"The Whole Brain Child" by Bryson & Siegel

"The Whole-Brain Child" explains how parents can help their children develop emotionally, socially, and mentally through an understanding of how their brains work. The authors, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, emphasize the importance of integrating the different parts of the brain – the left and right hemispheres, the upstairs and downstairs brain – to achieve a more balanced and functioning mind. They provide specific strategies, such as “Name it to Tame it”, “Connect and Redirect”, and “Mindsight” to help parents navigate common challenges and foster healthy development in their children. The authors also address the significance of memory and the impact of past experiences on a child's behaviour, and introduce the concept of mirror neurons, which play a key role in empathy and social understanding.