We have been focusing lately on our brains and the way in which it controls our emotions. In particular, we've been discussing our downstairs brain and our upstairs brain. The downstairs brain is our "feeling" brain, the part of our brain that controls those fight, flight or freeze reactions. It is what keeps us safe. You can also think of it as a barking dog. When a dog doesn't feel safe, it barks. When the barking dog feels safe again, it stops barking and only then can we start thinking with the problem-solving part of our brain, the upstairs brain. We use the visual of the wise owl for our upstairs brain. The wise owl/upstairs brain is our "learning" brain and where we problem-solve from. However, if the dog is barking, the wise owl flies away. We flip our lid! Using a strategy, particularly one of taking breaths, calms that dog down and engages our upstairs brain to begin solving our problem.
Ask your child about his downstairs brain and his upstairs brain, and what strategies they use when their dog is barking. They will be able to show you their hand model of the brain to explain it to you too. As the school year progresses we'll continue using this language with our students as the visual is a great one for prompting our kids to use strategies.
6 Comments
Heather Stice
9/11/2019 08:58:26 am
thanks
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Deborah jankowski
5/15/2021 03:25:17 pm
Where could I get a copy of the visuals? THey are wonderful!
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Chanon Juhl
8/11/2021 09:52:28 pm
I'm a special education teacher and I would love a copy of this visual. Thank you!
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Lisa wright
1/2/2022 08:25:34 am
I’d love a copy of these visuals
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Jamie
7/11/2022 08:52:09 am
I am an occupational therapist and would love a copy! Thanks so much
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Mrs. Maheu
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