Find yourself wondering why kids can’t use their words sometimes? This is true of all of us, but especially true for brains that have been impacted by trauma. Here’s an excerpt from Riley the Brave’s “afterword for grown-ups” to help make sense of this complicated topic… The brain has two main operating systems, social-approach/engagement mode (“the upstairs brain”) and defense mode (“the downstairs brain”). At birth, the downstairs brain is the operating system at work....
Why Does a Bear Have Elephant Parents?
This is a common question after reading Riley the Brave to a group of children, and it opens the door to wonderful conversations about diversity and the many ways to make a family. You might talk about skin tone or hair color. You can incorporate grandparents, foster parents, and families with step parents. So many possibilities, BUT...I remember how awkward I felt trying to figure out how to talk about this stuff when I first...