The Brain Grows by Use: Why Age Doesn’t Matter Nearly as Much as Movement
Written by Dr. Stefanie Rodsater, Pediatric Chiropractor and Founder of Building Brilliant Brains
Most milestone charts make it look like development is just a waiting game.
🗓 Sit at 6 months.
🗓 Walk at 12.
🗓 Read at 5.
But here’s the truth: The brain doesn’t grow by age. It grows by use.
And that’s not just a nice idea—it’s neuroscience, and it’s the foundation of the Doman method.
Every time your child moves with intention—whether it’s crawling, climbing, swinging, hanging, or rolling—they’re stimulating the brain to grow, adapt, and build better connections.
Why Movement > Milestone Charts
Milestone charts are based on averages. But your child isn’t an average.
They’re unique. And the best way to support their development isn’t to follow a timeline—it’s to offer the kinds of rich, repeated movement experiences that fuel real brain growth.
🧠 Climbing lights up the brain's motor planning centers
🧠 Hanging boosts grip strength, respiratory function, and reflex integration
🧠 Balancing helps the vestibular system, which supports attention and learning
🧠 Jumping, crawling, spinning—all create new neural pathways through action
And when kids repeat these movements regularly? That’s when the brain truly grows.
This Is What Doman Got Right
Glenn Doman famously said, “The brain grows by use-not by a preordained timetable.”
This means a 3-year-old who never crawled can still benefit from crawling now.
It means that “late walkers” aren’t behind if they’ve been doing rich floor time.
It means we don’t wait for the brain to catch up-we feed it with movement.
This mindset shift helps parents:
✔️ Reduce anxiety about delays
✔️ Focus on what they can do today
✔️ Provide purposeful play, no matter their child’s age
How to Apply This at Home
Instead of aiming for the next milestone, aim to repeat the right kinds of movement:
🧗♂️ Climb often
Use tools like the Koala Adventure Playset or Panda Playground Jungle Gym (coming soon) to build strength, coordination, and body awareness.
🙌 Hang daily
Whether it’s from a monkey bar, your arms, or a doorway bar—hanging supports reflex integration and builds brain-body connection.
⚖️ Balance frequently
The EZPlay Wobble Balance Board is perfect for rocking, spinning, surfing, and dynamic core work- even for older kids.
🔁 Repeat movements across the week
Repetition strengthens neural pathways. Don’t rush to the next thing- revisit foundational movements again and again.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to “wait” for the next milestone.
You don’t need to feel behind.
You just need to offer movement. Over and over again.
Because when your child climbs, rolls, balances, and hangs-they’re not just playing.
They’re literally building a better brain.
🧠 Want the tools to make this easier?
Explore EZPlay’s brain-boosting lineup-from toddler-friendly jungle gyms to balance boards and climbing sets designed to grow with your child.
The best time to support the brain? Now.