Feelings & Logic
Your child is crying because they lost their favorite toy. What should you do first: comfort them or explain what they did wrong?
Comfort them first. Help them feel safe before explaining what happened.
Which part of the brain helps us make good choices and control our actions: the upstairs brain or the downstairs brain?
The upstairs brain.
What does “Use the Remote of the Mind” mean?
Helping children think about a memory again and understand what happened.
What does “Let the Clouds of Emotion Roll By” mean?
Feelings do not last forever. Being angry or sad does not make you a bad person.
What does “Increase the Family Fun Factor” mean?
Spend time playing, laughing, and having fun together.
What does “Name It to Tame It” mean?
Help your child name their feelings, such as anger, sadness, or fear.
Your child refuses to clean their room. Name one way to help them make a good choice instead of yelling at them.
Give them choices, such as, “Do you want to pick up your clothes or toys first?”
Your child is scared of the dentist because of a painful visit. What could you do to help?
Talk about what happened, listen to their fears, and discuss how the next visit might go.
What does SIFT stand for?
S — Sensations: What you feel in your body.
I — Images: What pictures come to your mind.
F — Feelings: What emotions you have.
T — Thoughts: What you are thinking.
Two children are fighting over a toy. What can a parent teach them to do?
Take turns, listen to each other, and find a fair solution.
True or False: It is best to teach a lesson while your child is having a big meltdown.
False. Help them calm down first.
What does “Use It or Lose It” mean?
Practice skills like making good choices, showing kindness, and controlling your actions so they get stronger.
What does “Remember to Remember” mean?
Help children talk about their day and share stories about things that happened.
Your child says, “I'm a bad kid!” after making a mistake. What could you say to help them?
“You made a mistake, but that doesn't make you a bad person. You can learn from it.”
True or False: Every disagreement is bad and should be avoided.
False. Disagreements can teach us how to listen, solve problems, and understand others.
Your child says, “Nobody likes me!” What could you say to help them feel understood?
You seem really hurt. Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Your child is angry and has lots of energy. Name one activity that might help them feel better.
Dancing, walking, running, or jumping.
Your child says, “I don't remember anything about school.” What is one question you could ask to help them remember?
“What was the funniest thing that happened today?”
Your child is angry, has a tight stomach, pictures an argument in their mind, and thinks, “It's not fair!” What are the four parts of SIFT?
Sensation: Tight stomach.
Image: Picture of the argument.
Feeling: Anger.
Thought: “It's not fair!”
Your child is upset because their friend was left out of a party. What could you ask to help your child think about the friend's feelings?
“How do you think your friend feels about being left out?”
Why should parents listen to their child's feelings before trying to solve a problem?
Children are more likely to listen and think clearly when they feel safe and understood.
What can happen when a child gets so upset that they cannot think clearly?
Their emotional reactions can take over, making it harder to make good choices or solve problems.
How can talking about a scary or sad memory help a child?
It can help them understand what happened and work through their feelings.
What does it mean to understand your own feelings and try to understand someone else's feelings?
It is called mindsight. It helps us understand ourselves and show empathy for others.
Your family has been arguing all evening. Name two things you could do to help everyone reconnect.
Take a break to calm down, do a fun activity together, listen to each other, or talk about the problem when everyone is ready.