Brain Awareness

AMAZING Ideas – Teaching Flexible Thinking with Mazes

Have you ever planned your day, only to have things go completely off track? Maybe a traffic jam caused you to miss an important meeting. Perhaps you were all set to enjoy a sunny day at the park, only to be caught in a sudden downpour. For kids, these situations might look different, but the […]

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From Toys to Tools: Shake Up Your SEL with a Mind Jar

Have you ever noticed how children’s emotions can take over in a flash? Maybe you’ve seen a student’s frustration boil over during a tricky math problem or their anxiety spike when the unexpected happens. When this happens, unproductive words and actions can follow and even spiral out of control. As adults, we know that emotions

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These Classic Games are Fun and Good for Your Brain!

Remember those classic activities we used to do as kids, like word searches, crossword puzzles, and “Seek & Find” games? They were often assigned as busy work or something to pass the time, but did you know they also offer numerous benefits for brain development? It’s time to bring these classic activities back into the

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Parenting in the Age of Screens: Finding a Healthy Balance

Have you ever heard the quote, “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders”? It’s a proverb that emphasizes the value of experience in making wise decisions. My Irish Nana, like many grandparents of her generation, often used this saying to remind us that maturity and life experience are essential for navigating complex situations.

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It May Look Like Fun, But Play is Actually a Child’s “Work”

Have you ever wondered why children seem so immersed in play, as if it’s the most important thing in the world? What if I told you that for children, play is their most important work? Through play, children develop critical skills that shape their social and emotional development, and it’s much more than just fun

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10 Great Games for Boosting Executive FUNctioning!

Did you know that in addition to being fun to play, board games provide great exercise for your child’s brain? Board games can be an enjoyable way for all kids, including those with learning and attention challenges, to build their brain’s executive function skills.  Executive functions are the mental processes that are required to pay

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How to use a Mind Jar as a Teaching Tool for Calming Strong Emotions

Have you ever felt like your thoughts are swirling around like glitter in a snow globe after a vigorous shake? Well, that’s exactly what can happen to our minds when we experience strong emotions. But just like the calming descent of those shimmering flecks, we can learn to quiet the storm within and regain our

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Unwrapping Joy: How to Find and Create Joy

We live in a society that often tells us that happiness can be found in material possessions and external circumstances. We’re bombarded with advertisements telling us that if we just buy the latest gadget or designer handbag, we’ll find joy and fulfillment. Around the holidays, the word “joy” echoes in the songs we sing, the

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Unfolding the Secrets of Learning: An Origami Lesson

Have you ever wondered how learning unfolds in our minds, much like the intricate folds of an origami project? Imagine the human brain as a complex origami masterpiece, with each fold representing a new learning experience. As we navigate the challenges and triumphs of learning, we forge neural pathways that shape our understanding of the

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