Table Talk: From Shame to Empowerment. Talking to our kids about their brains.

For many of us the difference between true success and a lifetime of unmet goals or shame based failures lies in understanding our own brains. How many of us were labeled as "good" or "bad" students. "Smart" or "dumb". How many of us got the message somehow that we were either innately destined to success or failure? And how many of us have carried that messaging throughout out lives? As adults we are tasked with undoing that messaging and coming into a compassionate understanding about how our brains work. Strengths and weakness and everything in between.

For those of us who are parents, we feel a deep sense of protection for our children against these messages, and understandably so. And so when our kid is struggling, we want to do all that we can to support them. Often that means exploring worlds of educational, psychological or neurological evaluations, IEPS and 504's, and diagnoses.

We want to put systems in place around our kiddo so they can be successful as possible and not carry the stigma of being different or like something is wrong with them. We may want teachers and grandparents and friends to understand our child's brain, but when it comes to explaining it to the child directly, we fall silent. We stumble over words, say nothing or maybe even actively deny that anything is happening. We are tryign to protect them. But are we?

Nancy Loss PhD is the owner of Child Neuropsychology PC and is here to help us find the best ways to talk to our kids about their brains. She has over thirty years experience in evaluating kids and helping them and their parents navigate the landscape of their thinking, coping and emotional regulation styles so that they can truly thrive. Dr. Loss will walk us through the do's and dont's of talking to our kids about their brains.