Flooded

Book excerpt: A Brain-Based Guide to Help Children Regulate Emotions. When your brain perceives danger, your body and mind will go instantly into one of three modes-flight, fight, or freeze. Your heart races, your body tenses up, your hands shake, and your emotions take over rational thought. You've entered The Flood Zone. When children experience The Flood Zone, their behavior changes. They yell, bite, or run away. They withdraw and lose concentration. They blame and lie. In this state, children are unable to be rational, regulated, or otherwise compliant. Even the most motivated child (or adult) with the greatest coping strategies won't be able to identify or manage their emotions in The Flood Zone. In Flooded, counselor and bestselling author, Allison Edwards explains how parents, teachers, and counselors can identify when children have entered The Flood Zone. She also offers suggestions for teaching children (and adults!) how to regain control of their emotions. In this book, you'll get: - An overview of how the brain interacts with emotions - Understanding of the role of trauma in emotional health - Explanation of why children can't respond rationally in stressful circumstances - Techniques for teaching children how to regulate emotions - Suggestions for setting up your classroom or office to improve emotional awareness - Strategies for improving interactions with children at school and home As educators, parents, and professionals, we need to teach children and teens how to identify their emotions, learn what triggers those feelings, and provide strategies to manage their feelings in a healthy way. This book explains how.