FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2006

Contact: Lauri Gross

440-834-0656

lgross5458@aol.com

MindExpanse.com

Optimize The Intellectual Potential of Any Child

Caregivers can help toddlers and pre-verbal infants build new neural connections that will last a lifetime, according to researcher Nancy Heleno of MindExpanse who wrote and is publishing MindExpanse Baby: Discovering Colors in spring 2006.

By combining recent research in psychology, cognition, parenting, and education, Heleno developed TICL (“tickle”), or Technique for Interactive Color Learning, which forms the basis of her handbook, aimed at parents, grandparents, daycare providers and preschool teachers.

Heleno said, “It is desirable to teach a child colors at an early age because early learning sets the stage for future brain development. This, coupled with the fact that brain pruning begins at about the first decade of life, suggests that the earlier learning occurs the better.”

At about age 12, 80 percent of brain mass disappears when a brain chemical dissolves unproductive and unused cells. Regularly used neural pathways, however, remain intact and protected. Heleno said, “As a mother I was initially panicked by this information but after researching further, I realized we should celebrate our ability to harness its potential for future generations.”

“The beauty of TICL,” she said, “is its simplicity and the way it lends itself not only to brain development, but bonding and creativity. It should be experienced as joyful and playful. A young child’s brain development relies on play. Keep it fun.”

According to Malcolm W. Wilson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Emeritus, California Polytechnic State University, “Ms. Heleno has written an important document for anyone who works with young children. The changes in our society over the last half century have robbed several generations of much of their potential. Ms. Heleno has given us a way to take back what has been lost by delineating a process we can use that will optimize the potential of each child. She makes a persuasive argument based on well-affirmed learning theories and current scientific investigations.”

MindExpanse

MindExpanse offers books, toys and other products to engage parents and caregivers in igniting intellectual power in infants and toddlers. Founded in 2005 by Colorado-based author and researcher Nancy Heleno, MindExpanse products incorporate the latest brain-development research for maximum impact and maximum fun. For a galley copy see contact information on page one.