Teaching Kids About “Flipping Their Lids”

Key Insights 

• The Hand Model of the Brain, based on Dr. Dan Siegel’s work, is a simple and hands-on way to teach kids about their brains and emotions.
• It helps kids visualize what happens inside their brain when they feel overwhelmed, as well as ways to calm down.
• Using hand gestures and visual cues makes brain science fun, easy to understand, and memorable for younger kids. 

 

Why Teach Kids About “Flipping Their Lid”?

Over the years, I’ve seen just how much children and young people can struggle with managing big emotions. Helping them build emotional regulation skills, and supporting them during moments of dysregulation, has become a central focus for educators, counselors, and parents alike.

One of the most effective tools for teaching these important concepts is Dr. Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain. This simple, visual model shows kids what’s happening in their brain when they experience big emotions. It introduces the idea of “flipping your lid,” a child-friendly way to describe the moment when the thinking part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) temporarily disconnects from the emotional brain (the amygdala).

By learning this model, kids gain a concrete way to understand their feelings—and more importantly, how to calm down and reconnect with their thinking brain.

 

What Is the Hand Model of the Brain?

Dr. Siegel’s Hand Model is a practical way to explain how the brain responds to stress. All you need is your own hand!

• Wrist and palm = Brainstem. This part of the brain controls basic survival functions like breathing and heart rate. 
• Thumb folded across the palm = Amygdala. The emotional center of the brain—responsible for detecting danger and processing strong emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety.
• Fingers folded over the thumb = Pre-frontal Cortex. The “thinking brain”—it helps with problem-solving, impulse control, empathy, and decision-making.

 

What Happens When You “Flip Your Lid”?

Emotional regulation takes time and practice to develop, especially for kids who’ve experienced stress or trauma. When they feel overwhelmed, their prefrontal cortex (the fingers) lifts away from the amygdala (the thumb). This is what Dr. Siegel calls “flipping your lid.”

In this state, children aren’t being “naughty”—they’re experiencing a stress response. Their emotional brain is trying to protect them, but their thinking brain has essentially gone offline. At this point, they aren’t ready to reason or reflect; they need connection, compassion, and calm support from a trusted adult.

Once they’ve calmed down, the Hand Model becomes a powerful tool to help them reflect on what happened, understand their feelings, and learn how to recognize the signs before things escalate. With time and support, children can begin to notice when they’re starting to flip their lid—and learn strategies to “keep the lid on.”

 

Flip Your Lid Printable Resources

To help bring this concept to life for kids, I’ve created three fun and visual printable tools designed to teach and reinforce the idea of “flipping your lid.” Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, therapist, or parent, these resources make brain science accessible, engaging, and empowering for young learners. Let’s help children understand their brains, so they can better understand themselves.

 

1. Flip Your Lid Hand Model of the Brain
   A child-friendly activity that explains what happens in the brain during big emotions. Using simple language, it helps kids to understand their feelings and learn strategies to stay calm and regain control - great for classrooms or counseling.

 

 

2. Flip Your Lid Self-Regulation Card Game
   Featuring three friendly animals: Wise Owl (prefrontal cortex), Guard Dog (amygdala), and Elephant (hippocampus), this game uses scenario cards to help kids to identify feelings, stay calm, and make smart choices.

 

 

3. Brain Regions for Kids
   A colorful visual resource introducing ten animal characters representing different brain areas and functions. From Guard Dog to Wise Owl, kids learn how these animals help them think, feel, remember, supporting emotional regulation, attention, and self-awareness.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Teaching kids about “flipping their lid” isn’t just about managing emotions, it’s about helping them grow into thoughtful, resilient, and emotionally intelligent individuals. When children understand why they feel overwhelmed and how to calm themselves down, they build confidence and lifelong coping skills.

And that’s a win for everyone—kids, teachers, and families alike.

Ready to give the Hand Model a try with your kids or students?
Introduce it today and watch them gain a powerful new way to understand—and take charge of—their own feelings.

 

References

Siegel, D. J. (2010). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. New York: Delacorte Press.

Photo by Keira Burton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/desperate-screaming-young-boy-6624327/