Brains, Black Children &
Behavior
STAR Health
Objectives
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Understand basic brain functioning
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Learn more about the differences between the Upstairs and
Downstairs brain
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Looking beyond “time out” - alternatives to physical punishment
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Explore the role of reflective parenting to repair insecure
attachment
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Hot issues
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Tantrums
Parents yelling at children
Promiscuity
Have fun through relaxation and group skits!
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Brain
Organ of thought and feeling; the controlling center of
the nervous system in vertebrates, connected to the
spinal cord and enclosed in the cranium (Webster)
Mind
A process that regulates the flow of energy and
information (Daniel Siegel, M.D.)
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Brain Functioning 101
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Brain Functioning 101
Four Lobes
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Brainstem
Basic functions such as Fight or Flight, carries out
basic processes
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Brain Functioning 101
Cortex
• Six layer thick folds made up of grey and white
matter allows us to make sense of the outside world,
for example relating sights and sounds
• On the exterior of the brain, looks like folds or wrinkles
Corpus Callosum
• The two hemispheres are connected by bundled
fibers, allows hemispheres to process information
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The Pre-Frontal Cortex
• Responsible for integrating all other parts of the brain
• Gives us ability to be emotionally balanced, selfaware
• Responsive vs. reactive
• Intentional with our bodies
• Empathic
• Intuitive
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Amygdala and Hippocampus
Amygdala
o Gateway to our fears
o Controls Flight, fight or freeze responses
o Buried near the tip of the temporal lobe
o Name comes from its shape, Latin for Almond
Hippocampus
o Responsible for encoding and organizing memories.
o Classifies and categorizes them so they may be
used at a later time
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Hemispheres of the Brain
Right
Cares about the big
picture, meaning and
emotions
Left
Loves and desires order
o Logical
o Emotional
o Linear
o Non-verbal
o Literal
o Experiential
o Linguistic
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Upstairs vs. Downstairs Brain
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/elementary/communic
ation/talking-with-five-to-seven-year-olds/using-theupstairs-brain-to-control#.VEavFiAU-gw.email
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Upper and Lower Brain
Upper brain
o Has the ability to process logic and cause and
effect
o Uses right and left side to develop personal insight
o Center for empathy and morality
Lower brain
o Instinctual
o Fight, flight or freeze reactions
o Operates more primal responses
o Driven by strong emotions like fear and anger
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Reflecting on Physical Punishment
Donald, a 13 year old boy, was leaving school for the
day when his father was waiting near the parking lot.
School officials had called Donald’s father earlier that
day to report that he was being disruptive in class. The
father asked his son what happened. After Donald
confirmed the school’s report on his behavior, the father
unstrapped his belt and whipped his son in front of more
than 20 students. Donald’s father had a reputation
amongst his friends as a parent “who took no mess.”
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Sounds familiar?
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Alternatives to Physical Punishment
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/allparents/parenting/consequences-and-rewards/howcan-i-discipline-my-children-more-effectively
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/elementary/behaviorand-discipline/time-outs/do-time-outs-really-work
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Attachment and the Brain
• Ages 0-3
most rapid period of brain growth
• Experiences shape how the brain grows
(positive/negative)
• Child feels safe/cared for
o
Brain uses its energy to develop pathways crucial for higherlevel thinking
• Secure attachment allows a child to have more
varied experiences and therefore build more neural
connections
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Attachment and the Brain
Secure Attachment
• Our children need to be:
o
o
o
o
Seen
Safe
Soothed
Secure
o
Can work with teens as well!
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Mirror Neurons
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Attachment and the Brain
Insecurely Attached
o Avoidant
o Disconnected from others
o Ambivalent/ anxious …..
o Sense of confusion regarding relationships
o Disorganized
o Fearful of attachment figure
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The Role of a Coherent Narrative
• Despite our childhood histories, we can all have a
secure attachment with our children
• The key is to have developed a coherent narrative of
our own childhood.
• If your child is showing signs of insecure attachment,
do the work!
o
o
o
Looking at your own past first
We are not doomed to replay past patterns
We can create a new life for our children
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/allparents/parenting/parental-stress-and-anger/becomebetter-parent-understanding-yourown#.VEbKaBwkxLU.email
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Reflective Parenting
A process of reflecting a child's internal world;
interpreting their actions with an understanding of the
underlying thoughts, intentions, feeling in children's
behavior.
•
Helps children provide a voice to a subjective
experience, understand where things come from
•
Helps to repair attachment issues
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Calming the Mind and Brain
• Meditation is one way to calm the mind and brain
• Helps to quiet the animal brain and step out of a fear
response
• With practice, one can call up memories of a
meditative state and instantly calm oneself
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Just Be Yourself!
• 1st Stage (2 min) – Shaking
o
Let the body loose and start shaking. Move your arms, hips,
shoulders and head.
• 2nd Stage (2 min) – Gibberish
o
Tell the children to close their eyes and start speaking gibberish. Let
them make any meaningless sounds they like. As they gibber they
can let their hands and bodies move – swaying or jumping up and
down. They can be as loud as they like.
• 3rd Stage (2 min) – Laughing
o
Begin laughing for no reason at all. Just laughing!
• 4th Stage (2 min) – Sitting silently
o
Sit silently and watch the breath and whatever is happening inside
and outside.
• 5th Stage (5 min) – Relaxing
o
Lie down and relax.

http://www.madadalian.com/active-maditation-for-children.php
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Teach your child about their Brain
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Healthy Mind Parenting Tip: Connect and
Redirect
• Imagine that your child is in a “right brain” state, what
would that look like?
• What would happen if you tried to address them in a
left brain mode?
• What is the first thing we should do?
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/preschooler/beha
vior-and-discipline/effective-discipline/how-handleupset-child#.VEaqtOZUKa4.email
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Early Childhood – Stopping Tantrums
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/toddler/behavior-anddiscipline/tantrums/how-to-stop-tantrums-byunderstanding-the-brain#.VEardgf-7Kk.email
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How to Stop Yelling at Our Children
• Be kind to yourself, we all do it!!
• Become aware of your triggers
• Center yourself
o
o
o
Go outside, get fresh air
See if anyone can watch your child
Drink water
• Apologize to your child
• http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/allparents/parenting/parental-stress-and-anger/how-tostop-yelling-at-your-kids#.VEbLF9KX7FE.email
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Promiscuity
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•
•
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Past sexual abuse
Peer influence
Relationship Issues
Trouble with impulse control
• http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/teenager/sexuality/s
exual-activity/four-reasons-your-teen-may-bepromiscuous#.VEbNrqJxpI8.email
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Practice Makes Perfect!
• Break up into groups of 10
• Look at your scenario/part of the brain that you were
assigned
• Come up with a memorable way to act this out for
your fellow participants
o
o
o
Use props
Do a relaxation exercise
Do a cheer to say why your part of the brain is the best!
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References
•
•
•
•
http://children.meditation.org.au/whois.asp
http://reflectiveparenting.org/
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com
Austin, J.H. (2006). Zen Brain Reflections: Reviewing Recent
Developments in Meditation and States of Consciousness MIT
Press.
• Siegel, D. The Mindful Brain: Reflections and Attunement in the
Cultivation of Wellbeing. Norton Press.
• Siegel, D. & Bryston, T.P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child: 12
Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing
Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your
Family Thrive. Delacorte Press 2011
• Siegel, D. (2010). Mindsight: The New Science of Personal
Transformation. Random House.
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Thank You!
Cenpatico
(866) 218-8263
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Integrating the Parts – Scenario 1
Sarah, who is six years old, is walking with her father in
Walmart. She sees the object of her hearts desire, a
Furby toy she has wanted for a year. Sarah grabs the toy
off the shelf and places it in her father’s cart. When the
father removes it, Sarah screams “I WANT THAT FURBY
NOW!”
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Integrating the Parts – Scenario 2
Maria is a 12 year old girl who lives with her aunt. Her
aunt tells you that Maria has recently become obsessed
with death. She believes this may be due to the recent
death of her biological mother from a drug overdose.
Maria is now convinced she will die from some natural
disaster and is thinking about it all the time . How can you
help her?
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