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Frenchwoman Stéphanie Brillant is the director (= réalisatrice) of documentary film “Brainious” – “Le cerveau des enfants” in French.
I first watched the documentary because as a parent, I want to be the best possible guide for my daughter, develop and maintain a strong bond with her based on trust so she can become a confident and independent person.
Although the film gives food for thought about how to best help children to reach their full potential, it is not only aimed at parents or caregivers: it is also an invitation to understand oneself, to explore how our present behaviours have been shaped by your own upbringing. The approach is never dogmatic and doesn’t tell you how you should raise your child – each way of doing being unique, just as every human being is. It is however fascinating to shed light on how the brain is naturally wired – because what seems like pure psychology is actually related to how the brain works and develops.
The very culture in which you grow up plays a role in how you respond to events. Stephanie will give examples illustrating how and why French pupils are afraid of making mistakes whereas in the US – where she now lives- she observed these mistakes were being embraced as fully part of the learning process.
Relationships are key to an individual’s psychological development. Words are powerful and can make or break a sensitive person. Stephanie will share her very own example of how she sabotaged her school years because of the way influential people were seeing her.
You’ll also understand why you are actually NOT doing children a favour by praising how smart they are; you’ll find other alternatives to help stimulate their resilience and problem-solving skills.
We’ll discuss why traditional classroom settings are in total contradiction with the way children learn – through movement. Why is it then that they’re asked to stay still for hours at a desk? What does research say and how can we address this paradox?
Stéphanie interviewed many experts (neuroscientists, researchers, psychologists, specialists in behavioural science, in parenting, etc.); she went to visit and film schools in which the children are learning to be mindful and emotionally healthy. There are very simple tricks that can be taught to children so that they learn to identify and handle their emotions – these should be taught in every classroom!
“Brainious” explores so many concepts we didn’t have the time to touch on all of them in the interview. I simply encourage you to watch this one of a kind documentary!
Vocab List
acquis (nm, adj) = learned knowledge; acquired, learned
apprentissage (nm) = learning process
câbler = to wire
cancre (nm) = dunce
cerveau (nm) = brain
conseiller d’orientation (nm) = careers advisor; education edvisor
croissance (nf) = growth
démarche (nf) = approach, process
doué, e (adj) = gifted, talented
élève (n) = school student, pupil
élever (un enfant) = to raise, bring up (a child)
état d’esprit (nm) = mindset
féliciter = to congratulate
gérer (une émotion) = to deal with, to handle (an emotion)
guérison (nf) = recovery, healing
inné (nm, adj) = innate, inborn, natural
louer = to praise
paillette (nf) = glitter
pleine conscience (nf) = mindfulness
rature (nf) = crossing out
réalisateur, _trice = movie director
réaliser (un film) = to direct (a movie)
rendre service (à qn) = to so (sb) a favour
respirer = to breathe
se dégourdir les jambes = to stretch one’s legs
se mettre au travail = to start, to begin, to get to work
tapis roulant (nm) = treadmill
vexation (nf) = offense
Questions:
- Which 2 types of mindset has psychologist Carol Dweck identified?
- How old is Stéphanie’s son?
- Why are glitter balls / snowballs used to regulate your emotions?
Answers:
- The fixed mindset and the growth mindset
- 7 y.o
- They’re a metaphor of what happens in your brain. They help you wait until everything falls back down (= you calm down)
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The post FV 086 : “Brainious” – How to help children reach their full potential? appeared first on French Your Way.
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