Kids glossary
Some of our resources use complex terms that may be unfamiliar to children. This glossary can help children to learn more about what each of the terms mean!
Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone. Adrenaline is released when we are in a stressful, dangerous or exciting situation. Adrenaline causes changes in the body to help keep us safe, like making us alert and giving us energy. It causes the ‘fight, flight, freeze’ response.
Aerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration is when sugar and oxygen make energy in our cells.
When we exercise, our body needs more energy, and so more sugar and oxygen is sent to all of our cells.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone. Cortisol gives us energy that can help when we are sick, injured or think we are in a dangerous situation. It is sometimes called the ‘stress hormone’ because we release more cortisol into our bloodstream when we are stressed.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. Dopamine sends messages about lots of different things, like movement, sleep and mood. It is known as a ‘happy chemical’ because it:
- Is released when we do activities that make us feel good
- Rewards us for doing things that help us survive (like eating and drinking).
Emotion regulation
Sometimes we might react to a big emotion in a way that doesn’t help us.
Emotion regulation is when we:
- Can understand what we are feeling.
- Can use strategies to manage an emotion (e.g., we might use deep breaths to calm down, or we might talk to someone about how we are feeling).
- Can manage our behaviour so that we don’t make things harder for ourselves or others.
Endorphins
Endorphins are hormones. Endorphins help to ease pain and can make us feel happy. They are released in the body if we get hurt, when we laugh, and when we exercise. Endorphins are often known as the “feel good” chemical.
Fight, flight, freeze
When we feel like we are threatened (in danger), our body can go into ‘fight flight freeze’ mode.
Fight mode is where you want to attack what is making you feel unsafe or worried. For example, you might feel like hitting or yelling until what is making you feel unsafe or worried is gone.
Flight mode is where you want to run away or hide from what is making you feel unsafe or worried.
Freeze mode is where you feel like you can’t move much or talk until what is making you feel unsafe or worried is gone.
You can watch a video about the ‘Fight, flight freeze’ response on the Kids Helpline YouTube channel: Brain Basics: Anxiety (for kids) Part 3 - The fight, flight and freeze responses (youtube.com)
Hormones
A hormone is a chemical in the body. Hormones are made by cells. Hormones help start and stop some of the things that our body does. For example, hormones help our body grow.
Hormones move around the body through our bloodstream. There are many different types of hormones.
Mood
Our mood is how we are feeling at a particular time. A mood can last for a few hours or even days. There are things we can do (like moving) that can help improve our mood.
Nervous system
The nervous system helps the brain and body to communicate by sending messages in the system. The nervous system includes our brain, spinal cord and all the nerves (which carry the messages) in our body. This is how our body knows how to do things like breathe, learn and move!
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers. Neurotransmitters help the cells in our brain and body talk to each other. The messages from neurotransmitters help us to do things, like put our arms out to catch a ball. There are many different kinds of neurotransmitters.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. Serotonin sends messages about things like mood, memory, happiness and hunger. It can help us to feel calm and happy.