Maintaining Emotional Wellbeing
The Five to Thrive model is a framework based on neuroscience that highlights five key building blocks essential for healthy brain development in children and young people, and for maintaining healthy brain function throughout life. In the UK, many parents, carers, and professionals use this model to support your well-being and resilience.
Think of your brain like a building under construction. The Five to Thrive building blocks are the fundamental materials and processes you need to create a strong and resilient structure. By consistently experiencing these elements, you help your young brain grow and develop in a healthy way, equipping you with the capacity to manage emotions, build relationships, and navigate challenges.
The Five Building Blocks:
The model outlines five simple, yet crucial, interactive activities that others can provide for you, and that you can also learn to use yourself:
Respond:
This is about someone being emotionally available and sensitive to your needs. It means they notice your cues, understand what you might be feeling or trying to communicate (verbally or nonverbally), and respond in a way that makes you feel seen, heard, and safe. For you, this could be having someone actively listen when you want to talk, acknowledge your feelings even if they don't agree with your perspective, or simply be present when you are upset. This consistent responsiveness builds your sense of safety and belonging, forming the foundation for secure attachments.
Engage:
Engaging means someone actively connects with you in a warm, positive way. This involves them being in your presence, making eye contact, using a calm and friendly tone of voice, and being mindful of their body language. It's about creating a connection where both your and their nervous systems can feel regulated and in tune. For you, this could be spending quality time together, sharing activities you enjoy, or simply being physically close in a comforting way. This helps you develop patterns in your brain for connecting with others and building trust.
Relax:
This block focuses on helping you learn to manage stress and regulate your emotions. When you are stressed or overwhelmed, a regulated adult can help co-regulate by staying calm and providing you with a sense of safety. Over time, through these interactions, you learn to self-soothe and develop your own coping mechanisms. This could involve someone teaching you relaxation techniques, providing you with a calm environment, or simply offering comfort and reassurance during difficult moments. This develops patterns in your brain for self-regulation.
Play:
Play is a vital way for you to process experiences and develop your understanding of the world and your emotions. Engaging in playful interactions, using non-verbal communication, helps to activate the right side of your brain, which is important for understanding and managing feelings. For you, "play" might look like engaging in hobbies, creative activities, or physical activities that bring you joy and allow for emotional expression. This builds patterns in your brain for understanding and managing your feelings.
Talk:
This involves someone creating a narrative around experiences, using language to help you make sense of your world and your feelings. Talking, listening, and engaging in conversations stimulates the left side of your brain, which is crucial for language development, reasoning, and making sense of experiences. For you, this means having open conversations, having things explained in an age-appropriate way, being encouraged to express yourself verbally, and having someone actively listen to your thoughts and feelings. This develops patterns in your brain for making sense of experience through words and narrative.
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How it Works for You:
The Five to Thrive model works by promoting secure attachments and healthy relationships, which are fundamental to your overall well-being and resilience. When you consistently experience these five building blocks in your interactions with trusted adults, it helps to:
- Build a healthy brain: The consistent, positive interactions literally shape your developing brain, creating strong neural pathways that support emotional regulation, social skills, and cognitive development.
- Promote self-regulation and resilience: By learning to manage stress and emotions through co-regulation with adults, you develop the capacity to cope with challenges and bounce back from adversity.
- Support recovery from trauma: If you have experienced trauma, consistent Five to Thrive interactions with caring adults can help to repair damaged neural pathways and support your healing process.
- Enhance your relationships: the model emphasizes the importance of connected relationships, helping you to build trust, empathy, and the ability to form positive connections with others throughout your life.
- Improve your communication and understanding: Engaging in talk and play helps you develop your communication skills and your ability to understand yourself and the world around you.
The Five to Thrive model is not a rigid program but rather a flexible approach that can be integrated into everyday interactions you have with others. It helps people who care for you understand the science behind healthy brain development and to use these simple, yet powerful, activities to nurture you. By focusing on these five building blocks, you can be supported to thrive, build resilience, and reach your full potential.
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