Page 46 - Unit 5: Brain Shaping

What does this unit teach us?

THERE ARE GENUINE REASONS WHY SOME PEOPLE FIND IT EASIER

TO DO WELL AND OTHER PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO MANAGE

1. Some children enjoy strong attachments, good basic care and plentiful positive, enriching
experiences.

2. This helps to build strong brain pathways and in turn, Executive Function skills early in life. These
connections form the foundations for later connections.

3. It also helps to fill a child’s ‘5C Needs’ – they help a child to feel physically comfortable, connected and

cared for, to feel they count, to feel capable and have a sense of control over their lives.

4. This in turn makes it easier for a child to follow routines and do what is expected – because they

have strong brain pathways and low levels of stress. The child wears yellow lenses in life; and when stressors
come their way, they can manage well.

5. Other children are not so lucky. They have not built such strong brain pathways either due to poor
attachments, a lack of enriching experiences, adverse experiences and trauma or just because they are ‘brain

different’, not ‘brain same’ - their brain is wired differently, not due to environment or experiences, but due to
genetics.

6. These children do not have such strong Executive Function skills and often have higher levels of

stress chemicals in their body. They often do not feel so comfortable, connected, that they count, capable or
feel such a good sense of control over their lives. This means they enter situations wearing blue or red lenses

and can react to stressors more easily and strongly. It makes life more difficult for them. It is not their fault.