FV 086 : “Brainious” – How to help children reach their full potential?

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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 Caro...