Author: Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Have you watched Bluey?

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

I first heard about this show last year. A friend had asked if we had seen it and suggested that we (and our son) would enjoy it. I was 5 months pregnant at the time and our son was becoming bored with the usual suspects: Team Umizoomi, Paw Patrol, Blues Clues, Blaze, and Bubble Guppies. So why not give it a try?

The world of kid’s TV is crammed with numbers, letters, and constant drilling of basic academics. Bluey brings none of that to the table. I was impressed to see that each 7-minute episode is jammed packed with humor, imagination, and lessons in parenting. Yes, parenting.

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Course Notes: The Whole-Brain Child Approach, Pt. 5

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Last week, we covered the following:

  • As our kids begin to acknowledge and address their emotions, they start realizing that situations can be complicated
  • How we, as parents, effect our kids as they make sense of their circumstances
  • Strategies on how to help our children integrate the many pieces of themselves

Home stretch! On to the last 2 strategies.

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Course Notes: The Whole-Brain Child Approach, Pt. 4

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

In Monday’s post, we discussed:

  • How our two types of memory (implicit and explicit) work together to recall an experience
  • What to do if an implicit memory (feelings, behavior, bodily sensations) is disconnected from its explicit memory (recall of an experience), resulting in an emotional flood 
  • Strengthening and integrating these memory pieces through daily practice 

Now that we’re caught up, let’s move to the next three strategies.

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Course Notes: The Whole-Brain Child Approach. Pt 3

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Our last Whole-Brain post covered the following topics:

  • Aside from the brain being divided into two hemispheres, it can also be split into the upstairs (reasoning) and the downstairs (emotions)
  • Strategies 3, 4, and 5 connect these two brains to reduce an “emotional hijack” and promote clear thinking

On to strategies 6 and 7. They’re short, we promise!

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Course Notes: The Whole-Brain Child Approach, Pt. 2

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

In our last Whole-Brain post, we talked about the first two Whole-Brain Approach strategies. A quick recap:

  • The brain is shaped through genetics and experience.
  • The brain’s two polar opposite hemispheres and how they must work together to achieve balance and well-being, away from chaos and rigidity.
  • The first two strategies on how to integrate both hemispheres when your child is experiencing emotional moments

On to the next segment and Strategies 3-5!

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