'Anti-dopamine parenting' can help encourage healthy habits

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Understanding what’s happening in a child’s brain may hold the secret to encouraging healthy behaviors.

Curbing a child’s craving for sweets or screen time might be achievable through “anti-dopamine” parenting.

The technique includes having kids spend less time scrolling on devices and more time reading or doing other activities.

The concept behind this type of parenting is one that Kara Nolan has always embraced.

She believes, rather than getting the instant gratification that comes from sweets or social media, kids should play games that take skill, timing, and thought.

“We try to limit it [screen time]. We try to go outside and play when it's nice out. We read books. We play games,” Nolan said.

Dr. Anna Radke is an associate professor of psychology and the director of the Center for Neuroscience and Behavior at Miami University. She says this parenting style reduces the constant need in the brain for the body’s “feel good hormone,” dopamine.

"Dopamine is a molecule in our brain, a neurotransmitter, and it's really important in all the behaviors that we do because it's important in motivation," said Dr. Radke. "So, without dopamine, we wouldn't do anything."

She says the demand for dopamine is driven up through overconsumption, but that’s where parents can intervene.

“I think what anti-dopamine parenting means is using our adult cognitive systems to help our children, who have underdeveloped cognitive systems, regulate their behavior,” she said.

A surge of dopamine can lead to a high desire for instant gratification, rather than being satisfied waiting for a more delayed gratification, such as the satisfaction of finishing a book.

“I think it’s just being engaged on a daily basis,” Nolan said.

So, the idea is "anti-dopamine" parenting can help kids learn to not always be expecting the instant “molecule of happiness” with every activity, but rather learn to wait and work for the feeling in a healthy way.