The B.R.A.I.N Framework: Enhancing Children's Learning
Lili-Ann Kriegler
Award-winning author and early years designer for advanced play-based, place-based, and project-based learning. Certified thinking skills trainer and early language warrior. Owner of Kriegler-Education.
Educators make daily decisions that shape children’s learning and development in early years classrooms. When these decisions align with how the brain works, they create opportunities for children to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Classrooms designed with the brain in mind are places where curiosity, motivation, and attention naturally lead to meaningful learning. Let’s explore how the B.R.A.I.N. framework can make this a reality in your teaching.
Understanding How Beliefs Shape Learning
Children’s beliefs about their abilities significantly influence their success. Dr Carol Dweck's research differentiates between a fixed mindset (believing abilities are unchangeable) and a growth mindset (understanding that effort leads to improvement). These beliefs begin forming at an early age, making your role as a model of a growth mindset crucial.
Example: Instead of saying, "You’re so smart!" try, "You kept trying different ways to fit the puzzle pieces together—great thinking!" This helps children see challenges as opportunities and builds their confidence to continue learning.
How the Brain Works
The brain is constantly growing and adapting, especially in the early years. Every experience forms new connections between neurons, and repetition strengthens these pathways. Healthy brain development depends on balanced routines that include plenty of sleep, good nutrition, and active movement.
Practical Tip: Establish a daily rhythm with movement-rich activities, quiet reflection time, and structured tasks. This balance helps children recharge and return to learning refreshed and ready.
The B.R.A.I.N. Framework in Practice
The B.R.A.I.N. framework offers strategies that align with how the brain learns, helping you create experiences that children connect with and remember.
B – Break it Down
Complex ideas can be overwhelming for young learners. Breaking them into smaller, focused steps helps children grasp and build upon concepts at their own pace.
Example: To introduce the life cycle of a butterfly, start with one stage, such as the caterpillar. Use hands-on materials like a caterpillar model or a storybook to introduce the idea. Later, gradually add stages through activities like crafting a chrysalis or observing live butterflies.
R – Repetition
Revisiting ideas in playful, engaging ways strengthens understanding. Repetition ensures that children have the time to internalise what they learn.
Example: While exploring shapes, involve them in different activities—cutting shapes from paper, building with blocks, or spotting shapes in the environment. These repeated encounters help embed the concept while keeping it fun.
A – Active Participation
Children engage actively with their learning and make stronger connections in their brains. Participation also boosts enjoyment and ownership of their learning experiences.
Example: Instead of reading a story about animals, create an interactive activity where children act out the animal movements, sounds, or habitats. These physical and imaginative interactions deepen their understanding of the story.
I – Integrate Ideas
Linking new concepts to children's knowledge creates a richer, more meaningful learning experience. Integration fosters a sense of coherence that makes information stick.
Example: Pair a lesson about plants with outdoor gardening. As children plant seeds, talk about what plants need to grow and link this to their water, food, and sunlight needs. This hands-on connection reinforces learning and sparks curiosity.
N – Never Stop Trying
Helping children see challenges as part of learning builds resilience and a sense of achievement. Your encouragement makes a lasting impact on their willingness to persist.
Example: If a child struggles to stack blocks, acknowledge their effort and suggest trying a different approach. Say, "You’re working so hard on this—let’s see if a bigger block at the bottom helps!" Celebrating effort over outcomes helps children feel proud of their persistence.
Making Learning Stick
To help young children remember what they’ve learned:
Example: After a week of learning about animals, invite children to create an ‘animal scrapbook’ with drawings, photos, and short captions. Reviewing their scrapbook reinforces what they’ve learned and gives them a sense of accomplishment.
The Classroom as a Brain-Friendly Space
A brain-friendly classroom supports learning at every moment. Minor adjustments, like including movement in transitions, creating calm spaces for reflection, and designing activities around children’s natural curiosity, can significantly impact. For example, offering open-ended materials like playdough, blocks, or loose parts invites exploration and creativity.
Organising environments intentionally supports children’s growth as confident learners who love to explore, create, and problem-solve. These experiences help them build a strong identity and a positive approach to challenges.
Summary of the B.R.A.I.N. Framework
Applying the B.R.A.I.N. framework creates a learning environment where children’s curiosity and potential flourish. Your work lays the foundation for lifelong learning and resilience.
Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is a Melbourne-based education consultant and award-winning 'Power of Play' and 'Roots and Wings' author. Lili-Ann owns Kriegler Education and writes to share the wisdom she has acquired through her training and 30 years of experience in education. She is a child, parent and family advocate who believes education is a transformative force for humanity.
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Transform your approach to early childhood education by unlocking the true potential of play-based learning. In The Power of Play, educator Lili-Ann Kriegler provides a practical roadmap for embedding deep conceptual understanding into daily activities. This book, explicitly designed for early educators, emphasises that language is at the heart of learning. It describes 7 dynamic learning zones to help you implement a highly effective play-based curriculum.
Early Years Educator || EYFS Specialist|| Homeschool Consultant|| Teacher Trainer|| a driver of quality play based learning in the classroom to reinforce learning for children from 0 - 5 years old
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