Put Kids in Good Moods Naturally
Can a good sleep, a healthy breakfast and daily exercise really make all the difference?
By Michael Grose
The moods that kids
experience aren’t simply related to whatever is happening to them during the
day. They have a lot to do with the chemicals running around their brains and
bodies.
Brain chemistry has as much power to shift emotions as does a happy or sad
event. Adrenaline and cortisol are brain chemicals that parents want less of in
their kids.
Adrenaline is partly responsible for the revved up, ‘cordial high’ and extreme
activity that some kids experience. It is very powerful as it causes the
flight/fight part of the brain to take over.
When a child gets an adrenaline rush it is a waste of time trying to change
their behaviour until adrenaline decreases. That’s why you need to either give
amped up kids some space or the time to calm down. Physical activity can help
dissipate adrenaline. Having a family life where there is lots of repetition and
rituals is one way to lessen adrenaline.
Cortisol is the other brain chemical worth watching out for. It is the stress
hormone that gets released with adrenaline. It lowers verbal ability so stressed
kids often can’t verbalise their thoughts.
Too much cortisol and you will have an inflexible, stressed out child. Ridicule,
put downs and fear can increase cortisol so a psychologically safe environment
helps reduce cortisol. Less sugar and more water also controls cortisol. Plenty
of sleep reduces both adrenaline and cortisol.
What about ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals?
Dopamine and serotonin are both feel-good chemicals that are related to pleasure
and motivation. Dopamine helps people change moods. It lowers in adolescence,
which accounts for the ‘gangsta rap’ stare that some teens have.
Repetitive games and exercise, enjoyable activities, affection and spending time
together are some ways to stimulate dopamine. Such activities stimulate the
brain to release dopamine, which gives us a feel-good, natural high.
Serotonin, is more powerful as it is a slow-release brain chemical. Its affects
can last all day. Almost any exercise raises serotonin as does a good breakfast,
positive feedback and plenty of sleep.
My mother didn’t realise it all those years ago when she insisted I got plenty
of sleep; that I started the day with a healthy breakfast; and that I walked two
kilometres to school, she was actually giving me a serotonin high. Her words of
encouragement as I walked out the front door didn’t hurt either. She didn’t know
she was altering my brain chemicals by doing what came naturally.
I guess that is the point. A lot of what we do naturally and instinctively as
parents has positive affects on children’s moods. Our grandparents probably
didn’t need to be told that exercise, a loving environment and plenty of sleep
put a child in a good mood. And that lack of sleep, a hostile environment and
the wrong food can make a child feel stressed or inattentive.
But science has given us some insights into altering moods that our grandparents
didn’t have. The best part of all, is that we can alter children’s moods in
simple, common-sense ways without resorting to drugs. That’s got to be an
advantage.
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Michael Grose is a popular parenting expert and media commentator. He is the director of Parentingideas, the author of seven books for parents and a popular expert who speaks to audiences in Australia, Singapore and the USA.
For the absolute best advice and ideas, free courses and fabulous resources to help you raise happy kids and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au
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