In this groundbreaking, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestseller "Hindsight," and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson present a revolutionary approach to raising children through twelve key strategies that promote healthy brain development - and the calm and happiness of children. The authors explain and make accessible the new scientific knowledge about how children's brains are "wired" and how they mature. The "upstairs" brain, which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the age of twenty-five. Especially in younger children, the right brain and its emotions tend to dominate the logic of the left brain. No wonder children have tantrums, argue, or withdraw into silence. By applying these discoveries to the daily practice of parenting, you can turn every outburst, disagreement, or fear into an opportunity for integrating your child's brain, promoting their development.
With the term "brain integration," the authors describe how the integrated, balanced emotional and mental development of children is achieved through the connection of different parts of the brain. The goal of brain integration is twofold: on the one hand, to avoid the absolute dominance of either the uncontrolled emotion of the right brain or the rigid logic of the left, and on the other hand, to understand both oneself and others. A child's self-awareness and connection with others make it possible to move from "me" to "we."
With age-appropriate strategies for dealing with everyday conflicts and examples that will help you explain these concepts to your children, "What's Happening in His Brain" helps you cultivate healthy emotional and mental development so that your children can live a balanced, meaningful life with substantial relationships.