How to use Brainy Tales

This website is to help guide you and your child through Brainy Tales in a meaningful way. It will allow you to connect, challenge yourselves, and hopefully grow together by learning more about your brains!

Talking to your child about Brainy Tales

The relationship between Amy G and Fronnie is very important. By understanding our Amy G, we can act with our Fronnie’s (our logical, problem solving part of our brain) instead of with our Amy G (our emotional puffer fish). Use this book to talk about your Amy G and all the range of emotions you have and help your child do the same. Make the connection between emotions and behavior. For example, “I cried because I was sad.” or “I yelled at my mom because I was angry.” This will strengthen your connection and their connection to their own brain!

Amy G: (Amygdala)

  • Try to ask open questions rather than closed questions which do not leave room for a child to elaborate.

  • What feelings has your Amy G experienced so far today?

  • What makes your Amy G feel joyful? Nervous? Afraid? Safe?

Fronnie: (Frontal Cortex)

  • What are some areas of your life that need help with planning/organizing?

  • Who can help you and what what would you like for them to help with?

  • How will your Amy G feel when you are more organized?

Making Connections to Brainy Tales

  • What do you typically do when you are frustrated?

  • What helps you calm down best?

  • When have you felt relaxed?

  • Where do you feel most peaceful?

  • How do you think Amy G felt when Fronnie calmed her down?

  • When have you felt stressed?

  • What would you have done if Hip asked your Amy G a second time if they were an elephant?

  • Who are some adults in your life you can go to when you feel big feelings?

Click to access coloring pages!

Meet Amy G, Fronnie and Hip!

  • Amy G

    BRAINY TALES: STUDENT

    BRAIN: AMYGDALA, IN CHARGE OF EMOTIONS & SURVIVAL INSTINCTS

  • Fronnie

    BRAINY TALES: SCHOOL SECRETARY

    BRAIN: FRONTAL CORTEX, ALL ABOUT PLANNING & ORGANIZING

  • Hip

    BRAINY TALES: STUDENT

    BRAIN: HIPPOCAMPUS, FOCUSED ON MEMORY & LEARNING

Amy G & Hip

The relationship between Hip and Amy G is helpful because Hip uses Amy G to decide what to remember. Hip reminds Amy G is she's about to do something that did not go well last time, like punching her brother when she was angry.

Amy G & Fronnie…again!

The relationship between Amy G and Fronnie is so important we’re coming back to it!

Amy G, being the emotional part of our brain, sometimes reacts right away to a situation and it may not be for the best as the reaction can sometimes lead to a negative consequence.

Fronnie, who likes to plan ahead, knows that Amy G leaves a situation more often in a better place when Amy G calms down first. Once Fronnie helps Amy G to be balanced, Amy G can respond, rather than react.

Check out an activity below to see if the action following the situation was a reaction (Amy G) or response (Fronnie)!

Meet the rest of the crew!

  • Mr. BG

    BRAINY TALES: PHYS. ED. TEACHER

    BRAIN: BASAL GANGLIA, CONTROLS MOTOR CHOICES/BEHAVIORS

  • Mrs. P

    BRAINY TALES: THEATER TEACHER

    BRAIN: PARIETAL LOBE, IN CHARGE OF TOUCH, SENSATION & NAVIGATION

  • Mr. T

    BRAINY TALES: ENGLISH TEACHER

    BRAIN: TEMPORAL LOBE, UNDERSTANDS LANGUAGE AND WHAT YOU SEE

  • Mrs. OC

    BRAINY TALES: ART TEACHER

    BRAIN: OCCIPITAL LOBE, VISION, SEEING COLORS / SHAPES / FORMS & DESIGNS

  • Thaddie

    BRAINY TALES: TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

    BRAIN: THALAMUS, SENDS & RECEIVES MESSAGES ABOUT SENSES