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When kids learn about their brain, they learn to communicate more effectively.

When children feel overwhelmed, they practice simple tools—like slow breathing or counting their fingers.

They learn that big feelings aren’t “bad”—they’re signals.

Shift in labeling their emotions moves children away from identifying as their emotions to observing them.

What if one of the most powerful ways to support children’s mental health and self-esteem… was simply teaching them how their brains work?

It may sound simple—and it can be life-changing. When children understand their brains, they begin to understand themselves and others on a deeper level.

And here’s the exciting part: neuroscience isn’t just for high school anymore. It’s becoming part of everyday learning—even for the youngest minds.

When kids learn about their brains, they learn to communicate more effectively. It can be broken down where kids are learning about their “brain team,” describing the different brain parts and functions. There’s the amygdala—the emotional brain. The brainstem—keeping the body safe and running. And the prefrontal cortex—the “wise brain,” helping with decision-making, problem-solving, and thoughtful choices.

And they’re not just learning the names—they’re learning what to do with that knowledge.

Kids are learning to communicate things where they can say, “I am full of big emotions right now, and my wise brain is momentarily offline. I need to take a few moments to reboot.” Understanding how the brain functions does two things for growing minds. First, children are learning to externalize the problem, allowing them to depersonalize the experience. This leads them to create a solution where they are not overruled by emotions. Second, it teaches the importance of impermanence. When a child labels that their brain is momentarily offline, they understand that in time it will be back online, and this allows them to transition from being stuck to unstuck.

When children........

© Psychology Today