Little Book of Understanding my Brain for Children Little Book of Understanding my Brain for Children

What is the brain?

Your brain is the control centre of your body.

Your brain works faster than a computer.

How many brains can you find in this little book?

Did you know...?

Your brain generates enough electricity to power a lightbulb.

Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy.

An average brain weighs 2 pounds; that's the same weight as a pineapple.

Let’s look at three parts of the brain.

First up, we have the thinking brain, whose job is to learn and remember, like doing cool dance moves.

Next, meet the feeling brain. This is where your emotions live, such as happiness, excitement, and sadness.

Last but not least, say ‘Hi’ to the Brainstem – whose job is to handle tasks like breathing and keeping your heart beating.

How does the brain work?

How exactly does the brain do its magic?

Well, picture tiny messengers called neurons carrying messages from your brain to your body and back.

This is what a neuron looks like.

Your neurons create and send more messages than all the phones in the world.

My Emotional Brain

Did you know your feelings are created in your Brain?

Sometimes you can have BIG feelings such as sadness, fear or anger and that can be hard.

When it’s hard to cope with your feelings it can be called ‘flipping your lid’.

The video Hand Model of The Brain explains the brain and how it works.

Train my Brain

Start off by folding your arms, now try to do it the other way. It may feel strange. That’s because you are used to doing it one way, but that doesn’t mean it's the only way.

You can train your brain to do new things and to change.

Try to strengthen your whole brain...

  • Learn to juggle
  • Write your name with your ‘other’ hand
  • Play a game of snap/ pairs
  • Do a jigsaw
  • Colour me

Charge my Brain

Getting enough sleep and drinking water is needed to help you learn and make you feel better.

Scientists say children should have 9-12 hours of sleep every night.

How many do you get?

About 75% of your brain is made up of water so don't forget to keep hydrated.

The morning water challenge... start every day with a glass of water.

How to keep my brain healthy?

You can keep your brain healthy in the same way you keep your body healthy – stay active & eat healthy food.

Superfoods.

These foods help boost your brainpower.

Have you eaten any this week?

Fish, Eggs, Berries, Broccoli, Yoghurt, Seeds/Nuts, Cheese, Milk.

Top Tips to Calm my Brain

  • Rainbow Breath: Breathe in and raise your arms above your head, painting a rainbow. As you breathe out, lower your hands to your sides, painting a rainbow from the top down.
  • Freeze Dance: Dance as the music plays. When the music stops, freeze immediately and hold that position until the music begins again.
  • Smile Contest: Pick a friend, make your cheesiest grins and see how long you can both keep smiling for.
  • Cool Down: Take a drink of something cold, enjoy an ice lolly or run the cold water tap over your hands and wrists.
  • Animal Moves: What animal do you feel like right now? Move like it moves. Then decide what animal you would rather feel like and move that way instead.
  • Face Painting: Use a clean, dry paint brush, feather, or the tip of your finger and pretend to “paint” your face.

Give my Brain a Workout

Try to find words below in the word search:

  • Thinking
  • Feeling
  • Sleep
  • Water
  • Mind
  • Neuron
  • Brainstem

Watch How to cut and fold.