Did You Know a Chemical Produced by Your Gut is Responsible for Keeping Your Kid Happy?
More kids than ever before today are suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders that make it hard for them to get along with other kids, have fun, and enjoy life. They feel a burden to do well in school, excel at after school activities, and find happiness amidst all of their screen time.
Parents are constantly looking for solutions, enrolling kids in therapy, and considering self-help books that might make a difference. What they aren’t considering is that the answer to their child’s happiness is right inside their child’s body.
What is Serotonin?
Our bodies were created to release natural chemicals that regulate our mood and keep us happy and hopeful. One
special chemical produced in your gut, known as serotonin, can impact our overall happiness levels. Aptly known as the “happiness drug,” high levels of serotonin can help children overcome their unhappiness and lack of motivation.
When this drug is released, it signals to the brain to feel happier and more energetic. In order to experience this release, we need to do something positive, make a decision, complete a project, or feel a “reward.” It’s a snowball effect from there.
So how does one increase their production of serotonin? Especially in children?
Here’s how it happens:
Allow Your Child to Make a Decision:
When children are not provided with the freedom to make decisions, they are missing out on an essential part of brain function. They need to select the color they like, the topic they want, and the shirt that is right for them. This kind of decision making is what fires off serotonin, as well as provides them with critical confidence in their decisions.
Allow Your Child to Receive Positive Feedback for Their Decision:
Try asking your kid a question when it’s time for everyone to brush their teeth. Instead of telling them to brush their teeth, ask them which toothbrush they would like to use. They will make a decision all on their own, and feel that kick of serotonin as a reward. Therefore, they will want to make more, positive decisions in the future.
Allow Your Child to Become a Decision-Maker:
Over-time, due to the biological reward system that revolves around serotonin, your child will become someone who is not only comfortable with decisions, but also someone who wants to make them. We all know this skill is critical for functioning as an adult in this life – especially if we want our children to be successful.
Mastery Martial Arts
Here at Mastery Martial Arts, we know how important the secretion of serotonin is for your little ones. That’s why we embed decision making into every level of our instruction. We allow students to make choices constantly, so they are rewarded with this serotonin boost. When they advance levels based entirely on their choices, they will sport a newfound confidence day-in and day-out.
It all starts with a chemical made in your gut!
