Inside Child Brain Development and the Chemistry That Shapes It

“The brain is wider than the sky.”, Emily Dickinson

Key Insights for Busy Parents

• Children’s moods and learning are shaped by a chemical orchestra of neurotransmitters and hormones.
• The brain is still developing, especially the prefrontal cortex, which makes chemical systems more volatile than adults.
• Fast-acting neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, noradrenaline) shape daily behavior, mood, and attention.
• Slower hormones (cortisol, oxytocin, testosterone, etc.) regulate long-term behaviors like stress, bonding, and resilience.
• Dysregulation in these systems is linked to ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other disorders.
• Parenting strategies, like routines and co-regulation, help keep this chemical orchestra in tune.

At Hatching Dragons, we view play as powerful learning tool. It fosters essential skills like strategic thinking, patience, and memory, while also strengthening family bonds through shared activities.

Childhood as a Symphony of Chemicals

Every parent has witnessed the rapid shifts in a child’s mood, from joy to tears in moments. These shifts are the result of a biochemical orchestra within the developing brain. Neurotransmitters and hormones act like instruments: sometimes harmonious, sometimes discordant, but always shaping behaviors as the prefrontal cortex matures. Neuroscientists like Thomas Insel refer to psychiatric disorders as “developmental disorders,” as most emerge during childhood, when brain systems are still vulnerable.

Jack Shonkoff from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child emphasizes that the impact of stress depends on the presence of stable, responsive caregivers:
"The extent to which stress is tolerable or toxic depends on the support of stable, responsive relationships."

Understanding the chemistry of the brain can help parents respond with compassion and strategies, rather than frustration or confusion.

The Neurotransmitters: Fast-Acting Messengers

Dopamine: The Spark of Motivation

Dopamine, produced in the brain's reward centers, drives exploration, learning, and curiosity. However, too much dopamine can make a child impulsive, while too little can lead to inattention, as seen in ADHD.

Vignette: A child who won’t sit for homework but spends hours on Lego shows how dopamine drives engagement. Parents can break homework into small steps to align dopamine release with goals.

Serotonin: The Anchor of Stability

Serotonin, essential for mood regulation, is less mature in children, which explains why they may become easily frustrated. Predictable routines and good sleep hygiene can help stabilize serotonin.

Vignette: A tired toddler who collapses in sobs over a denied biscuit is struggling with an underdeveloped serotonin system.

Glutamate and GABA: The Accelerator and the Brake

Glutamate drives learning and memory, while GABA acts as the braking system. In children, glutamate is highly active, and GABA brakes are immature, leading to boundless energy and difficulty calming down.

Vignette: At a birthday party, a child races from game to game, unable to settle afterward, highlighting an overactive glutamate system. A calm bedtime routine helps reset balance.

Noradrenaline: The Spotlight of Attention

Noradrenaline sharpens focus and emotional memory. Low levels lead to distractibility, while high levels cause anxiety. ADHD and anxiety disorders often involve imbalances in noradrenaline signaling.

Vignette: Before a school play, a child’s hands sweat, heart races, and thoughts scatter. Parents can help by coaching slow breathing to restore focus.

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The Hormones: Slow-Moving Conductors

Cortisol: Managing Stress

Cortisol, the stress hormone, mobilizes energy and sharpens attention. Chronic high levels can damage the brain and body, leading to anxiety and depression.

Vignette: A child anxious about exams wakes with stomach aches. A calm, consistent morning routine helps regulate cortisol levels and reduces anxiety.

Oxytocin and Vasopressin: The Social Glue

Oxytocin fosters trust and attachment, while vasopressin strengthens social memory. These hormones are released during bonding activities like touch and eye contact.

Vignette: After a toddler falls, a caregiver’s hug raises oxytocin, lowering cortisol and reinforcing trust.

Sex Hormones: Navigating Adolescence

Testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone surge during adolescence, influencing risk-taking, mood, and sensitivity. These hormones can cause mood swings and contribute to the adolescent paradox, physical strength peaks, but mental illness and accidents also rise.

Vignette: A teenage boy stays out late due to testosterone-driven risk-taking, while a teenage girl becomes irritable before her period. Parents who guide with empathy help teens navigate these hormonal shifts.

Noradrenaline: The Spotlight of Attention

Noradrenaline sharpens focus and emotional memory. Low levels lead to distractibility, while high levels cause anxiety. ADHD and anxiety disorders often involve imbalances in noradrenaline signaling.

Vignette: Before a school play, a child’s hands sweat, heart races, and thoughts scatter. Parents can help by coaching slow breathing to restore focus.

1 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

Developmental Trajectories

Each stage of brain development features different dominant chemical systems:

• Infancy: Oxytocin dominates for attachment; cortisol regulation relies on caregiver support.
• Early Childhood: Dopamine surges fuel exploration, but serotonin is immature, leading to frustration. Cortisol spikes are frequent but recoverable with support.
• Middle Childhood: GABA and serotonin strengthen, supporting self-control and emotional regulation.
• Adolescence: Hormones surge, dopamine sensitivity peaks, but prefrontal regulation lags, leading to mood swings and risk-taking.

Dysregulation and Disorders

When brain chemistry goes out of tune, conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and autism can emerge. ADHD is linked to dopamine and noradrenaline imbalances, while anxiety and depression often involve low serotonin and high cortisol. Autism is associated with atypical glutamate/GABA ratios. Recognizing that behavior is neurochemical, not moral, fosters compassion and guides strategies for supporting children.

Parenting Applications

While parents can't micromanage brain chemistry, they can create environments that support brain development. Consistent routines, co-regulation, and emotional support help stabilize chemical systems. As Emily Edlynn (@parentingtranslator) writes:
"When parents provide structure and routines, they’re not just keeping order, they are literally shaping the child’s brain pathways for regulation."

Daily patterns, like consistent wake-up times, meals, and bedtimes, stabilize dopamine and serotonin cycles. Nutrition, exercise, outdoor light, and physical comfort all support neurochemical balance. Calm, responsive parenting models regulation for children, teaching them how to manage stress.

Vignette: When a tired preschooler has a meltdown in a store, the parent’s calm, comforting response helps the child’s nervous system return to equilibrium. As Dr. Cindy Hovington (@curious_neuron) explains:

"When we co-regulate with our children, their nervous system learns what calm feels like. This builds long-term stress resilience."

Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to explore these insights in greater detail, including practical strategies for supporting your child’s brain development, you can read the full article on my blog on Slack. It covers everything from neurotransmitter and hormone balance to co-regulation and real-life parenting applications, providing a comprehensive guide for nurturing resilient, thriving children. Read the full article here..

From Chaos to Harmony

The orchestra of the brain is loud, messy, and sometimes discordant in childhood. Neurotransmitters spark joy, frustration, and curiosity, while hormones manage stress, bonding, and puberty. Together, they shape behavior, learning, and resilience. Parents who understand these processes can shift from frustration to compassion, responding strategically to the challenges of childhood. With time, the immature orchestra of brain systems learns to play in harmony, fostering a thriving child.

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References:

• @developingchildharvard: Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child (Jack Shonkoff)
• @curious_neuron: Cindy Hovington, PhD (Neuroscience-backed parenting)
• Parenting Translator (Emily Edlynn, PhD): Evidence-based parenting insights on Substack
• Zero2Eight (Substack): Developmental insights from birth to age 8
• @buildingbrilliantbrains: Child neuroscience and learning strategies
• Casey, B. J., et al. (2005). Imaging the developing brain: Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(3), 104–110.
• Insel, T. (2022). Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health. Penguin.
• Sapolsky, R. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. Holt Paperbacks.
• Shonkoff, J. P., & Garner, A. S. (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232–e246.
• Feldman, R. (2017). The neurobiology of human attachments. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 21(2), 80–99.
• McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904.
• Dahl, R. E. (2004). Adolescent brain development: A period of vulnerabilities and opportunities. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1021(1), 1–22.
• Huberman, A. (2023). The Huberman Lab Podcast (episodes on dopamine, serotonin, and neurotransmitter balance).