"Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes myelin, and myelin makes perfect." ~Daniel Coyle, The Little Book of Talent
Current research is showing us that talent has more to do with the brain's development and less to do with innate genetics. But HOW does this occur? Myelin serves as an insulator which wraps around the wires of our brain (like electrical tape around electric wires) containing the signals, making them stronger and faster. A hundred years ago, scientists considered myelin to be inert and did not appear to react to any stimulation. Now we know they were wrong. Myelin does provide insulation around our neurological pathways, but it grows and develops through repetition and practice. Each layer strengthens and increases the speed of the signal. Igniting passion, deep practice and reaching beyond our current abilities form new connections in the brain which over time creates resulting talent. Research links practice to myelin growth and improved performance in many diverse skills such as reading, vocabulary, music, mathematics, and sports.
Bottom line is that YOU can and will get better at anything through dedicated practice and repetition. Make a conscious choice and remember:
taking action and practicing with focused diligence builds myelin;
myelin wraps; it does not unwrap (this is why habits - good or bad - are hard to break);
although the majority of myelin forms during critical learning periods in childhood, it can be added and keeps functioning throughout life.
So what is your child spending time doing repetitively? Is is worthy of the developing myelin? Good or bad, this is building habit or talent.
Happy Learning!