I'm so glad you're here.

After more than 20 years of working with children and their families, I created this book because of the questions children have asked me over and over again.

"Where have my words gone?"

"Why can't I talk?"

"Why does this feel so hard?"

"Am I different?"

These are big questions for little people.

And often, as adults, we don't always know how to answer them.

My Brain Land was created to help children make sense of what is happening inside them in a simple, gentle, and reassuring way.

This is not a book about fixing children.

It is a book about understanding them.

It is about helping children see that sometimes words get stuck, feelings get tangled, and worries become bigger than we would like. But it is also about helping them understand that nothing is broken.

Sometimes words hide.

Sometimes confidence hides.

Sometimes bravery hides.

And that's okay.

Over the years, the children I have worked with have inspired many of the ideas in this book. One child told me that their words were hiding behind their knees. Another wondered if their words had gone on holiday. Many asked why speaking felt easy at home but so difficult somewhere else.

This book was created from those conversations.

In many ways, it is a book created by children, for children.

My hope is that it gives families a shared language to talk about things that can feel confusing, frustrating, or hard to explain.

Because when we can picture something, we can begin to understand it.

And when we understand it, we can start to move forward.

The message throughout this book is simple:

Some things are hard.

Trying can feel scary.

Words don't always appear when we want them to.

But every small step matters.

There is always hope.

There is always another way.

And most importantly, you are never alone.

Thank you for being here.

I hope My Brain Land brings understanding, reassurance, a few smiles, and many opportunities for meaningful conversations with the children you love.

With kindness,

Anna Biavati

Speech and Language Therapist

Founder of the Brave Muscle Method

Steps to Brave Talking Therapy and Support