Equipping Minds is a game-changer.

We have a unique ritual at our house.

Each night when the work day is finished, supper is done, and the dishes are clean and put away, we say two words that bring pure joy to my oldest son: brain games

And honestly, we get excited, too. Let me explain.

Introducing Equipping Minds

My oldest son spent the first four years of his life in an orphanage. That fact—along with other facts that belong to him for now—means he has spent much of his life overcoming. Growing and learning have not been as easy for him as they are for many children with a traditional story of birth and bonding.

Which has made me more confident than ever: Healing must be fought for.

So late last year, when I heard about Carol Brown’s program, Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Program, I went into full mom-mode and began researching everything about it. I sifted through hundreds of pages of research.

Note: It’s a nearly-proven fact that moms do better research than the FBI.

We made the investment and have been using the program since October 11, 2021.

Spoiler alert: It is making a world of difference.

And now? We’re absolutely captivated by the healing that could happen.

What is Equipping Minds?

Short answer: Equipping Minds is a Cognitive Development Curriculum designed by the lovely, brilliant Dr. Carol Brown. She has over 4 decades of experience in the field of Cognitive Development, and she’s been published in many of the most prominent medical and education journals.

Basically, Equipping Minds is a research-based program with loads of science to support it.

Longer answer: The curriculum is designed to “improve a learner’s working memory, visual and auditory processing, attention, processing speed, logic, comprehension, language, social skills, attention, executive functioning, behavior, and self-regulation.” 

This unique, critical thinking course addresses many of the exact challenges of post-adoptive and foster children who are experiencing any number of cognitive challenges.

Fun answer: The curriculum relies on several familiar games (like Set and Spot It!) so it feels like game night. But it’s so, SO much more.

Each challenge strengthens a different part or function of the brain. And as each challenge gets harder, neuropathways connect.

How does it work?

We spend about 1 hour a night, 5 nights a week, doing what my son calls brain games.

We use a teacher workbook, student workbook, and our games.

The games increase in intensity in small but clearly evident ways. My husband and I sit with our son and actually participate in some of the challenges—which also gives us the opportunity to be present together (which is great, since healing usually happens in the context of relationship).

The curriculum is clear and easy to use (and comes with video instructions for each step). Typically, I plan out the full session before we sit down together, so we seamlessly move through the games.

Final thoughts

For us, we can see the difference it makes almost immediately. True, the difference is incremental and requires consistency, but for us, the investment is absolutely worth it.

One mom said it this way, and I feel the same—

It’s like my soul has finally exhaled and taken a deep breath to see him accomplish things that were previously locked up inside.

Daphne

This program has legitimately helped people of all ages and all cognitive abilities.

Check it out: equippingminds.com

As for me, I’m going to go down swinging with hope.

Bonus: I talked briefly about my love of Equipping Minds when I was a guest on this podcast episode back in January.