Understanding your child’s brain is so helpful for being able to respond to your child’s emotions and behaviour more effectively.
In this quick video I explain Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain to you.
The prefrontal cortex (upstairs brain) is responsible for all of our higher order thinking. Our ability to do complex tasks, plan, organise, make decisions and make rational choices etc.
When we flip our lid we can’t access our upstairs brain! We can’t be reasoned with and we can’t organise our thoughts and behaviour.
We are just in REACTIVE mode!!
We flip our lid when our amygdala (downstairs brain) is overwhelmed, stressed out or we perceive a threat.
It steps in and makes us REACT without having to think about anything. This is to help protect us in a real situation of danger.
It will make us FLIGHT (run away), FREEZE (get really small and try to disappear) or FIGHT (those toddler tantrums).
When our lid is flipped we also can’t access the memory part of our brain which means we can’t remember how to calm ourselves down.
So what can you do when your child flips their lid?
One way is to calm them down through co-regulation. Being calm yourself and offering comfort. Look through my other resources for more ways to help calm your child down when they have flipped their lid.
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