On Thursday, April 7th, esteemed neuroscientist Dr. Adele Diamond delivered a presentation at Bank Street titled “Executive Functions and the Brain,” as part of the College’s Centennial Niemeyer Series. Dr. Diamond came to Bank Street to help members of our community and beyond better understand the brain’s executive functions, their impact on education, and how to aid their development in children.
Listed as one of the 15 most influential neuroscientists alive today, Dr. Diamond provided insight on how teachers, parents, and caregivers can nurture executive functions in children such as thinking outside the box, mentally relating ideas and facts, giving considered responses rather than impulsive ones, and resisting temptations and staying focused. At the core of Dr. Diamonds presentation was the idea that science can be applied to enhancing the education of children, which heavily influences Bank Street’s approach to teaching and learning.
“Nurturing children’s social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical wellbeing can be critical for achieving the outcomes we all want for our children,” she said.
In her talk, Dr. Diamond stressed that adults should often give children the space to solve problems on their own and that they should remember to reinforce positive thinking in children, even if they are developing at a slower pace than others— which, she added, has no indication of their success later in life. She also emphasized that adults should work to foster the development of the child’s whole self to help them reach their fullest potential.
Dr. Diamond was invited to Bank Street as part of the work of Bank Street’s Brain-Based Research Team, which is supported by the School for Children Parents Association. The team is made up of School for Children and Graduate School faculty members who work together to pursue professional development focused on brain-based research and cognitive development.
For a copy of Dr. Diamond’s presentation, please email communications@bankstreet.edu.