“Every pleasure has a price.” — Anna Lembke, Dopamine Nation
This is the second post in my neurochemistry and parenting series. Today we’ll explore dopamine, the brain's primary motivator, and its roles in drive, reward, time perception, impulsivity, and regulation in both adults and children. If you're a procrastinator or perpetually late, this one’s for you.
Dopamine is also central to the ongoing debate around ADHD, its rising diagnosis rates, especially in children, and the broader discussion on neurodivergence, medication, and environmental impact.
As always, I write not as a neuroscientist but as a parent and educator. My reflections are based on anecdotal experience at Hatching Dragons schools and my own research and parenting journey with children aged 12, 7 and 6. If you’re a specialist and spot any inaccuracies, I welcome your feedback.
To learn more about Hatching Dragons, and how we nurture young minds, we invite you to explore our approach to early childhood education. From our carefully designed activities to our unique learning environment, we’d love to share how we inspire curiosity and growth in every child. You can book a virtual or in-person visit below, where we’ll take the time to walk you through our philosophy and answer any questions you may have.
Book Online TourBook A VisitOften mislabelled the “pleasure chemical,” dopamine is better understood as the neurotransmitter of anticipation and drive. Evolutionarily, it pushes us to pursue survival needs, food, water, connection.
It’s synthesised from the amino acid tyrosine (found in meat, dairy, eggs, beans), then converted to L-DOPA and finally dopamine. It acts via receptor families, D1-like (excitatory) and D2-like (inhibitory), and travels through key pathways:
Importantly, dopamine is not constant, it fluctuates, creating cycles of motivation and satisfaction. After a spike, baseline levels drop below previous levels, which drives us to seek reward again, and if overstimulated, our baseline sinks too low, making everyday pleasures less satisfying.
Some people naturally produce more dopamine due to genetic differences. If you’re comparing yourself to hyper-productive people online, remember: brains (and Instagram) are not all equal.
You can influence dopamine levels through various means:
But beware: too much too often raises your threshold. That’s where addiction enters. The body adapts, and simple joys no longer satisfy.
Separating what naturally motivates us from what needs external incentives is critical.
James Clear’s Atomic Habits explains that habit formation is tied to dopamine anticipation, small rewards help embed behaviours. Over time, the behaviour itself becomes the reward.
Children work the same way. External rewards (stickers, treats) can help with disliked tasks but undermine joy in activities they already love. According to Deci and Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory, intrinsic motivation comes from autonomy, mastery and connection, and should be protected.
Addiction arises when dopamine thresholds rise too high, a common pattern in substance use (Kolb, 2003) but also relevant to digital habits.
The brain's reward system is hijacked by “intermittent reward scheduling”, a concept used by social media and gaming algorithms. It keeps us scrolling, hoping for the next dopamine hit, without ever being satisfied (Wang, 2025).
This model is particularly dangerous for children, whose brains are still learning to regulate. Digital addiction is real, and it stems from the same dopamine dynamics as chemical addiction.
ADHD involves dopamine dysregulation, reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (planning and control) and altered signalling in the striatum (reward centre).
Dopamine transporters often clear it too quickly, leading to insufficient signalling and inconsistent motivation. This helps explain the hallmark symptoms:
Stimulant medications like methylphenidate and amphetamines help by increasing dopamine availability. But they also spike dopamine artificially, raising the risk of post-medication apathy and depression due to lowered baselines.
ADHD is real and measurable. But questions remain:
What is true is that diagnoses of ADHD have exploded in recent years, correlating with a broader, measurable decline in our collective ability to focus, something I explored more fully in this previous post.
Read more in my post “Life’s a Balancing Act.”
While medication may help some, everyday strategies can support dopamine regulation for everyone, especially children.
Poor sleep lowers baseline dopamine. Stick to consistent routines, aligned to circadian rhythms.
Dopamine needs tyrosine, found in protein-rich foods. Pair with complex carbs to aid absorption.
Cold plunges boost dopamine up to 2.5x baseline and can raise baseline levels if used occasionally (PsychiatryOnline).
Exposure to morning sunlight regulates circadian rhythms and boosts dopamine and cortisol (Crawley, 2013), enhancing energy.
Regular, enjoyable physical activity increases both dopamine release and baseline over time.
Break large tasks into manageable steps, using rewards as needed to build habits.
Limit screen time to avoid constant dopamine spikes that lead to lower satisfaction and drive..
The Stoics taught that pleasure is fine, in moderation. Neuroscience agrees. Too much reward, too often, numbs the system. You need boredom to appreciate joy.
Parents can support children by:
Recognise that behaviour is chemistry, not defiance. Help children regulate dopamine naturally, and know when to seek help if symptoms suggest deeper dysregulation.
This blog sets the stage for a series on the science of motivation. Future posts will explore why rewards backfire, when they work, the role of praise, how resilience grows in the ZPD, and the neuroscience behind mastery. Stay updated by subscribing to our blog.
In the next installment, we'll discuss why rewards often backfire at the brain chemistry level.
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References for Further Reading