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Put Kids In Good Moods Naturally

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.

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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