Page 43 - Unit 5: Brain Shaping

What difference should knowing all of this

make to your work with young people?

1. Explain: we can use the Balance of Life model to help children make sense

of their difficulties and start to feel better about themselves – to think, “No

wonder I find some things difficult!”

We can help the child realise it is not because they are naughty or silly but

due to past experiences or having a differently wired brain.

2. Teach: we can tell and refer to the rats and cats stories to give children hope

and to motivate them towards change. We can teach children that, with

practice, they will start to find things easier.

3. Language: we can change the way we talk to children – using the language

of skills and difficulties (you find that easy or hard) instead of ‘poor choices’ or

‘being naughty’.