DAD TOOLKIT 2026
Understanding the Brain
Join us for our Dad Toolkit session. We’re bringing together guest speakers to share practical strategies on building resilience and ensuring safety around our kids. This session dives into the foundations of brain science and how understanding these core principles can help you lead and support your family more effectively.
About the Speaker
Nathan Wallis is a father of three, grandfather of five, and a foster parent with a professional background in teaching and child trauma counselling. A former lecturer in Human Development at the University of Canterbury, Nathan is a well known expert on television who uses humor and plain language to make complex neuroscientific research accessible for everyone.
In this session, we will cover:
The First 1,000 Days: Explore the brain's critical period for gathering data and determining its lifelong structure.
Neurosequential Brain Development: Understand how the brain develops from bottom to top and the specific functions of each of the "four brains."
Stress and Learning: Learn about the relationship between the brainstem and frontal cortex, and how to prepare the brain for optimal learning.
Risk and Resilience: Identify the practical factors that build resilience in children to help them navigate future challenges.