So many memories in our subconscious minds can be triggered by something as simple as a smell.
A familiar perfume, food, flowers… it goes on. Have you ever smelt a perfume or aftershave and been able to recall a person that wore it followed by a memory of them?....most could. Smell can flood us with wonderful memories or less pleasant ones.
There is specific science behind this, and a very interesting one.
The sense of smell goes straight to the centre of our brains to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is connected directly to the amygdala (where our emotions are processed) and the hippocampus (where learning and memory formation take place). So that means a smell can directly be connected to a feeling or emotion. Sometimes those feelings are nostalgic happy ones and sometimes, if the smell has been connected to a bad experience, it can trigger anxiety, anger or even self-esteem issues.
In fact, scents are the only sensations that have a direct path to our emotional and memory centers of the brain.
So how can this affect a child behaviour?
Imagine a child that was disengaging at school, unable to function academically, or was becoming increasingly disruptive, perhaps fleeing the classroom and then refusing to come into school. It could be easy to simply label that child as disruptive, badly behaved or make assumptions that home life is not great.
Anger, anxiety, self-esteem issues, bullying and tantrums are all typical responses of a child in distress, not a ‘bad kid’.
Parents may well end up receiving frequent calls home, in regards to said poor behavior. This reaction obviously causes much stress and anxiety of both parent and children. When a child refuses to attend school and attendance is poor, learning is therefore also impacted.
The ripple effect upon on the family because of one child’s behaviour can cause extreme stress and worry for parents and carers. Its also worth considering the negativity imprinted on the child itself, who is unable to understand or process these big emotions.
However, what if a child’s behaviour was simple as a trigger caused by the perfume the teacher was wearing?
Perhaps a simple smell, caused a memory to be triggered about the bereavement of a lost loved one, or a painful experience such as falling badly or a falling out with a friend. The puzzle surrounding behaviours has many pieces - its not a disruptive child, it’s a child in need of someone to hold their space and with them discover the cause.
Despite adults assumptions about the why or how a child should be reacting and behaving, our judgement is often off kilter. It is always necessary to take time to let children be heard and feel understood. Giving this time and focus allows a child to begin to understand, express and process their own emotions. By not allowing this simple transformation to take place, we are denying our children the ability to grow into emotionally healthy adults and this is often where mental health issues will stem from.
We firmly stand by the belief that all negative child behaviours are for a reason
No child should be subjected to negative labels or opinions. This takes time and ‘out of the box’ thinking which Freedom and Growth facilitate.
If you feel your child is struggling in school or at home and you’re at a loss to why and unsure of how to tackle the situation, we are here for you. We will provide tailored interventions, strategies and the space for your child to explore their big emotions and responses.
With careful guidance and support, and always without blame, we will and do find resolve.
With an emphasis on ‘seeing the good’ within themselves, we work with you and your child to unpick the root of the problem.
Input from parents/carers and teachers is invaluable too, to help support that ultimate goal of finding resolve and improved behaviour for all concerned.
If you’d like more information about moving forwards to helping your child develop healthy emotional expression and let go of trauma or negative behaviours, please reach out and contact us. The first consultation is completely free and absolutely confidential.