Lower Elementary
Students in grades TK-2 will explore the fundamental brain science behind technology. This unit examines how digital interactions affect our emotions and psychological well-being, focusing on the brain’s response to technology. By the end of the unit, students will clearly understand how technology use impacts their emotional experiences.
Meet Your Presenter
Kelly Beech is a seasoned professional and team leader with a diverse background in education, business management, and public speaking. She began her career as an actor, bringing stories to life on stage and screen. Before becoming Operations Director at DopaMind, she channeled her passion for leadership and education as the director of a renowned preschool in Los Angeles, where she nurtured young minds and fostered creativity through play-based education.
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Digital Wellness Basics
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Our Brain
A very long time ago, early humans called cavemen lived in a world very different from ours. They lived in caves and spent their days hunting and gathering food. These cavemen were really good at one important thing: staying together in groups.
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Light
Did you know that humans are really sensitive to light? It's true! When we see light, our bodies feel energized and awake. When it gets dark, our bodies start to feel sleepy. That's how we're naturally made!
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Play
Did you know that play has been super important for kids since way back in cavemen times? Scientists think children needed to play back then to practice important skills they needed to survive.
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Boredom
When your mind is wandering during boredom, it actually activates a special part of your brain that helps you solve problems. Your brain is working in a different way than when you're focused on a specific task like homework.
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Dopamine
Dopamine is like a postman in your brain that delivers feel-good messages. When this postman delivers these messages, you feel happy and want to do more of whatever made you feel good.
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How We Get Dopamine
Long ago, before we had any technology, people got dopamine from simple things like eating food when they were hungry, drinking water when they were thirsty, and spending time with friends and family. These activities felt good because they helped keep us alive and healthy.
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Feelings Teeter Totter
Have you ever been on a teeter-totter at the playground? You know how it works - when one side goes up, the other side goes down. Well, our feelings work in a similar way in our brains!
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Not Enough Dopamine
When we don't have enough dopamine, we might notice that things we normally love don't seem as exciting or fun anymore. Maybe your favorite game doesn't seem as interesting, or activities you usually enjoy just don't feel as good.
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Too Much Dopamine
When our brain gets lots and lots of rewards from screen time, something tricky starts to happen. Our brain begins to need more and more dopamine just to feel good. Eventually, playing with devices can become the only thing that feels really exciting.
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Balancing Dopamine
Think of high dopamine games and apps like sugar. Just like candy, these games and apps feel really good - we all probably enjoy them, but they are a “sometimes food” and not an anytime food.
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