Hand Model of the Brain
Who: All Ages
Why: Being a human means learning to live with big feelings. It’s important to recognize what is happening in the brain when we feel certain things in the body because when we understand, we have more control over ourselves and our reactions.
The hand model and “flip your lid” concept is a helpful way of showing the functions of the brain and guides one to know when to use mindful practices to help put the “lid back on” to come into balance. It’s something adults and kids alike can understand!
Tip: Sometimes when family members who serve in the military come home, it takes some for them to adjust emotionally. If you have a family member whose big feelings keep “flipping their lid”, this is a helpful concept for kids so they understand it is not caused by them, but is instead a process that happens in the nervous system when it feels stressed.