Adoption learning resources The ARC Adoption team have listed the following helpful resources to provide parents with additional support; How to Teach Your Kids about the Brain When children understand what’s happening in the brain, it can be the first step to having the power to make choices. Knowledge can be equally powerful to parents too. Knowing how the brain works means we can also understand how to respond when our children need our help. How to teach your kids about their brain A huge free printable list of 100 calm down strategies for kids. These are simple strategies kids can use to calm down when angry, upset, frustrated, or overwhelmed. The free printable makes an excellent addition to a homemade calm down kit as well. Calm down strategies for kids 100 SIMPLE CALM DOWN STRATEGIES FOR KIDS The Window of Tolerance Explained When your child has flipped their lid, the “upstairs” part of the brain is not available. The upstairs part of the brain is where we can make decisions, show empathy, have self control etc. Therefore, we need to wait until the child calms down or help them calm down, before we start trying to rationalise with them. Watch this short video here: Summary of the whole brain Similarly, when your child is upset, we should first connect right brain to right brain. Yes, with empathy. Then, once they are more receptive, we are able to redirect with the left brain. Redirect does not mean to distract. It means to involve the child in making amends and finding solutions together. This page is dedicated to parents and carers of children living with trauma pain. http://www.fasdnetwork.org/uploads/9/5/1/1/9511748/survival_in_school_birth_trauma.pdf Children’s books The family Book – Todd Parr- celebrates all kinds of families and shows how each one is special in its own way. The ‘I love you book’ – Todd Parr - celebrates the unconditional love between parent and child. From the heartfelt ('I love you when you need hugs') to the light hearted ('I love you when you hide my keys') and with many moments in between that are sure to make readers smile and reminisce, this is the perfect book for families to share together to remind children how much they are loved, each and every day. It’s OK to be different – Todd Parr - Inspires children (and adults) to embrace their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence The Great Big family Book – Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith - This is a fresh, optimistic look through children's eyes at today's wide variety of family life: from homes, food, ways of celebrating, schools and holidays to getting around, jobs and housework, from extended families, languages and hobbies to pets and family trees. This P.A.C.E. illustration was created by Emma Sutton with input from clinical psychologist and renowned expert on P.A.C.E and therapeutic parenting, Kim Golding. Emma Sutton draws on the following books that she has personally read: Creating Loving Attachments; Parenting with PACE to Nurture Confidence and Security in the Troubled Child, by Kim S Golding and Daniel A Hughes Everyday Parenting with Security and Love; Using PACE to Provide Foundations for Attachments by Kim S Golding The following books are useful resources for those looking to learn more about attachment; Attachment Focused parenting, by Dan Hughes Building the Bonds of Attachment (3rd ed) by Dan Hughes If you would like to find out more about the adoption resources then please call the team at ARC Adoption on 0191 516 6466 or email [email protected]