💛 the yes brain child

A “yes brain” is a way of being where children feel open, balanced, and able to explore the world with curiosity rather than fear. This doesn’t mean saying yes to every behaviour.

It means helping a child’s brain stay flexible, calm, and connected even when things are hard.

During supervised visits, a child’s nervous system is working overtime. They’re navigating transitions, expectations, and big emotions. When adults respond with warmth and regulation, they help the child shift from a protective “no brain” state to a more open “yes brain” state.

Children learn emotional safety through repeated patterns. A predictable meeting point, a steady tone of voice, a calm pause before reacting - these small moments allow a child to feel that they are held, not judged.

The book offers four gentle themes that align closely with supported contact work.

balance ⚖️

Helping children notice when they feel “wobbly” and showing them how to return to the middle, rather than expecting them to get there alone.

resilience 🌿

Allowing small struggles while still staying close enough for the child to feel supported. This is exactly the balance we aim for during observations — not rescuing too quickly, not stepping back too far.

insight 🔍

Guiding children to understand their own internal world in age-appropriate ways. Even simple reflections like “that was surprising for you” help children build awareness.

empathy 🤝

Teaching children to notice feelings in others without taking responsibility for them. In our work, this means keeping adult emotions firmly with adults so children don’t feel they need to manage or fix anything.

Parents don’t need scripts or perfect responses. They only need cues:

• pause before responding

• keep transitions predictable

• name the child’s experience without adding pressure

• return to calm together

These small habits signal to the child: you are safe, and I am here.

Available for loan from our #alwayschildfocused book club to families using our service