new research.

Older musicians demonstrated better speech-in-noise perception and retained more youthful brain connectivity compared to older non-musicians.

These results align with the “Hold-Back Upregulation” hypothesis, which suggests cognitive reserve from enriching activities like music helps the brain age more gracefully.

Imaging data showed that musical training maintains efficient connections within auditory and motor regions, reducing the need for compensatory overactivation seen in non-musicians.

While cause and effect remain to be confirmed, the study highlights the potential of lifestyle factors in protecting cognitive health.

Researchers recommend exploring similar effects from activities like bilingualism and exercise in future studies.

07/07/2025

06/28/2025

💛 credit: dr.kellyvincent

06/22/2025

05/25/2025

“An overlap too brief”
—from a grandmothers heart

I see your fingers, soft and small,
Curled like petals, barely sprawled.
Your eyes still wide with wonder new,
The world, a canvas fresh with dew.

And here I sit, in twilight’s grace,
The lines of time etched on my face.
Your giggle is a morning bell—
While I, love, hear the evening knell.

How strange that life should draw a line
Where yours begins and ends with mine.
I dreamt of days we’d laugh and run,
You chasing shadows, chasing sun.

I thought I’d braid your hair with care,
Tell bedtime tales from my old chair.
But seasons pass with cruel speed,
And time gives only what you need.

We only overlap so brief—
A page, a glance, a falling leaf.
I won’t be there to see you grow,
To watch you learn the things I know.

You’ll walk through life with steps so wide,
While I must take the shorter stride.
You’ll learn to dance, and love, and soar,
And I will simply be no more.

But know this, child, before I part—
You’ve sewn yourself into my heart.
This fleeting time we’ve shared, though slight,
Has filled my soul with endless light.

I’ll whisper through the winds you feel,
In lullabies the stars conceal.
And every bloom that meets your eye
Will carry my unspoken sigh.

We do not choose the span we share—
But oh, my love, how much I care.
Though time has cast us far apart,
You’ll always hold your grandma’s heart.

05/12/2025

04/30/2025

You may want to remove these from your diet.

04/27/2025

Saw this quote and had to share it online ():

“One thing's for certain, our children are not a distraction from what is most important in life and they ask us in so many ways to be present with them in day to day life.
Children test us when we are distracted, they want us to know when they feel disconnected from us.
They want to know that we will always make time to be present with them. Our presence means everything and it's through our presence that our children feel safe and seen.
As long as we stay aware of what actually distracts us from connection, relationship, presence then we will be modeling for our children what a life lived fully with joy and love looks like, we won't loose sight of what a distraction actually is and what is not.
Close your eyes and picture the deep connections you can have with each one of your children. The laughter, respect and love that will grow from year to year building a beautiful relationship that will last a lifetime and maybe even beyond.
Picture ways you can be present with your children in day to day life, and then model this because what you give attention to now will grow.
Our time on this earth is precious - time with our children, time with our family and friends, time to connect and form relationships with those we love, time to life fully and deeply, time to behold and be in nature's beauty, time to live joyously with laughter!”

04/16/2025

Anne Frank wrote in her diary,
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
True greatness is measured by the depth of our integrity and the generosity of our spirit, not by material success. A person's worth is reflected in the way they treat others, the values they uphold, and the courage they show in difficult times. Wealth and power may offer influence, but they don't define character. In a community, this means fostering spaces where kindness, honesty, and resilience are valued as much as achievement. We can practice this by supporting those in need, choosing fairness over personal gain, and recognizing the strength in compassion.
When we prioritize these values collectively, we create a society where real greatness thrives.

04/15/2025