The Parts of the Brain
I teach the children about four different parts of the brain.
The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) is the wise leader and is behind our forehead. It is like our Wise Owl. It is our thinking and decision making part of the brain. We want this part to lead us through our days.
The amygdala is our security guard deep in the brain. It keeps us safe with a fight, flight, freeze response. It is a reactive part of the brain. No thinking required. It is also our emotional control center. It is very important, but sometimes there is a "FALSE ALARM" (frustrated with a sibling, stuck on an assignment, etc...) and our body still reacts. It is like our Barking Dog. We are learning to notice false alarms and are learning to pause and think with our PFC rather than react with our amygdala. Everyone works on this, adults too!
The hippocampus is also deep in the brain and stores our memories. Our PFC can access memories to help us make decisions.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is the brain's attention focusing center. It is like a strainer that decides what and how much stimuli we are going to focus on. You will literally hear students in class say, "My RAS can't block that." Good news, the RAS can be trained to focus. Athletes, musicians, health care workers are all skilled at using their RAS.
Breathing Breaks
For some people, breathing breaks can really help them get oxygen -rich blood flowing through the body, helps them settle and get their PFC leading them through the day.
Standing, sitting upright, or laying flat on your back are all upright trunk positions that allow for great blood flow. We do them three times a day, when we come into the classroom to get us centered and ready for learning.
At any point in time, but I imagine especially right now when our lives have completely shifted, it is important to tune into what our bodies are telling us: to notice our sensations, emotions and thoughts and to have a set of tools that work for us personally to help us regulate.
Throughout the year, I share various "Chill Skill" tools with the class as well as the brain science that explains how they work. I teach these in moments of calm so that we are "available" to learn them. Sharing something new when a child is in a state of upset doesn't work. Their "thinking brains" are literally unavailable in that moment in time.
I am attaching a copy of our class Chill Skills Cards and Posters. (It is sending you to a safe site, I promise, since it is mine!) If you want, print a copy of the cards or poster as a reference at home. Are there any cards your children can explain to you? More importantly, are there any Chill Skills that they say work for them? Or do the children have suggestions for me of other Chill Skill cards I should make? Chill Skill Card Deck
Tuning into what we are grateful for helps us build relationships as we become more aware of those who support us. It helps us be more optimistic, more joyful and more resilient. We literally rewire our brain! It also has incredible physical effects on our bodies. Research shows the power of daily gratitude practices. This might be the perfect time to take a look at all the things we do have to be grateful for.
Ways to Incorporate Gratitude Practices into your Home:
In your mindfulness notebook (or some other journal), record your gratitudes in a list. Maybe jot down 1 or 2 things a day.
At the end of the day as you are getting ready for bed, share or take a moment to thing about something you are grateful for.
Before you get out of the bed in the morning, think about one thing you are grateful for.
Just like we have a Gratitude Circle at school, do one with your family at a time you are all together. For example, at least once a week my family does a Gratitude Circle at the kitchen table just before we start dinner.
"Neurons that wire together, fire together!" (Donald Hebb) Our patterns of thought literally create new or stronger pathways in our brains and change our brain structure.
Kind Kids Club Missions
Our brains are built for compassion and empathy. We feel good when we do an act of kindess for someone else. Contribution to others is so important and is a powerful way to build relationships and community.
I am asking the kids to think daily how they can contribute to the people (and perhaps animals) in your homes as well as family members they could reach out to via technology. Kindness does not need to cost a thing, be a big gesture or take much time. I'm encouraging them to take on a mission (or more) each day!
Growth Mindset
We often talk about the power of YET. "I can't do that...yet!" At school we say, "Bring it on!" and "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!" Do you have other optimistic thinking phrases that you find helpful?