SEROTONIN

The Key To Reinforcing Positive Behaviors In Children and Teens

Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? Have you ever considered that children have these as well? Of course, they do! The problem is, they don’t know how to express this to us. They know something doesn’t feel right, so they act out or exhibit a grumpy mood. The good news is, there is a way to boost their mood and reinforce positive behaviour choices.

Serotonin, also known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter, plays a part in our wellbeing and is important in balancing mood. Ninety percent of the serotonin in our bodies is produced in the gut. This is because the gut and the brain were developed from the same embryo cell line and continue to communicate through the vagus nerve. This explains why the gut is often referred to as the “second brain” and where the phrase “gut feeling” comes from.

In recent studies, serotonin levels have been found to also affect memory and learning. In addition to this, it helps build new neuropathways in the brain which supports the ability to learn new information more quickly. When there are higher levels of serotonin, moods are better and, therefore, cognitive functioning is improved. The problem is found when serotonin levels are too low. In children, this can manifest in behaviours such as poor impulse control and inattention.

Now that we understand the neuroscience surrounding serotonin, how can we, as parents, teachers, coaches, and anyone who works with children, use this information? We must create a learning environment that is inviting and form bonds with the children by setting an enthusiastic and positive mood.

The SKILLZ (Ninja Warrior & Samurai Warrior) programs does this by teaching with the brain in mind and utilizing game-based learning. Along with this, two of the Teaching SKILLZ that are used in class are specifically designed to increase the students’ serotonin levels.

1) Choices: The use of “choices” as a teaching skill in class helps the students build satisfaction because they have a say in what they are doing and, therefore, their excitement to do things increases. For example, when working on forms in class, if the instructor tells the students to do their forms for 15 minutes, they probably aren’t going to be that excited. But, if the instructor tells the students they can choose from doing their forms with weights, slow motion, backwards, or progressively, then the student will be more excited about getting to make their decision regarding this. And, they will then be more satisfied with the overall experience.

2) Redirection: The use of “redirection” in class helps the students feel more accomplished and, therefore, happier. For example, if you have a student in class that doesn’t always sit the best during mat chats, the instructor can say “When I count to three, let’s see who can sit faster than Johnny.” This student will be prompted to sit correctly and then he will feel more accomplished by showing how quickly he can sit correctly.

By utilizing these techniques, the instructors are increasing the students’ serotonin, which helps them become more satisfied in their accomplishments and it reinforces their good behaviours.

At Home Training Tips

Greetings Parents!

Today I would like to talk about how to use things from around the house to benefit your child's "At Home" training! Every child has gotten carried away sweeping the floor while pretending the broom was a Bo!  Now I am not telling you to strap a cloth to your child's tummy and have him practice army crawls across the tile floor and call it "training". Let's face it, that's just how a ninja does his normal chores!

Sometimes we think that we are unable or ill-equipped to practice at home because we lack the same pads or mats that we use while in class. With a little ingenuity and imagination, we can find things around the house that serve the same or similar purposes!

First on the list is pillows! Finding a nice sturdy pillow can act as a kicking shield that the parents can hold while their child practices their kicks! Of course, make sure it is a fluffy pillow or you might be surprised at how effective a little ninja can be. If you have smaller pillows around, we can throw those around and work on accuracy with our strikes and/or kicks.

Next up is our mobile phone! Being able to see what you are doing helps a lot because you can actually see your progression. Another great use is to be able to show your instructor your form or technique, which will allow them to give you advice on how to make it even better! A great app to use for this is Coaches Eye. It will let you go frame by frame and even doodle on the screen, which adds another layer usefulness.

The last one I would like to mention is a windowsill or wall. Either can be used to practice improving balance while kicking. You can easily use a wall or windowsill to rest a hand on while you practice kicking. Slow tension kicks will help build strength in the legs. Practicing rapid-fire kicks will help improve speed! Be sure to pivot and re-chamber properly to build perfect technique.

Just about anything around the house can serve as a training aid. I hope I have been able to help you think with ingenuity and imagination when it comes to everyday items! Remember, the more we put into our training, the more we will benefit! If you have any questions about how you can increase the level of "At Home" training, feel free to ask your favourite instructor!

Sincerely,
Kyoshi Leanne Johnson

Master Instructor/Owner