Friday 19th July 2019

Oranga Tamariki- the definition of physical harm (is not hear or to anticipate
hearing harm)

Over-sensitised- ADHD, OCD. All we are looking at doing is calming them down.

Relationships, Routines, Repetitive, Rhythmic.

Dr Bruce Perry- Child Trauma Academy. “The boy who was raised as a dog.”

Upper Brain-​ Engagement and Learning

Lower Brain-​ That of a 2 year old- fidgeting and moving.

The first thousand days- so important as it is the ​foundation​ for kids. It doesn’t
dictate what happens what will happen but it’s a good indicator.
Neurotypical​- usually have a good foundation.
Non neurotypical​- when the kids crack the plaster and we replaster and cracks
again and replaster (the fault is in the foundation and not the plaster, what is in
the foundation that is not quite right). Plastering- consequences and restorative.
We can make some changes to that foundation but it will never be perfect as if it
was done correctly in those first thousand days.

The First Thousand Days:

● Starts in utero
● 86 billion cells once baby is born (production of cells)
● Migration happens and they move to where they will live
● Differentiation- what chemical/job they will be responsible for
● Chemicals indicate these processes- if they introduce other chemicals which
will alter them
● ZERO alcohol and NO drugs
● Increased stress in the mother during pregnancy can increase cortisol levels
can lead to higher active children
 ●

What we get given through our genealogy (Nature).

Activate cells by ​experience.
Repetition ignites and produces “myelin” and it coast the connection and
increases the connection.
How the brain connects:​ you have to have the experience to make those
connections and it has to be repeated for myelination to happen. If it happens
once and it is very emotional, your brain will remember it again and again- still
counts as repetition.
1. Dirt Road
2. Asphalt

The first three years is where most of the myelination process happens.
Myelination increases the weight of the child’s brain.

1 thousand trillion connections by 3 years old- language, respect, how to tie

shoes, roles, communication, what is a family (all things that are heard
repetitively).
WOOF example- you can hear something again and again and then start to
believe that is what a dog says.
How can we change the brain- can we add some more information??

Top things that release Endorphins- Also can increase myelination

1. Singing
2. Laughing
3. Exercise

You cannot get rid of violet connections but can create new ones to help block.
Example: Love is connected/associated to violence- my parents loved me since
they abused me.

Introducing the brain:

Red Brain/Lower​- Brain stem/Limbic (survival/emotional)
● Survival tasks
● Impulsive
● Irrational
● “Two year old”
● Selfish

Green Brain/Upper​- Cortex (managing)

Starts developing around 4,5,6 years old - Full development when out of
adolescence
17, 18, 19 years old there is a massive myelination upgrade = integration (all
former knowledged but mostly learnt in early adolescence stage)
Puberty is starting earlier which is meaning adolescence is increasing.
Weight can trigger puberty
A girl is more likely go through puberty if she continuously lives with a step father
(someone not their father).
● Override impulses
● Plan
● Sequence
● Time Management
● Abstract
● Empathy

We develop in layers

1. Survival brain- breathing, walk

The most crucial time to assess kids is when they are in their happy environment.

Neuroception- the red brain asking it’s environment “Am I safe?”

Poverty can be a risk factor- is not a DIRECT risk factor, it’s a contributing factor.
Intergeneration belief can tell me I am not safe.
Media can tell me I am not safe.
- Can I pay my mortgage?
- Can I feed my children?
- Are my children safe?
The need to make sure you make the parents feel safe before anything happens.
If the brain detects a stressor- it will activate the ​Fight or Flight response.
The best idea for survival is to assume everything is going to kill us. (Most
efficient way to stay alive).

Fight or Flight response

Nerves that run down our spine to kidneys and such.
Sympathetic- UP which is Fight Flight
Parasympathetic- Freeze response/dissociation

● Sight and hearing sharpen- peripheral vision become more aware

● Mouth goes dry- saliva production gets shut down
● Breathing changes to get the heart and lungs going
● Stomach- nausea. Brain sending to the stomach to get rid of the food as
digestion energy could be used for other survival functions (nervous stress
response)
● Bowel/Bladder empty- holding them in takes a lot of energy
● Temperature changes
● Porse constricting- more likely for a boy (scratching their tshirt tag, usually
back) become sensitised. For them to become desensitised sometimes they
need to get their clothes off. Be careful with kids in stress response- come
straight on and don’t touch their backs
● Blood increase in large muscles of arms and legs

Need to get kids to ​feel themselves calm​ not think themselves calm.

Freeze Response
 ● Playing dead- pulling the system down
● Heart rate can slow down
● All blood leaves the periphery and a slump happens- blood goes into the
core
● Don’t have the energy
● When they come out of the freeze response it is normal to see stretching as
blood is being redistributed
● If children go into a high state of freeze they can sometimes not remember
those events
● Children can go into fight flight and then freeze
● Children can go in different instances freeze and fight flight- generally one
preferred activation
● Tired and fatigued

Breathing

Essentially trying to bring it to a “middle” which is calm.

Long term plan is about when we are calm.
No point in trying to teach this when they are in full stress
response.

Tell the brain ​“you are not going to die!”

Relationships:​ the most important thing for the brain

when they start to activate. “Ring Mum” “Ring Dad” “Can I
see the caretaker?”

Status:

Distraction:

Sensory:
S (some)​ SEE ME​. Seen by someone who is important to them. Need for validation
that they exist.
B (boys) ​Show me I BELONG.
H (hate) ​Tell me what is ​HAPPENING.
C (carrots)​ ​Give me some ​CONTROL.

The ability to calm down is something we have to learn.

Emotional Resilience

The ability to bounce back.

Bouncing back to a state of emotional control.
To return requires us to first ​GO SOMEWHERE.

Peek-a-boo​- That change between sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Anxiety = sympathetic
First 1000 days- Repetition of the calming down.

Rubber band- stretch kids out to the uncomfortable or you won’t make any
progress.