Updated June 24, 2014.

At one point it was believed that our brains were pretty much determined by genetics and eventually stopped developing, but thanks to technology and brain scanning devices, this belief has been proven wrong. Dr. Daniel Siegel, a leader in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, has helped parents all over the world learn how their children's minds can be positively shaped and influenced by the experience that they share with them.

 

In his 2011 book, The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, Siegel brings his teachings to the public. Based on the idea that the best mental health is achieved when one's brain is integrated and functioning as an organic whole, this book offers parents strategies about how they can help their children integrate their brains.

It starts with the parents

Of course, before parents can help their children integrate their brains to function as an organic whole and in harmony with itself, parents need to first know how to operate in the world using their whole-brains. Many people may not know that they tend to be left or right brain dominant. When someone favors his or her left or right brain too much, he or she can get off balance and lose precious integration between the left and the right hemisphere of the brain that enables flexibility, adaptability and resilience. Siegel shows how adults can navigate these difficult waters by balancing their left and right brains as well.

 

Strategies to implement with your children

In The Whole-Brain Child, Siegel shares 12 strategies to help parents nurture their children's minds by encouraging brain integration. For example, he offers a precise way of handling a child's meltdown. Additionally, Siegel helps parents understand the importance of naming strong emotions in order to promote left and right brain integration, which soothes the upset nervous system and, in turn, helps your child feel better.

Mental health does not have to be a mystery

Mental health is also not limited to the precious few who have flawless genes and perfect childhoods. There is a great deal of room for error in terms of genetics and how children are brought up. Employing even a fraction of what Siegel teaches will surely help your child be more mentally healthy and emotionally intelligent, and it is great advice for adults as well.

<sub>Source

Siegel, D. J. and Payne Bryson, T. (2011). The whole-brain child: 12 revolutionary strategies to nurture your child's developing mind. Random House: New York.</sub>