Connecting parents with their kids

Twenty years into her teaching career, Victoria Jenkins realised kids had changed a lot during her time in the classroom.

Jenkins had been researching and learning about brain development, and had noticed children were not as resilient as they once were, they were worried more and had less connection with others.

The result? Over a year, Jenkins has pieced together a book, My Amazing Brain, which has ‘‘brain-based adventures’’ for kids and their parents.

The book has different activities, most requiring equipment you can find around your house, all focused on helping children connect with their parents.

It teaches parents about a system of ‘‘neurotools’’ that Jenkins created, which focused on ‘‘the essentials’’, nature, connection and movement and ‘‘the enhancers’’, music, aroma and creativity.

Activities in the book were designed around these tools, and helped to stimulate a positive response and build a better child’s connection with their parent, subsequently drawing them away from screen time.

While New Zealand’s lockdown delayed publishing, Jenkins said she was really happy with the end result when the book turned up.

‘‘It was a strange feeling, I wished I could have given it to kids to have in lockdown,’’ she said. Jenkins said it was pleasing that during lockdown families realised how important it is to spend time together. ‘‘Suddenly everyone was valuing going for a bike ride or to the park as a family,’’ she said. She said a lot of the activities were things she did as a child with her parents or that she had learnt through teaching.

‘‘I tried to think of practical things, but they’re all hooked on that idea that they have to help the child and its brain,’’ Jenkins said.

‘‘So one of them is teaching them how to do a little hand massage, so it’s actually about that connection, but it’s also relaxing.’’

A mum to two young girls herself, Jenkins said she wanted to provide some ‘‘parenting hacks’’.

‘‘I want people to learn that these kinds of things will make your child feel really happy and content and what really surprised me was as I created these and tried them out with my children, I just couldn’t believe how good I felt doing it with them,’’ she said. ‘‘The whole purpose was for the kids, and through doing it and trying them I had that realisation that it helps adults as well.

‘‘We do an activity once a week – in some ways it’s about scheduling some time for it.

‘‘So we take it every time we go away to the bach, and if it’s pouring with rain we use it and I’m so grateful in those situations because of the materials we’ve chosen and the activities, the bach has the basics and there’s always enough there to do.’’

For more information or to purchase My Amazing Brain people could visit https:/ /brainessentials.nz/ or Paper Plus Blenheim.

DAVID JAMES/ STUFF Victoria Jenkins has released a book, My Amazing Brain, which connects parents with their children through "brain based adventures".