Brain based adventures for kids and their parents
www.brainessentials.nz Š Brain Essentials ISBN 978-0-473-50979-8 First published 2020. A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand. Design and layout by Vanilla Hayes Ltd www.vanillahayes.co.nz Photography by David James www.davidjames.studio Printed in China through Asia Pacific Offset Ltd This book is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the author.
I am Victoria Jenkins. My husband and I have two daughters and we live in Marlborough, New Zealand. I am a primary school teacher. My career as a teacher spans over 20 years, and has led me to teach hundreds of students in the regions of Wellington, Otago and Marlborough in New Zealand and also in London, England. For a decade, I’ve been learning and researching brain development, memorable ways for humans to learn and effective ways to nurture small humans. This has led me to create my own style of brain-based teaching and parenting. When I became a parent I had an extensive understanding of how the human brain develops. This was a huge advantage in regards to parenting and something I’ll be eternally grateful for. My knowledge has guided nearly every decision I’ve made about our kids; how I speak to them, what I do with them, the food they eat, the language I use to praise and motivate them and much more. I believe these decisions are helping them to grow the best brains possible and I want to share that with others! As a teacher, I have noticed some concerning changes in students over the last 20 years. The major ones are: - less resilience - more worry - less connection Obviously this isn’t a great combination and it’s inspired me to bring about change. Modern life is really busy for parents and caregivers. YOUR life might be really full and this could result in you spending less time with your kids than they’d like. Therefore, the time that you spend with them is VERY IMPORTANT because it impacts on the way their brain develops. My aim is to inspire that you SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR KIDS when you’re together. The purpose of My Amazing Brain is to educate and inspire people to raise their children in a way that helps them to grow their best brains. The more quality time you put into your kids, the greater their potential for growing the best brains possible! Each of the 35 activities in My Amazing Brain are designed for you to do WITH YOUR CHILD while giving them your full attention. You could aim to sit down with them once a week and have fun completing one together. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I’ve loved creating it for you. Happy brain growing!
For Evie & Lola. “I love you so much in the world. I am so very proud of you.”
CONTENTS NeuroTools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Aroma Connection
Small Creatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Planting and Growing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
9
Pooh Sticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
15
Nature Reflection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
I am Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Music
Family Pics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
I am Musical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Backboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Just Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Family Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Joyful Jars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Your Place In The World . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Moody Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Aroma Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Play It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Play Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Elements of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
How Was Your Day?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Music Maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Connection Reflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Movement
Good Night, Sleep Tight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
37
Musical Reflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
I am Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Creativity
Yoga Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
103
I am Creative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Active Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cardboard Creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Aim And Throw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Silly Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Obstacle Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Marvelous Machines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Happy Hopscotch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Aromadough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Bopping Balloons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Puppets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Energy Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Build A Board Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Movement Reflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Nature
81
Love Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
59
Creativity Reflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
I am Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Other Resources and Information . . . 124
Nature Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Aroma Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Cloud Watching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Nature Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
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NEUROTOOLS My Amazing Brain is based on a system called NeuroTools © which I created as a support tool for parents and people working with children. Each tool was selected, based on scientific research, because they can affect how a person feels. With the right tools we can handle anything and NeuroTools © are highly effective ones to have in the parenting toolkit. All humans need adequate sleep and nutrition for ideal brain and body functions to happen. As a parent or primary caregiver you have a responsibility to ensure these two things are a top priority in your family. The NeuroTools © are in addition to sleep and nutrition. There are two ways to use NeuroTools ©: 1. Base your daily interactions with your child around the NeuroTools ©. When a child’s needs are being met, they will be happier, more content and will have a better chance of becoming an adult with logic, empathy and a well-connected brain a.k.a. an amazing brain! My Amazing Brain was created as a way to teach you how to include all six of these in your life. 2. Use the NeuroTools © when your kids are losing control of their emotions. Connect with them, get them moving or use aroma to calm them down and begin to feel better. Kids are learning to be an adult by watching their parents, so the way we respond to them when they are upset is integral to creating emotionally resilient children. NeuroTools © gives you six effective ways to respond to and support your children. Responses triggered by the NeuroTools ©: -
A physical response could increase heart rate and oxygen levels, making a person feel alert and wanting to move.
-
A neuro response could cause the brain to produce oxytocin, making a person feel safe and loved.
-
An emotional response could create feelings of calm, relaxation, excitement and happiness.
Have fun learning more about these as you complete the My Amazing Brain activities with your child. My hope is that they support you by making parenting a little easier, which in turn, helps your child to grow their best brain.
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NATURE
MUSIC
connection
aroma
movement
creativity
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AROMA The sense of smell is important for all mammals, including humans. It allows us to assess the safety of our environment including oncoming rain, a dangerous fire and whether food is safe to consume or not. We produce pheromones, scents that change the behaviour of the same species, which attract or repel people and allow us to recognise those we share genes with. So biologically we are attuned to people’s scents. Aromas can trigger emotional and physiological responses in the brain. Scent molecules are made of chemical compounds and when we inhale them, these compounds move through our nose to the olfactory bulb and into the limbic system. The brain parts within the limbic system are associated with emotion, hormones and memory so aroma can trigger these types of responses in the brain. Aroma is a NeuroTool Š because it can be used to change how we feel. The limbic system, where scent is processed, is the part of the brain that children are responding from most of the time. So it’s an effective tool to support the emotional roller coaster of life with children. Aroma has been included in My Amazing Brain in the form of essential oils. Essential oils are distilled or pressed from plants and have powerful aromatic benefits. The compounds in essential oils can create feelings of uplift, energy, relaxation or calmness, depending on their properties. So if you have them, use them! If not, enjoy the activities without them or incorporate fresh or dried plants in a similar way.
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Ways to develop your child’s sense of smell, using Aroma
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- Deliberately smell and chat about the aromas in nature; fresh grass, rain and flowers - Encourage them to use their sense of smell to notice things; oncoming rain, ripe fruit, spoilt food and the scent of individual family members - Talk about the associations you have with aromas, e.g. that smell reminds me of Christmas or fresh bread makes me think of my grandmother - Grow/buy herbs and/or flowers and explore the different aromas they omit - Eat raw fruit and veggies and compare the differences in how they smell - Diffuse essential oils to help your family feel energised, calm or motivated - Consider removing synthetic fragrances from your home because they are not the kind that small people need in their limbic system and bodies
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essential oil usage and safety
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Aromatic Use This is when you inhale the aroma of the essential oil. For children, I recommend: - 2-4 drops in a diffuser - 1-2 drops on a piece of diffuser jewellery - 1-2 drops on a cotton ball (place in a pocket, under a pillow or in a small jar to inhale)
Topical Use This is when you dilute essential oils to apply to the skin. Topical use is a great way to take the aroma with you so you get the emotional benefits while on the go! Essential oils are potent though, so always dilute them appropriately. Dilution can prevent skin sensitivities, stop the aromatic compounds from evaporating quickly and make one single drop go a long way. The essential oils suggested for topical application in My Amazing Brain are pre-diluted for children. You might prefer to dilute your own using the dilution guide below.
DILUTION GUIDE - 1-2 drops of essential oil - 1 tsp of carrier oil, e.g. fractionated coconut, jojoba, almond or olive - Mix then add to a sealed glass jar or a roller bottle, for easy application - Apply a dab to the wrists, behind the ears, sternum and/or the base of the neck.
I recommend that you only use pure and tested essential oils. Synthetic versions may be harmful to the body and the beneficial properties associated with them are lost. Source your own essential oils or visit www.brainessentials.nz.
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CONNECTION Connection is about forming bonds and close relationships between two or more people. For humans, this is initially a survival trait because humans are mammals and mammalian babies need to connect with their mothers/fathers in order to survive. Unlike reptiles and insects, we are born reliant on our parents for food and protection. For growing children, connection is about having their physical and emotional needs met by the adults they are connected to. If they form a close relationship with the adults in their life, they learn to duplicate effective connections with other people. Connection is a key NeuroTool Š because the relationship a child has with their parents or primary caregivers, forms the foundation of their self belief and confidence. For small humans, connecting is the key to feeling safe which allows their brain to put energy into developing a well-connected brain instead of feeling scared, worried or defensive.
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WAYS TO DEVELOP CONNECTION WITH YOUR KIDS
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- Make loving eye contact as much as possible (this directly affects brain development) - Hug them, kiss them, be playful and physical (think how puppies and kittens play with their mothers) - Tell them and show them you love them unconditionally - Be with them for quality moments everyday, give them all of your attention (PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN!!!) and play with them, read to them, do life with them - Talk to them about anything and everything, starting from when they are a newborn - Ask them questions, give them options to choose from, get them thinking and wondering - Create a special song, phrase or sign which reminds them how much you love them - Create boundaries for safe behaviour and choices (don’t let them watch screens for hours just because it’s easy, or eat sugar everyday because it’s easier than saying no. - Say yes - Say no!!
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colour me in!
Your Name: Age:
Today’s date:
Friends:
Favourte toys:
How tall are you? ( get an adult to measure you )
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Tick the CONNECTION activities as you complete them: Family Pics
Aroma Massage
Back Board
Play Games
Family Tree
How was your day?
Your Place in the World
write something funny, interesting or lovely about your family.
Share something that you worry about.
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List some great words (or get an adult to help) to describe YOU
FAMILY PICS WHAT YOU NEED: Photo albums and printed photos of the adults and kids in your family, when they were younger.
Photos are a way of recording the events that happen in life. Looking through photos is a great way to trigger memories, talk about events and experiences and to make connections. In modern life, people take a lot of photos but don’t necessarily print them yet looking at printed photos is a tactile, hands-on experience for kids and better than looking at them on screens.
Look through the photos from the oldest to the most recent. Get your adult to tell you as much info as possible about all the people and places in the photos. Do they still look the same? Can you see a resemblance to anyone else in the family? Compare baby or child photos of the whole family‌ what do you notice? Ask questions, tell stories and laugh!
Did you know that the way you look is partly because of something called genes. Genes are passed to you from your parents, grandparents and family members before them! This means you might have the same coloured eyes as your grandmother or hair colour the same as your father.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
parent note
Draw your family doing something together that you wish you could do together every week.
Bergamot Kids’ Courage Blend See page 13
Have a photo taken together each time you carry out an activity from My Amazing Brain. Print it and create a photo album of all the special moments. Look through the album and talk about the experiences with your child. This a great way to discuss the details and the emotions they experienced and talking about them will help to create long-term memories of the events.
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BACKBOARD WHAT YOU NEED: 2 or more people
Physical contact is important for humans as it helps us to feel close and connected to the people we love and feel safe with. This activity is a fun way to physically connect and communicate with each other.
Stand or sit directly behind your child. Draw a picture on the child’s back and get them to guess what it is. Repeat with lots of relevant things that they will find fairly easy to guess. You could write words too. Take turns doing this to each other.
parent note
Backboard is really good for helping you to see pictures in your mind, which is called visualisation.
Kids need to be ‘filled up’ with your love and connection several times per day. Backboard is a fun, physical way to ‘fill them up’ and is a good engagement strategy when you notice they’re feeling irritable or overwhelmed.
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Draw/list some of the pictures or words that your adult drew on your back
ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFUSER BLEND 2 drops Cedarwood 2 drops Ylang Ylang
How did this activity make you feel?
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FAMILY TREE WHAT YOU NEED: A parent, grandparent,
parent note
uncle or aunt
Understanding that we come from a long line of ancestors helps to shape our identity and develop connections between generations. Creating a family tree is a fascinating experience that will generate lots of conversations and questions, and is a great visual aid for them to refer to.
Do some background preparation to find the names of any direct relatives (e.g. great-grandparents) that you don’t know. If you have photos of your parents, grandparents etc, then find them and show your child so they can connect the names with the faces.
Create a family tree diagram, on a large piece of paper 1. Start with the immediate family of the child (siblings, parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins). 2. Then work back for as many generations as you’re able to. 3. Talk about the people as you create it, - Where did they live? - What was their job? - Share memories, stories and details of them, if you can.. - Chat about the meaning of relatives and ancestors. - Your gran’s parents were called…. - My dad’s parents were called…. - My mum’s sister is my aunt, her name was… 4. Copy a smaller version of your family tree into My Amazing Brain.
Talk to other family members (i.e. your grandparents) about the people on your family tree.
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MY FAMILY TREE
ESSENTIAL OILS
MY FAMILY TREE
Ylang Ylang Kids’ Courage Blend See page 13
Learning about people and places from the past is called history. A family tree is a way to learn about your family’s history.
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YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD WHAT YOU NEED: three printed maps: 1. your town or city 2. the country you live in 3. the world pens, stickers, sticky notes etc to identify specific places on the maps
Learning about the land and where people live is called geography. This activity will help you get an idea of your place in the world and where your friends and family live, in relation to you.
ACTIVITY ONE Start with the map of your town or city. With your adult, use stickers, notes or write the following on the map: Where your friends and family live.
2.
Places you visit on a regular basis (school, kindy, swimming pool, parks etc).
3.
Talk about how close/far away the different places are.
parent note
1.
Pin the maps up on a wall and talk about them for the weeks ahead. -
Teach your child to recognise some regions/countries that are relevant to your family.
-
Identify each region/country you have visited and tell them about the people, food, animals, landmarks, transport etc (whatever your child is interested in)
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ACTIVITY TWO
ESSENTIAL OILS Joyful Blend
Repeat Activity One using the country map.
See page 13
Extra things you could find and discuss: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Where was each family member born? Find all the places you’ve visited in your country. Which places would you like to visit and why? Then do it again with the world map!
*Do each of these maps on a different day, perhaps over a week or two.
List or draw what you like to do in your town/city or, list or draw another place in your country you’ve been to or, draw your house and your street.
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AROMA MASSAGE WHAT YOU NEED: - a carrier oil such as almond, jojoba or fractionated coconut oil
parent note
- an essential oil chosen to create calm, relaxed feelings
Physical touch and aroma can promote feelings of calm and this is a great way to combine the two things. Aroma Massage will provide benefits to the giver and receiver, creating a relaxing hand massage for two people to connect.
You must always dilute essential oils before using, especially on children. In a small bowl, add 5mls of carrier oil (almond, jojoba, fractionated coconut etc) with 2 drops of essential oil. Mix and dip your fingers in then apply to the hand.
1. Dilute your chosen essential oil then lightly apply the oil mix over the whole hand. 2. Turn the hand so the palm is facing upwards. Using the thumbs, make small circles moving all over the palm of the hand. 3. With the palm facing downwards use thumbs to massage the back of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers. Start with the thumbs in the centre and press to the edge of the hand. 4. Run your thumb and forefinger firmly over each thumb and finger. Start from the base of the thumb and pull to the end of the thumb, repeat with each finger, finishing with the pinky. NOW SWAP! It’s the child’s turn to give the adult an Aroma Massage.
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Trace around your hand on the page below
ESSENTIAL OILS
On each finger and the thumb write words to describe what you love about your family.
See Parent Note
Lavender, Cedarwood, Wild Orange or Grounding Blend
Physical touch, like cuddles and this massage, can make you produce oxytocin. Oxytocin is called the love hormone because it helps you feel connected to your family and friends.
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PLAY GAMES WHAT YOU NEED: a range of games such as board, card and dice games
Kids need lots of practice to take turns, be patient and cope well with winning and losing. Playing games with your child on a regular basis, is a great way to develop these skills.
ACTIVITY one Choose a game and play it with your family Name of the game:
People who played:
Draw a picture of your family playing the game OR list words to describe how you felt playing the game.
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ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFUSER BLEND 2 drops Bergamot 1 drop Cedarwood Kids’ Grounding Blend
Sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose! It’s ok to be disappointed but try to be happy for the person who wins. Say things like, “Well done for winning!” “It was close but you beat me!” “Let’s play again, that was fun.”
ACTIVITY TWO
parent note
Decide who is noughts (O) and who is crosses (X). The first player draws their symbol in an empty square. The second player does the same with their symbol. Take turns until someone gets three in a row.
Help your child become a humble winner and to lose gracefully, therefore demonstrate these qualities YOURSELF. Adjust the rules as necessary for the age of your child and keep the flow of the game going. The main thing is to keep them interested (so let them skip a square if they keep landing on a snake in Snakes and Ladders) but don’t allow them to win every time. Congratulate them when they win and jolly them along when the lose with statements such as “Thanks, I really enjoyed playing with you,” and “Let’s play it again/another day.”
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HOW WAS YOUR DAY? WHAT YOU NEED: no equipment needed for this one!
Talking to your child about their day creates opportunities for coaching, supporting and reassuring them. This activity explores ways to question your child in a way that gets them talking.
ACTIVITY ONE 1. If I saw you at school/kindergarten today, who would I have seen you playing with?
2. What did you play together?
3. Would I have seen you laughing and having fun?
4. If I’d been at school today, what would I have seen you do, that you are proud of?
5. Would I have seen you upset about anything?
6. Did you notice anyone looking sad today?
7. What could you have done to help them?
8. What was the hardest part about your day today?
9. Is there anything you want to tell me?
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ESSENTIAL OILS
ACTIVITY two
Comforting Blend Kid’s Courage Blend See page 13
People that were kind today:
Things you are proud of:
Something that worried or annoyed you: When you feel safe and happy you learn more! So, let your parents know if anything is worrying you, and they will help you sort it out.
Ways you tried really hard:
parent note
Something you hope to do again tomorrow.
Coaching is an important part of parenting and raising kids. If we are away from our kids during the day while they’re at school, kindergarten or daycare, we miss lots of opportunities to help them with social challenges, discuss the things they worry about and help them be their best. Finding out what your kids do each day is important but it’s not always easy to get them talking. Experiment with different kinds of questions to learn about their day so you can guide and support them.
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CONNECTION REFLECTION Which connection activity made you feel really happy?
Which one would you love to do every day or every week? Write or draw about it.
Which of the essential oils was your favourite? Inhale it again (with your adult) then draw a picture in the oil drop to show how it makes you feel.
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MOVEMENT Movement is about being physically fit and active. Physically, movement builds muscle tone, bone strength, balance and flexibility. It supports a healthy heart, muscles and immune function. Mentally, movement supports brain development and essential mental functions including memory, cognition, concentration and the growth of new brain cells. For growing children, movement is not necessarily about being sporty or coordinated, it’s simply about moving everyday. This allows their body to develop in the way it was designed to while increasing their self-esteem and confidence. At about 6 months of age, a child’s cerebellum starts developing neural connections, which is the part of the brain that coordinates and regulates motor movements. From this point on, a human learns to move! Movement is an essential NeuroTool Š because as mammals, we are supposed to be physically fit and agile. With over 600 muscles, humans are designed to be active! Movement is one of the fastest ways to change mood and increase energy making it an effective tool in the parenting toolbox.
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WAYS TO DEVELOP MOVEMENT WITH YOUR CHILD
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- Play physical games together; play fighting, tickling, horse rides, hide and seek - Carry out household jobs together from gardening to cleaning and washing the car - Walk places whenever possible - Visit playgrounds regularly - Play running or tagging games together - Navigate your local town and city on foot - Explore green spaces (parks, reserves, rural areas) and blue spaces (rivers, lakes, the ocean) - Look for opportunities to develop balance and agility - Hop, jump, skip, do somersaults and handstands - Demonstrate explosive movements like star jumps/jumping jacks - Dance with them, chase them and have fun - Ensure that you and your kids move and play more than sitting and watching - Encourage them to try different games and sports
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Tick the movement activities as you complete them: Yoga Balance
Happy Hopscotch
Active Animals
Bopping Balloons
Aim and Throw
Energy Boost
Obstacle Course PAGE 40
My favourite sport or active game is: My parents/caregivers favourite sports or active games are: List three active things you’d like to get better at:
1. 2.
( e.g. jumping, somersaults, running or swimming )
3.
If you could have a playground at your house, what would it look like? Draw it below.
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YOGA BALANCE WHAT YOU NEED: - comfortable clothes - a yoga mat ( if you have one )
People have been doing yoga for more than 2000 years! Yoga combines breathing with body and mind exercises and is an amazing tool for creating calm, balance and strength.
Work on your standing balances with these poses: -
Mountain Tree Star Half moon Aeroplane
Hold each pose for as long as you can and if you become unbalanced, try again. Repeat the sequence 3-4 times.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Your body is amazing!
Eucalyptus Kids’ Grounding Blend
parent note
List all the things you are proud that your body can do.
See page 13
Yoga can be a great tool to use when you notice your child is getting upset. If they start giving you their ‘I’m upset’ signals, direct them to do some yoga WITH YOU. - Can you do the mountain pose with me? - Let’s stand like a tree - You are such a star... Let’s do the star pose - Wow, your balance is really improving! - Keep breathing in and out through your nose - I’m so proud of you!
Doing some yoga each day will help to make your body and mind STRONG, and this will make you feel proud. When you feel proud you produce serotonin, a happy chemical!
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ACTIVE ANIMALS WHAT YOU NEED:
Human bodies work best when our muscles are strong. To develop strong muscles, have fun moving your body every day!
a space big enough to move back and forth in, e.g. your lawn or garden, a park or a large lounge
Activity One Inhale the peppermint aroma then carry out these animals moves: -
frog gorilla elephant crab
If several people are joining in, you could either race against each other or take turns carrying out each animal move.
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Did you know that we are part of a large group of animals called mammals? Like animals we function better when our bodies are fit and strong. So get moving!
Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Peppermint Kids’ Grounding Blend
How did this activity make you feel? Tick the words that apply to you.
Happy Puffed Excited Tired
See page 13
Draw your favourite animal.
parent note
Hot Get involved, don’t sit back and watch. You and your child will both produce oxytocin, the love and connection chemical, when you’re moving and having fun TOGETHER! You’ll also produce endorphins (pain relief and feel-good chemicals) if your body has to work hard… which it will!
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AIM AND THROW WHAT YOU NEED: - a bucket, hula hoops or box to use as a target
Throwing and catching balls helps to improve the way the hands and eyes work together, coordination, timing and strength.
- balls, hacky sacks and/or small bean bags to throw
Activity One GET ALL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSE TO PLAY THIS GAME 1. Find a space outside to place the bucket, hoops or box. 2. Stand one step from the bucket, aim and throw the ball to land inside it. 3. Each time it hits the target, take 1 step further away each time. If you miss, the next person takes a turn. 4. How far can you get from the bucket today? Try again another day. 5. As you get better, try different ways you can throw the ball (underarm, overarm and standing backwards).
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Each time you hit the target your brain will give you a burst of dopamine, the reward chemical. This will make you want to try again.
Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Grapefruit Kids’ Grounding Blend
With practice you can get better at anything!
See page 13
parent note
List or draw the things you can do now because you tried again and again.
Create fun ways to develop this skill with your child on a regular basis
KEY POINTS 1. Aim the ball by pointing at the target. 2. Keep looking at the target as you release the ball with the other hand. 3. Throw harder or softer depending on where it lands. 4. Repetition is the key so get practising!
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OBSTACLE COURSE WHAT YOU NEED: - something to jump over (branch)
Moving over, under and around things helps to develop different responses and reactions in our body.
- something to dive under (table, blanket, rope) - 3 rocks to zig zag through
Activity One - Create an obstacle course in your backyard/lounge or at a park with your family
When you’re exercising and being active your brain produces endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good and are a type of pain relief. Endorphins feel good making you want to exercise over and over again!
- Complete 3 rounds of your obstacle course by racing at the same time or taking turns to complete each round
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Clear Blend Kids’ Grounding Blend
parent note
Design an obstacle course and draw it on the page below.
See page 13
Turn this into a fun competition which will create bursts of dopamine for you both. Dopamine is a reward chemical and is the most addictive of the feel-good chemicals that humans produce. If you find it challenging to get your child off a device without a melt down, this is a great activity to engage them in. They will get the dopamine hits from doing this instead from a screen, with the added physical benefits.
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HAPPY HOPSCOTCH WHAT YOU NEED: - chalk - stones or other markers
Hopscotch is a game that has been played by many generations. A key aspect of this game is to develop body rhythm. It also fosters balance, strength and accuracy, and it can be played in a fairly small space.
Activity One 1. Draw a hopscotch grid using chalk. 2. The first player throws a stone or small marker onto square one. Next time, throw to the second square, then the third etc. 3. Hop on each square but miss out the one with the marker on it. 4. When you reach the end, turn around on one foot and hop back. 5. Hop on single squares then jump on the double squares (with one foot on each square). 6. Pick your marker up on the way back then give it to the next player.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS
1. Design your own hopscotch grid for a creative way of playing.
Encouraging Blend Kids’ Grounding Blend
2. Find out if your parents and/or grandparents played hopscotch as a child.
See page 13
3. Get them to share their favourite games from childhood.
parent note
Moving your body helps blood and oxygen to move faster around your body, including your brain. This gives you energy and helps you to concentrate better.
There are several motor skills involved in hopscotch so your child might need some coaching on how to hop, jump, then hop and turn. If the standard hopscotch grid is too tricky, adjust it by drawing only three squares that your child can hop or jump in.
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BOPPING BALLOONS WHAT YOU NEED: - balloons - a clear space to play inside
Most kids love balloons! They are light so behave differently to a ball, with the added excitement of never knowing when it will pop! Blowing up a balloon involves perseverance and practice. Encourage your child to try this each time you use balloons, so they learn how to do it themselves.
Activity One Organise everyone in your house to play! The aim is to pass the balloon around and keep if off the ground. - Hit the balloon back and forth with your hands - Try different ways of hitting it so that it moves fast or slow - Do small, tiny movements so that it bounces on your hand - Now try to kick it with your feet - How far can you kick it? - You could make a goal and try to get the balloon through it
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Why do you think balloons float more than a ball does? Have a chat to your adult about this.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Peppermint See page 13
parent note
Write or draw in the balloons below to show all the active things you did today.
Get rid of popped balloons and all their pieces immediately, as they can be a choking hazard for kids. Balloons are a great movement tool for kids and a handy piece of indoors equipment‌ they won’t break things like a regular ball does when thrown hard!
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ENERGY BOOST WHAT YOU NEED: - a dice - a music player and some lively music
Short bursts of movement are a great way to generate some energy. Try this game before school or learning, to help with focus and concentration.
Activity One Take turns to roll the dice to work out which action to complete. Repeat for as many times as you like. 1 = Run on the spot for a count of 10 2 = Jump 10 times 3 = Hop 5 times on each leg 4 = Punch your arms up and down 10 times in the air 5 = Squat down low 10 times 6 = 10 star jumps/jumping jacks
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This kind of activity rewards you for your efforts. Each time you roll the dice your brain produces a burst of dopamine. When you move energetically you’ll also get some endorphins which feel good.
Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS
Be creative and make up your own movements for each number on the dice.
See page 13
Eucalyptus
1=
2=
3=
4=
5=
parent note
6=
This is a great activity to engage your child in when you notice they are getting upset, bored or frustrated. It doesn’t take up much space so you can play Energy Boost almost anywhere.
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MOVEMENT REFLECTION Which Movement activity made you feel really energised?
Trace around your foot on the page Fill it with foods you think are good for your brain.
Colour the faces to show how much you like doing each of these things
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NATURE Nature is about tuning into the natural system we are part of. For thousands of years humans lived in sync with the natural world, adapting to nature in order to survive and thrive. In modern times many people live completely separated from nature and this is one of the major forms of disconnection that we see today. Children are drawn to nature! Watch the way they respond to water, dirt, stones, animals and insects. They are curious and innately know that they are part of the natural system. Thread nature into your daily life and teach your children how to love and respect every facet of it. Plants, insects, animals, waterways, real food, forests, mountains, weather, stars and how to live sustainably. Living a life connected to nature helps to develop respect, caring and empathy which are key traits of a well-developed brain. Nature is an essential NeuroTool Š because it helps us to feel happy, relaxed, alert and energised, so it’s a powerful tool to use with children. If we become separated from nature, we become disconnected from key aspects of being human which can lead to anxiety and less resilience. Nature supports mood, memory, cognition and the immune system. As a mammal living on this planet, we are part of nature.
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WAYS TO DEVELOP A LOVE OF NATURE WITH YOUR CHILD
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- Spend as much time outside as possible - Encourage and allow your children to get dirty, get wet and explore - Grow and tend to plants - Care for animals and have a pet if you’re able to - Explore rivers, beaches, hills and natural spaces - Teach them about water, soil and nutrients - Feed them real food and talk about nutrition - Walk barefoot on the ground - Observe clouds, stars, weather, the ocean and talk about them in great detail - Brush up on some nature basics (e.g. the relationship between the moon and the tides, how mountains and rivers were formed) so you can teach these to your children - Allow them to collect leaves, sticks and stones even if you find them messy and annoying! These are their own special treasures - Empower them to take care of our planet and all its inhabitants
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These are the 7 nature activities. Tick each box as you complete them.
Nature Walk
Small Creatures
Treasure Hunt
Planting and Growing
Cloud Watching
Pooh Sticks
Nature Art
In the flower petals below, list all the places you like being outside in nature.
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Colour the faces to show how much you Enjoy each of these things
Grass
Sand
Water
Sunshine
Animals
Draw your pets or favourite animals in the box below.
Insects
Trees
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NATURE WALK WHAT YOU NEED: - walking shoes - drink and snacks
Humans are supposed to move outside everyday. Nature Walk creates an opportunity to move and explore the area you live in.
- sunscreen and a hat - comfortable clothes - a destination
Being outdoors makes us feel happy! Remember, you are a mammal so you thrive being outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine.
- paper and pencils for sketching
Activity One Take the walk! - Look around you, observe the views and notice your surroundings. - Choose a place to sit down and sketch what you can see.
It’s surprising how far a child can walk if you give them the opportunity to get fit. If this is
parent note
something new for your family, you’ll need a few tricks and tools to keep them happy and motivated. 1. Take some small snacks to keep their energy levels up and to use them as a reward for ‘getting to the top of the next hill’ etc. Over time, increase the walking and decrease the snack breaks. Give them lots of small sips of water. 2. Chat to them to take their mind off the physical aspect of walking. Point out the views, landmarks, plants, animals etc. This will give them some feel-good brain chemicals including serotonin for fresh air and sunshine, plus endorphins for working their body hard.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Douglas Fir Kids’ Protective Blend
Talk about some other places in your area where you could walk. List them in a brainstorm below then make plans to go to each one.
See page 13
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TREASURE HUNT WHAT YOU NEED: somewhere outside like a garden, park, beach, river, nature reserve
Activity One
Scanning and searching was an important survival tool for early humans (e.g. food foraging and scanning for danger). Treasure Hunt develops these skills whilst having a bit of fun!
Tick each item as you find it.
Scanning for natural items will help you produce the happy hormone, serotonin. Your brain will also give you a burst of dopamine each time you find one of the items.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Lemon Kids’ Protective Blend See page 13
parent note
Create a rubbing/etching of a leaf.
This is another good activity to transition kids away from screens and sugary foods, due to the dopamine rewards they get from successfully finding things. Depending on where you carry out Treasure Hunt, change the items they need to search for.
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CLOUD WATCHING WHAT YOU NEED: - clouds in the sky! - a place to lie down outside
Clouds are an important part of Earth’s weather and are a fascinating thing for kids to watch and learn about. Looking at the clouds to predict the weather, is something all humans used to be able to do.
Activity One - Lie on your back outside with your adult and watch the sky! - Talk about the clouds you can see and the weather associated with them - Is there wind/sun/rain? - Are the clouds moving and changing? - Do you see any pictures or shapes in the clouds? Draw the clouds you can see and the weather you think these clouds will bring.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Grounding Blend Kids’ Protective Blend
Cloud in a Jar
See page 13
MATERIALS Warm water, jar with a lid, ice cubes, aerosol hairspray INSTRUCTIONS 1. Pour warm (but not boiling) water into a jar and swirl it around. 2. Turn the lid upside down, place ice cubes on top, then tip the ice cubes into the jar. 3. Remove the lid quickly, spray hairspray into the jar then put the lid on. 4. Take the lid off and watch the cloud come out! RESULTS - Talk about what happened and why - Does it work if you use cold water instead?
There are many different clouds, but here are the four main ones:
Clouds are made up of tiny droplets and frozen crystals of water. Clouds are formed when warm air rises then gets colder. Create your own tiny cloud by blowing your warm breath on a cold window or ice cubes.
Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy. They are high in the sky and we see them in fine, sunny weather. Cumulus clouds are white and fluffy. Sometimes they bring rain but we see them in fine sunny weather too. Stratus clouds are long, flat and grey. Often they bring rain.
parent note
Nimbus clouds are tall, dark and grey. They can bring heavy rain, strong winds, lightening and sometimes a tornado.
Look into some other natural systems to teach your child about e.g. the moon and the tides, the water cycle, and seasons. You might be surprised how interesting some of the basic concepts of nature are!
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NATURE ART WHAT YOU NEED:
Nature is beautiful! So in Nature Creations we make pieces of art using natural items.
Plant parts, sticks, stones, shells etc
Just like other animals, you need to spend lots of time outside. Being in nature can trigger serotonin. This makes you feel happy, content, calm and less worried.
Activity One Inhale the aroma then find things from a park, beach, forest or your garden and arrange them in different ways or as a sculpture. e.g. - Stack rocks and leaves in patterns - Form your name using shells - Make a self-portrait - Take a photo once you’ve finished
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Douglas Fir Kids’ Protective Blend
parent note
Sit down with My Amazing Brain and draw one of your creations in the space below.
See page 13
Complete this activity in bare feet if that’s safe/appropriate. Going without shoes develops the muscles in our feet and the feeling of being connected to the earth is fabulous!
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SMALL CREATURES WHAT YOU NEED:
Observing animals creates opportunities for talking, questioning and lots of learning.
- a container or insect chamber - veggie leaves - water - a small creatures to observe e.g. snail, worm, praying mantis, caterpillar etc
Collecting, watching and caring for small animals helps you to be kind and caring and produces oxytocin, the love hormone.
Activity One Collect some small creatures! Look around your garden, in the soil and under leaves. Create a temporary home for your small creatures in a container, thinking about what they need in terms of food, water and protection.
Draw a picture of the home you’ve made
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Renewing Blend Kids’ Protective Blend
Do some research with your adult about this creature, then create a brainstorm with the information you discover.
See page 13
These headings will help you get started: Food:
Habitat:
parent note
Life cycle:
Help your child find out what the particular animal needs in terms of food, protection etc. Many small creatures don’t live for very long. Observe them and take care of them for a day or two before releasing them back where you found them.
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PLANTING AND GROWING WHAT YOU NEED: - fast growing seeds (e.g. beans, sunflowers, pumpkins) - soil - paper cups or peat pots - an area outside to plant the seeds or seedlings
Growing plants has many benefits for kids. It engages all their senses, develops the important concept of ‘real food’, and teaches patience and responsibility. If the plant is neglected it will not grow properly (just like children)! Growing plants teaches lots of key science concepts about the natural world. How amazing would it be if all children knew it was easy to grow their own food!
Activity One - Place some soil in the cup or pot, then place 2 seeds in each one and cover with soil - Water regularly to keep the soil moist, the seedlings will appear in one or two weeks - Prepare an area in your garden or a larger pot (dig it, water it, fertilise it) - Once the seedlings have reached 2-3cm in height, remove the weaker of the two - Plant the strongest one in the ground, spacing out as recommended for your particular plant - Check them EVERYDAY to monitor if they need watering or to carry out some pestcontrol (diatomaceous earth and crushed egg shell deter snails) - Have fun nurturing and watching them grow NB: Like children, plants need to be cared for everyday for the duration of their life. Too much water will kill them as will lack of water.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Rosemary Grounding Blend
Draw a picture in the box to record your progress:
See page 13
parent note
Growing food is a fabulous responsibility. As you care and nurture your plants, you will produce serotonin, the happy hormone.
Sunshine and water is needed to grow plants. In the early days of planting seeds, regular watering is needed. So create some time each day to do this (morning or later in the day is best) with your child. Talk about the changes that are happening each day.
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POOH STICKS WHAT YOU NEED: - two or more people - a small stream or river
Kids love this game! It involves scanning and locating the perfect object combined with a dose of healthy competition.
- a foot bridge - sticks, flowers and leaves that will float
Play the game! 1. Collect several leaves, sticks and flowers to use for your entry into each race. 2. Each person stands on the upstream side of a bridge and places the objects on the ground, next to them. 3. 1, 2, 3, go! Each person releases one object into the water at the same time, then races to the other side of the bridge to watch. The winner is the person whose object appears on the downstream side of the bridge, first. 4. Repeat with all your objects then gather more as needed.
Some objects float better than others depending on how big they are, how heavy they are and their shape. Try to work out which ones float best and go the fastest. Eveytime you win a race, your brain will give you a burst of dopamine as a reward. Try to feel happy for others when they win too.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Rosemary Kids’ Protective Blend
1. Make a boat when you’re back at home. You could use natural items such as sticks and leaves or reuse items like cardboard and plastic.
See page 13
2. Float your boat in the sink or bath. 3. Make adjustments if you need to.
parent note
4. Draw your boat below.
This game was first mentioned in a Winnie the Pooh book by A.A Milne (hence the name!) It can go on for ages so let it develop naturally. It’s fun to start off initially as a competition but then people usually get out of sync while they collect then drop objects into the water. Pooh Sticks is a really awesome science experiment where kids are learning about gravity (the time it takes for the object to land in the water) and surface area (the way it floats on the water or not).
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NATURE REFLECTION Which Nature activity made you feel really happy?
Explain or draw something you had to try really hard to do.
Draw you and your family doing one of the nature activities.
Draw a tree below. Add a leaf for each of your friends and family. You could write their names on the leaves if you’re able to, or ask an adult to help.
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MUSIC Music is a collection of sounds which are combined and organised into patterns. The purpose of music is to create beauty, communicate a message, create an emotional response and to bring people together. It helps concentration, focus and spatial awareness. People are drawn to music! It’s been a part of human culture and history since early human times. The rhythms and harmonies in music can have a powerful impact on our senses and this can lead to feeling happier and more peaceful. Music is highly valued to those who make it, listen to and use it. Music is a NeuroTool Š because it strongly affects how people feel. Music that we enjoy entertains, stimulates and relaxes us. It makes us laugh, allows people to express ideas and beliefs and unites people. Listening to, playing and creating music creates connections between parts of the brain, which is the purpose of My Amazing Brain.
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WAYS TO DEVELOP music WITH YOUR CHILD
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- Play music in your home and in the car - Sing a lot! To them, with them and about them - Play a wide range of music genres so they experience how different music sounds - Talk about the different instruments within songs - Have instruments in your home; drums, shakers, ukulele, keyboard etc. or make them - Have a screen-free music device that they can use (this develops their auditory skills without the visual distraction) - Dance around the house together - Learn some easy or complicated dance routines with them - Use energetic music to start the day and calming music to relax in the evenings - If they’re interested, enrol them in music tuition
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These are the 7 MUsic activities. Tick each box as you complete them.
Just Dance
Elements of Music
Joyful Jars
Music Maker
Moody Music
Good Night, Sleep Tight
Play It!
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Colour the faces to show how much you like doing each of these creative things
Singing
Dancing
Playing instruments
Listening to music
Performing to my family
My favourite song is
Instruments I like the sound of are
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JUST DANCE! WHAT YOU NEED: - A favourite song that is upbeat and energetic! - A music player
Music can have an amazing effect on our emotions. It can make us feel happy or sad, to feel joy or pain. Music also reminds us of past experiences and memories.
Each morning for the next week, inhale the aroma of an essential oil you love with an adult, play this song and dance! Think about how it makes you feel.
Activity One 1. Inhale the chosen aroma, play your chosen song and get dancing! 2. Move your body in lots of different ways; high, low, wide and narrow.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS
How do you feel after you’ve danced to this song?
See page 13
Spearmint
parent note
Colour the face to show how the dancing and aroma made you feel. e.g. sad, bored, happy, excited!
Help your child to dance each morning for a week by doing it with them! If it’s a song you like, you will feel great! When you notice your child is getting upset or is a bit reluctant to get going in the morning, put on an upbeat song and you will get the emotional benefits, including oxytocin, if you dance together.
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JOYFUL JARS WHAT YOU NEED: - 6 glass jars or bottles - water - food colouring - a spoon, chopstick or stick
Sounds are made when something vibrates (shaking back and forth) creating a wave of sound. Sounds are different based on the size and shape of the sound waves. This activity explores how different sounds are created depending on how much water is in the jar.
Activity One 1. Fill each vessel with a different amount of water.
When you tap the glass the water vibrates making a sound wave through the water. Does more water makes a deeper or higher sound?
2. Use 1-4 drops of food colouring to make each one a different colour. 3. Add 1 drop of essential oil to each bottle. 4. Stir the water in the jars.
parent note
5. Tap the jars with the stick to create different sounds.
Over the next week or two take the opportunity to tap different objects and talk about the sounds with your child. - Which sound is lower out of these two? - Do you think this object will be high or low? - Which sounds do you like and why?
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Wild Orange
1. Tap the jars to again to work out which sound is higher or lower.
See page 13
2. Place the bottles in order of the highest to lowest sound. 3. On the bottles below, draw the water line and colour each one in order of highest to lowest sound.
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MOODY MUSIC WHAT YOU NEED: - to pre-organise 4-6 songs that portray different moods or emotions e.g. fast and lively, slow and sad etc
Music can create peak emotions! Songs that we love can make us feel happy but songs we don’t like can make us feel annoyed or frustrated. In this activity we explore the way that music can make us feel.
- a music player without a screen so the child can listen without the visuals
When we’re listening to music we enjoy, our brain can produce dopamine, a reward chemical. It makes us want to listen to more music!
Activity One Your adult will play the first 30 seconds of a range of different songs - Listen carefully and think about how they make you FEEL - Tick the emotions that you feel on the chart - Talk about your feelings with your adult
Song 1 Song 2 Song 3 Song 4 Song 5 Song 6
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Uplifting Blend See page 13
parent note
Colour each music note to show which colour these feelings make you think of.
Before planning to begin the activity, get the songs ready without your child peering over your shoulder. The focus is on listening so it’s really important they are not viewing the screen throughout Activity One.
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PLAY IT WHAT YOU NEED: Any instrument! - ukulele (highly recommended) - recorder
Anyone can learn an instrument and the benefits for the brain and body are are vast. At a basic level, music simply involves counting, rhythm and forming a range of different sounds.
- shaker - castanet - drums - keyboard or piano - online clips ‘how to play ukulele/recorder/keyboard’ etc
Music really gets your brain going, especially when you play it yourself. This creates lots of connections in different parts of your brain.
PLAY PLAY PLAY! 1. If using a percussion instrument (shaker, castanet, drums etc) then play songs with varying beats and shake or tap along to the music. 2. If using a ukulele, practice strumming (down, up, down, up) while counting 1, 2, 3, 4 then learn the C chord first.* I highly recommend using Mike Jackson’s method of coloured dots to learn the ukulele. 3. If using a keyboard, learn some simple, wellknown songs. * If you already know how to use the chosen instrument, then find a new song to learn.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFUSER BLEND 2 drops Wild Orange 1 drop Copaiba
Organise a family performance! Arrange for everybody to demonstrate something musical, whether it be a song, dance or playing an instrument. - Discuss how people can show appreciation to a performer - Talk about ways to be a respectful audience - Explore ways to be an entertaining and interesting performer
Colour one face below to show how the family show made you feel e.g. sad, bored, happy, excited!
Draw or write about the performance.
parent note
This one might take a bit of patience and organisation. - If you’re not musical start with some percussion instruments - I love the ukulele for kids because it’s small and easier for them to play than a guitar, but make sure you keep it tuned (download a tuner app) - Small keyboards are great for kids and can be inexpensive if you buy one from a toy store as opposed to a music shop
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ELEMENTS OF MUSIC WHAT YOU NEED: 2 songs of different music genres e.g. rock, reggae, electronic or hip-hop
Activity One 1. Play part of the first song and focus on the rhythm. Tap in time to the rhythm.
2. Then play part of the second song, focusing on the rhythm too. Talk about the similarities and differences in rhythm between the two songs.
parent note
3. Repeat with the tempo, pitch and tone.
Music is a combination of sounds that we can focus on in different ways. The following ways help us to describe music and how it sounds.
Rhythm
Pitch
the beat or pulse of the music (e.g. bouncy, smooth)
how high or low the music sounds (e.g. high, low)
Tempo
Tone
the speed at which the music is played (e.g. fast, slow, steady)
the length/duration, loudness/intensity or quality/timbre of the sound (e.g. deep, warm, light)
Genre is a music category that groups similar songs together. Genres of music have a similar rhythm, pitch, tone and tempo.
Prepare the songs before starting the activity. For the days and weeks after completing this activity, encourage your child to listen to the rhythm, tempo, pitch and tone of songs when you hear them together. Talk about these elements and make comparisons between songs. Adjust this as necessary, your child may be best to just focus on rhythm for now.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
DIFFUSER BLEND 2 drops Wild Orange 1 drop Spearmint
Circle the words to describe each song:
Listen to your favourite of the two songs again. Create a picture while you listen to show the rhythm of the song.
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MUSIC MAKER WHAT YOU NEED: FOR THE SHAKER: - 2 plastic bottles - rice, pasta shapes, stones etc
Making your own instruments is a fun and inexpensive way to explore music and it’s a great way to reuse objects around the home.
FOR THE BALLOON SKIN DRUMS - empty food tin with the lid removed - 1 balloon per tin - paint - pencils or chopsticks
Make a shaker 1. Clean and dry the plastic bottles. 2. Decorate each bottle by gluing on coloured paper, stickers, small drawings etc.
Musical instruments can be made using so many different materials. After this activity, get creative and have a go at making up your own.
3. Add different objects to each bottle e.g. pasta in one, stones in one and rice in the other. 4. Listen to and talk about the different sounds that each shaker makes. 5. Explore ways to make different sounds and rhythms with your shaker.
parent note
6. Draw your shaker in the box below.
This is a hands-on activity that children will need some help with but let them do as much of the making as they can.
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Make a Balloon Skin Drum
ESSENTIAL OILS Uplifting Blend Kids’ Restful Blend See page 13
1. Wash the tin, remove the label then dry it. 2. Paint the tin and let it dry. You could also decorate it with stickers or paper etc. 3. Cut the tube part of the balloon off then stretch it over the tin. The tighter it is, the better the sound. 4. Use a pencil or chopstick for the drum sticks. 5. Explore different rhythms and ways to make different sounds with the drumsticks. 6. Draw you drum in the box below.
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If you make enough instruments for everyone in your family, you could all play the instruments together! Play a song and shake your percussion instruments in time with the music.
GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT WHAT YOU NEED: - slow, calming music - a music player (without the screen available to see) - a calming essential oil
Music, tone of voice and aroma are a powerful combination for feeling calm and relaxed. In Good Night, Sleep Tight we explore how these can be used together to support relaxation before sleep.
Activity One List or draw the relaxing things I like to do before bed.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Restful Blend Kids’ Restful Blend
Have the child repeat after you as you apply the essential oil:
See page 13
I am relaxed I am calm I feel sleepy I am clever I am loved I am gentle Focus on the slow beat of the music and the scent of the aroma. Relax your body, close your eyes and keep your body still.
I am kind My family is so proud of me I can do anything I put my mind to I am full of love Change the ‘I am…’ statements to build confidence and belief around anything relevant for your child or your family.
parent note
Refrain from talking to your child at the end of this. Encourage them to be still, quiet and to drift off to sleep.
Diffuse a calming essential oil in the diffuser then apply some diluted essential oil to the soles of the feet, the back of the neck and a dab on the collarbone while you talk your child through the relaxation. Speak slowly, quietly and calmly.
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MUSIC REFLECTION Which Musical activity made you feel really good?
Which activity did you have to try really hard to do?
Draw you and your family doing something musical.
In the music note, write something you learned about your brain.
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CREATIVITY Creativity is using imagination or original ideas to create something new. Creativity can cause a person to enter the state of flow. Flow is when you are so focused and passionate that you lose track of time and space which makes you feel energised, happy and less worried. For children, creativity can be developed when they’re raised in a stimulating environment that nurtures exploration, curiosity and problem solving. Some personalities are more inquiring than others, which may lead to them being more creative. Creativity is a NeuroTool © because it strongly affects people’s emotions. It’s used extensively as a tool for emotional support, including art, music and dance therapy. The benefits of creativity include that it’s stress relieving, energising, improves memory and that it can stimulate communication between different parts of the brain. This helps to create a well-connected brain.
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WAYS TO DEVELOP creativity WITH YOUR CHILD
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- Use ‘think alouds’ with them e.g. I wonder how that works? How could I do that differently? What could I use this for? - Provide toys that have multiple uses - Have paper, pens and art materials available for them to use - Avoid having too many toys. A clutter of toys is overwhelming and can create short attention spans - Let them get bored and watch the creative magic happen - Construct things with your child using everyday materials e.g. towers and toy houses - Allow them to have free time - Don’t over-manage your kids - Be creative with them; drawing, painting, constructing and problem solving - Allow them to try things that you know won’t work to inspire them to create a different approach or solution - Encourage kids to develop their passions
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These are the 7 Creativity activities Tick each box as you complete them.
Cardboard Creations
Puppets
Silly Stories
Build a Board Game
Marvelous Machines
Love Letters
Aromadough
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Drawing
Colour the faces to show how much you like doing each of these creative things
Painting
Writing
Building / Constructing
Using a marker pen or an ink pad, place ink on some of your fingertips to make finger prints below.
Problem solving
Turn each one into a person, pet or a plant by adding eyes, ears, hair, leaves or petals.
Performing
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CARDBOARD CREATIONS The options for using a cardboard box are endless. They inspire so much creativity and imagination for children, enabling them to create a car, spaceship or a fruit and vegetable shop! Many different foods and products come boxed in cardboard so it’s a great way to reuse something in your home.
WHAT YOU NEED: - cardboard boxes of different sizes * - scissors or a sharp knife (for an adult to do the cutting) - sellotape - paint, pens, crayons, stickers etc for decorating - slow, steady music * collect empty food boxes for a week or two until you build up a collection. Go to an appliance or furniture store to get a really BIG box
Activity One 1. Play the selected music to help get you in a creative mood. 2. Look at the boxes you have to use, notice the shape of them and think of something you could make out of them: - a house for your favourite toy - a shop - a vehicle - a building - a robot or monster 3. With you adult, turn the boxes into an amazing creation! 4. Reuse items from around your home to add detail, colour and function.
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Being creative is THINKING of ideas then PRODUCING something awesome. Be as creative as you can with your cardboard creations and most of all, have fun!
ESSENTIAL OILS
Activity Two
Invigorating Blend Kids’ Focus Blend
parent note
Draw your amazing creation in the space provided then play with it for days!
See page 13
Your job is to be the coach! Ask your child questions to get them thinking and problem solving. “What do you want to make?” “Do you want to create a vehicle?” “Would you like to create a shop?” “What materials will you need to make it?” If you see them attempting something that you know ‘isn’t going to work’ let them try anyway and discover it for themselves. That’s where the true learning happens. So coach them! “I like the way you tried that.” “Why do you think it didn’t work?” “How might you try it differently?”
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SILLY STORIES Creating stories is great for developing language, vocabulary and to inspire writing. Creativity can get you in the state of FLOW. Flow is when you are so focused on what you are doing that you lose track of time and space.
WHAT YOU NEED: - an imagination!
Activity One Create a story with your child using one or two of the words from each box below. Add your own details to make it exciting.
CHARACTER
PLACE
OBJECT
EVENT
witch, monster, boy, dog, butterfly, queen, pilot, teacher
beach, town, home, playground, mountain, pool, shop, school
book, bike, ice cream, cup, tent, skateboard, hat, toilet
party, disco, fair, explosion, accident, swim, race, dream
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS Inspiring Blend Kids’ Focus Blend
1. Tell your story to the rest of the family, then they might like to have a go at making up their own Silly Story.
See page 13
2. Create a comic strip of your story in the boxes below.
parent note
Have fun and let your imagination run wild! Once you’ve thought of a story, you could tell it using different voices, e.g. like a cackling witch or a scary monster.
Storytelling is great for creating memories. After you’ve had a day out with your kids (e.g. to the beach, for a walk, to a show or a movie) retell the events in the order that they happened. This will help your child to process their day, develop vocabulary and create long term memories of the experience.
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MARVELOUS MACHINES WHAT YOU NEED: - paper and a pen
Being creative can improve happiness, concentration and memory. Creative solutions are necessary to tackle modern-day issues such as our rising population and pollution. The world needs creative people to think of solutions, so get creative!
Activity One Design a machine to: - tidy your room - do the dishes - wash your hair - make new toys‌ If inspired, make the machine out of boxes or other materials.
Creativity is such an important skill to grow. The best thing to develop creativity is to move and play MORE and use screens and devices LESS.
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Activity Two
ESSENTIAL OILS DIFFUSER BLEND 2 drops Green Mandarin 1 drop Frankincense
1. Chat about a problem that affects people locally that your child can relate to e.g. flooding after a big rainfall, too much traffic or ways to reduce rubbish.
parent note
2. Work together to design a solution.
Coach your kids to develop a relevant idea for a machine. Ask questions, inspire and motivate them, give them feedback and tell them if you think they are capable of MORE! e.g. more detail, features etc. It could involve their interests or an area of weakness such as tidying their room!
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AROMADOUGH WHAT YOU NEED: - an old sock - buttons, clips, material, paper - glue or a needle and thread
RECIPE
Kneading, rolling and shaping playdough is calming and enjoyable for many people. By adding aroma to this sensory experience, Aromadough becomes a powerful tool to support mood and emotions.
1. Add flour, salt, cream of tartar and water to a pot on low-medium heat. Stir until the dough comes away from the sides of the pot.
2 C flour
2. Add the cooking oil then turn dough onto the bench and knead it.
1 C of salt 4 tsp cream of tartar 2 Tb cooking oil
3. Split the dough into 4 parts and place each quarter into a different bowl. 4. Add different colouring and 2-3 drops of essential oil to each portion.
2 C water 4 different essential oils (see suggestions on page 115)
food colouring or paint powder
5. Mix and knead the colouring and essential oils into each one. 6. After use, store each ball in a different jar or ziplock bag in the fridge.
parent note
7. This will last for 2-3 months in the fridge. Add more essential oil if the scent diminishes.
Aromadough can be used as a great tool to engage your child and be used as an emotional support tool. When your child is showing signs of being upset or tired, get the Aromadough out of the fridge!
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ESSENTIAL OILS
Different smells can make you feel relaxed, excited, energised or calm. Inhale the aromas as you use the Aromadough and notice how it makes you feel.
Lavender, Orange, Peppermint, Lemon
Activity One 1. Put together a box of utensils that can be used with the Aromadough e.g. knives, forks, chopping board, rolling pin, cookie cutters etc. 2. Can you make letters out of the dough? 3. Could you make a small house for an elf or a fairy? 4. How does the dough feel between your fingers? 5. How do the aromas make you feel?
Activity Two
Inhale each different aroma and draw how it makes you feel!
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PUPPETS WHAT YOU NEED: - an old sock - buttons, clips, material, paper - glue or a needle and thread
Puppets stimulate imagination and creativity. Puppet play can increase a child’s confidence when speaking or reading, be used as an emotional support tool and help process events that have happened.
SOCK PUPPETS - Collect all the materials and items to use for the puppet’s eyes, nose, mouth, horns, a hat, etc - Glue or get an adult to sew the pieces on - Make enough puppets so each family member has 1-2 puppets to play with - Use the back of a couch, a table or easel to hide behind while you carry out the puppet play - You could get a large box and make an amazing puppet theatre which will keep you all amused
parent note
for days
This activity can be a bit fiddly, so give your child the help they need to create their puppet. Use it as an opportunity to put their favourite socks to good use that they won’t let you throw out, and any crafty items that are taking up space in your home.
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ESSENTIAL OILS
FINGER PUPPETS
Green Mandarin Kids’ Focus Blend
1. Use a marker pen to draw faces
See page 13
on the pads of your pointer and middle fingers. 2. Carry out puppet play with Creativity is about coming up with new and useful ideas. This can help you to feel calm and proud of what you create! When you feel proud you get a lovely dose of serotonin, the happy hormone.
your fingers. 3. Draw your fingers with faces on them below. Draw a hat, scarf or some clothes on the puppet. Add a speech bubble for each finger and write what they are saying to each other (or get your adult to scribe your ideas).
Practice drawing some of your finger puppet faces here!
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BUILD A BOARD GAME WHAT YOU NEED: - coloured pens and markers - dice, counters
Making your own game means you can base it on your favourite topic or character and you get to make up the rules!
Playing board games is a great way to connect, have fun and laugh with your family. Creating one together is even more fun!
Create your own board game Use the grid template on the opposite page. 1. Brainstorm some ideas. 2. Decide on the aim of the game. 3. Choose a theme to use. 4. Decorate the board and fill in the squares. 5. Make or find some counters to use.
parent note
6. Play the game with your family.
ESSENTIAL OILS Jasmine Kids’ Focus Blend See page 13
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Help them to develop a theme and the rules of the game. Encourage them to keep it fairly simple.
Create another board game but this time without a template so you can make it whatever shape you want! Find some cardboard to re-use and create the game on.
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LOVE LETTERS WHAT YOU NEED: - paper - gratitude!
This activity is based around giving and receiving. It develops the habit of appreciating and showing kindness to the people in your family.
FAMILY MAILBOX 1. Use a cardboard box to make a Family Mailbox. 2. Decorate it and place it somewhere in the home that everyone can reach.
parent note
When you are kind and caring to someone in your family, you both produce serotonin and oxytocin, the feel-good hormones. Being kind makes you feel great as well as the person you’re being kind to.
This would be an amazing activity to sit down and do weekly, or to use when you notice some disconnection or friction within the family. The Family Mailbox would be a good place for kids to post all those drawings they make you in a week!
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LOVE LETTERS
ESSENTIAL OILS Invigorating Blend Kids’ Focus Blend
1. Assign someone for each person to write to so that everyone writes and receives a letter.
See page 13
2. Scribe a letter for the non-writers. 3. You could begin using a template to copy from initially, but as you repeat the activity everyone will get better at creating their own ideas.
It could become an expectation that each person has to write a letter/draw a picture to each family member during the week. Then the mailbox is opened on Sunday morning to deliver and read the mail. This will create warm fuzzies of serotonin and oxytocin for everyone!
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CREATIVITY REFLECTION Which Creativity activity made you feel really happy?
Explain or draw the most creative thing you did during this chapter. Which activity was the most challenging and why?
With an adult, inhale your favourite aroma from the Creativity activities then create a masterpiece below!
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Thank you for being part of My Amazing Brain. Enjoy your kids! Pay them as much attention as you can because they are more precious than emails, messages and work. You will never grow old and wish you spent less time with your children. If your words and actions SHOW THEM they are loved, treasured and important then they will develop a self-confidence that will convince them they’re CAPABLE OF ANYTHING and carry them through the challenging stages in their life. Because people ARE capable of anything, especially if they are nurtured and cared for in a way that helps them grow their best brain.
Do you want to learn more? Please visit www.brainessentials.nz for other resources and information.
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AROMA GUIDE Connection
MOVEMENT
Aromas to promote feelings of:
Aromas to promote feelings of:
Calmness
Bergamot
Release Connection Comfort
Refreshment
Eucalyptus
Cedarwood
Motivation
Grapefruit
Ylang Ylang
Invigoration
Peppermint
Clear breathing
Clear Blend
Comforting Blend
Self-worth
Joyful Blend
Assurance
Kids’ Courage Blend
Determination Steadiness
Encouraging Blend Kids’ Grounding Blend
NATURE
MUSIC
Aromas to promote feelings of:
Aromas to promote feelings of:
Clear breathing
Douglas Fir
Clarity
Lemon
Ease
Copaiba
Freshness
Spearmint
Rejuvenation
Rosemary
Uplift
Wild Orange
Contentment
Grounding Blend
Peace
Restful Blend
Patience
Renewing Blend
Courage
Kids’ Protective Blend
Cheerfulness Relaxation
Uplifting Blend Kids’ Restful Blend
CREATIVITY
TENDER LOVING CARE (TLC)
Aromas to promote feelings of:
Apply diluted to the specific area:
Relaxation
Bumps and Scrapes
Joy Confidence Energy Inspiration Focus
Frankincense
Lavender
Green Mandarin
Kids’ Soothing Blend
Jasmine
Kids’ Protective Blend
Invigorating Blend
Tummy Troubles
Inspiring Blend Kids’ Focus Blend
Peppermint Kids’ Digestive Blend
Bites and Stings
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Roman Chamomile
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My Amazing Brain has been brewing and bubbling for a long time! The energy and inspiration from many people are woven into these pages, including the hundreds of gorgeous students I taught over the years. I thank every single one of you and your families, for the life lessons I gained from you. I teach like I do because of you all! Marieke Bailey, thank you! For all your support, ideas and visual amazingness! I’m so grateful for the many hours you have listened to me, encouraged me and steered me back on track when needed. My Amazing Brain would not be quite like it is, without you! I hope you are proud to see your ideas threaded throughout the pages. You are THAT FRIEND from this stage of my life and I love the way our families are so connected. Leanne Hayes from Vanilla Hayes, thank you. Your graphic design skills are IMPRESSIVE. Thank you for perfectly translating my ideas into stunning visuals, colours and fonts. I am so proud of the way you have made My Amazing Brain look and I look forward to working more with you on future projects. Alice Dunstan, thank you! For taking the time to edit my work, remove the ramblings and pull a sentence together beautifully by adding or removing a single word. Everything sounded so much better after you’d worked your magic with it! I will forever treasure my years living in Queenstown which you were a big part of, I still miss teaching with you and our long runs around the lakes, rivers and mountains of that beautiful town. Jamie Jenkins, my lovely husband, thank you! For rolling with my ideas and obsessions and listening to me talk about kids and parenting for goodness knows how many hours! I appreciate your advice and humour to keep things real. You are such a kind, gentle man. Evie, Lola and I are very lucky to be life-ing with you. Neale and Christine Lawson, thank you! For being the most loving, supportive and active parents I could wish for. Our childhood was full of connection, movement, nature, music and creativity and the sense of smell is strong in our family! I loved growing up on the farm and am so grateful for all the space and freedom that farmlife gave us, as children. Not only did you show me how to be a great parent but now I get to see you as amazing grandparents. I also want to acknowledge Nathan Mikaere Wallis! I was three months pregnant with our first daughter when I saw you speak for the first time about brain development. You put me on the path that led to the creation of My Amazing Brain and I’m very grateful for that.
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My Amazing Brain is a book about creating quality time with children by going on brain based adventures! Modern lifestyles are busy for parents which can result in them spending less time with their children than they'd like. Therefore, the time spent with children should be QUALITY time. My Amazing Brain is here to help you create quality experiences and to teach you that there are lots of simple ways to help kids to grow their best brains!
35 activities for a child and parent to do together designed to create connections in growing brains based on NeuroTools Š; connection, movement, nature, aroma, creativity and music full of parenting tips to make life easier a fun, exciting and inspiring book to be treasured for years to come
Children with well-connected brains are more likely to be self-assured, confident and resilient, helping them to navigate our ever-changing world. My Amazing Brain can help to make that happen!