Returning to Us

This is the third episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

Have you ever been out for a walk and smelled something that triggered a memory? Our sense of smell can trigger memories and strong emotions, both good and bad.

The olfactory nerve taps into the memory system of the brain. That’s why strong smells have a connection with memory recall, emotions, and behaviors.

Let’s travel back in time a bit to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians practiced aromatherapy for both their physical and psychological wellness. Since that time, essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes to attain mind and body well-being.

Some aromas wake you up, calm you down, or stimulate brain activity. Get creative! Have fun! Be aware of allergies!

Lauren discusses various ways to incorporate scents, such as a diffuser, a spray bottle, scented candles, and plants. She also explains the effect of certain scents, including:

• Lavender and Jasmine – have a calming effect.
• Lemon / Citrus – enhances mental & physical performance and brightens the mood.
• Rosemary – helps improve thinking, memory, and processing.
• Cinnamon – stimulates brain activity and attention.
• Peppermint - improves alertness & memory.

If you’ve been looking for ways to promote productivity or relaxation at home or in the classroom, introducing different scents might be what you need. Have fun exploring and experimenting!

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Classroom Design with Aroma in Mind

Our Online Courses:

• Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
• From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate
• From Conflict to Calm: Communicating with Challenging Children

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode:
Do you have helpful strategies for dealing with students who have ODD-type behaviors in a school setting?

Try-at-home tip: Co-Regulation

• Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
  Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
• Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
• Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
• The Behavior Hub website
• The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

This is the second episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

Color has its own magnetic frequency. It has an energy that influences the neurological pathways in the brain.

Color also influences our moods, emotions, and actions. It is very impactful, so why not choose colors to help kiddos learn? Color also helps us stay regulated, feel better, reduce stress, and improve performance.

Lauren talks about using colors conducive to learning, retention, participation, and cooperation. She discusses a variety of ways to incorporate the following colors:

• Red – Energy booster. Think the Energizer Bunny!
• Orange – Mood lifter.
• Yellow – Attention grabber.
• Green – Concentration catcher.
• Blue – Productivity driver.

Remember, color is a significant part of our lives and perceptions. Don’t shy away from trying different color combinations to see what works best for you.

Mentioned in this episode:
BDNF -Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.
We won’t go into the science of it, but what you do need to know is that it is activated by exercise and is a fertilizer for your brain. So, more exercise = clearer thinking.

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Classroom Design with Color in Mind

Our Online Courses:

• Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
• From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: When a child has challenging behaviors, how do you support parents in trying to understand it more from the child's perspective?

Try-at-home tip: Go outside immediately upon waking!

• Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
  Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
• Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
• Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
• The Behavior Hub website
• The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
Returning to Us Podcast - part of the Top 15 Health & Wellbeing Podcasts!

If we can create a stabilizing routine, even if it's just morning and evening, we can maintain emotional regulation though the holidays. Lauren gives some ideas for how you can incorporate fun holiday routines into your daily life during the 2 weeks around the chaos of Christmas.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do we problem solve through behaviors?

Try-at-home tip: Size of the problem - which box does your problem fit into?

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Posts:

• Creating, Rituals, Routines, and Habits
• 5 Breathing Exercises for Your Kiddo
• The First Step to Emotional Regulation
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Kids

Podcasts:

• A Sequence for Emotional Regulation
• Resources for Well Being
• Putting Self Care into Practice with Routines
• Helpfulness: How to Encourage Helpfulness

Our Online Courses:

• Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
• From Conflict to Calm: How to communicate with kids so they listen the FIRST time!
• 4 Simple Steps to Problem Solving

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!

• Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
• Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
• Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
• The Behavior Hub website
• The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode, Lauren dives into how prolonged stress impacts the brain and body. She explains how chronic or traumatic stress rewires key areas of the brain—such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus—shifting us into survival mode and making it harder to thrive. The effects extend to the body, as ongoing stress floods our system with stress hormones, disrupting vital systems like the cardiovascular, immune, musculoskeletal, and hormonal networks. She also shares actionable strategies to reset your nervous system and reduce stress.

If you haven't already, check out Five Ives to see how strategies like this can be applied to adults, especially in the workplace. Five Ives works with staff in high burnout jobs to help them incorporate regulation strategies into their daily routines.
Try at Home Tip: Download a breathwork, mindfulness, or meditation app
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

References:

• Insight Timer
• Calm
• Headspace
• Breath Source
• ClassPass

Blog Post:

• Polyvagal Theory
• Sympathetic Nervous System
• Fight or Flight: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
• Rest & Digest: Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Podcast:

• The Link Between Technology and Nervous System Dysregulation
• Find Your Way Back to the Window of Tolerance
• Micro Changes Macro Results
• I Can't Stop Talking about the Nervous System
• 5 Ives episode
• Window of Tolerance
• Manage Your Stress or it will Manage You

Our Online Courses:

• Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
• From Conflict to Calm: How to communicate with kids so they listen the FIRST time!
• 4 Simple Steps to Problem Solving

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!

• Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
• Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
• Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
• The Behavior Hub website
• The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Over the last few episodes, Lauren has discussed how other cultures teach cooperation, helpfulness, motivation, and emotional control. This is the first episode in a three part series on how other cultures handle children's misbehavior.

She discusses six different ways to correct misbehavior

1. A strong “No” or “The Look.”
2. Consequence puzzles
3. Questions
4. Responsibility
5. Actions and not words
6. Ignoring

The goal is to teach children to use their executive functioning and learn why the misbehavior is not beneficial to them or your family, not to punish.

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do I get my kid to listen?

Try-at-home tip: Physical Touch

Mentioned in this episode:

• Bringing up Bebe - Pamela Druckerman
• Hunt, Gather, Parent - Michaeleen Doucleff
• There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather - Linda Akeson McGurk
• Achtung Baby - Sara Zaske
• The Danish Way of Parenting - Jessica Joelle Alexander, Dissing Sandahl

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post:

• Children’s Emotions: How They Work and Behavior Strategies to Try

Podcast:

• Improve Communication by Giving Kids Choices
• How to Make Kids Cooperate
• Helpfulness: How to Make Kids Helpful
• How to Make Kids Cooperate
• Instilling Intrinsic Motivation in Your Kids

Our Online Courses:

• From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!

• Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
• Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
• Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
• The Behavior Hub website
• The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.