The Whole-Brain Child Strategies

This text is an excerpt from "The Whole-Brain Child" and outlines strategies for integrating different parts of a child's brain to promote healthy development. It discusses the concept of "survive and thrive" moments in parenting, suggesting that challenging situations can be opportunities for growth. The authors introduce the idea of mindsight, which involves understanding one's own mind and the minds of others, and offer techniques like the "wheel of awareness" and SIFTing (focusing on sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts) to help children develop self-awareness. The importance of integrating memory through storytelling and the role of mirror neurons in fostering empathy and connection are also highlighted, alongside strategies for increasing family fun and connecting through conflict to strengthen relationships.