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Experiencing joy leads to a multitude of , including reduced chance of heart attack, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and a boosted immune system. Joy also by enhancing children鈥檚 cognitive abilities and increasing their aptitude for making social connections.

Joy is a that causes the release of two types of neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine and serotonin. These chemical messengers cause us to smile, laugh or even jump for joy. But the feeling is not limited to physical response. When children experience joy, information flows freely and of what they learned. Teaching and learning that induce joy and result in joyful classrooms are integral to helping students thrive and should . Research reveals that certain conditions lend to students feeling joy in the classroom. In one documenting the emotions of first and second graders, students responded most positively to student-centered learning that allowed them to 鈥渟hine as experts鈥� by making their own choices.

With so many children and adolescents having suffered adverse effects to their , and well-being due to the COVID-19 pandemic, infusing joy in learning feels more critical and valuable than ever. What produces joy may be personal, but there are many research-backed strategies that, when incorporated into classroom activities, can lead children to experience joy and begin to cultivate it within themselves. 

Discovery: Learning activities that help children engage in independent discovery make them feel joyful, whether it鈥檚 reading a new word, unearthing a solution to a complex problem or experiencing an 鈥渁ha鈥� moment when something clicks. Further, when students figure something out for themselves, they are more likely to and feel more pride and confidence in themselves.

Identity: Individuals with a more mature sense of identity . Participating in activities that allow students to explore and , and feel their identities are being recognized and appreciated by others, yields joy and an increased sense of belonging. 

Connection: Feeling connected to others and oneself generates joy.he health and academic  benefits of are well documented. Designing activities in which children collaborate to complete a task and solve problems with their peers on their own terms helps them form, enjoy and sustain connections with one another.

Movement: Movement and physical activity have a positive effect and , along with , including cognitive functioning, behavior in school and even grades. Programs such as integrate physical activity into various aspects of the curriculum to keep children moving throughout the school day and experiencing the effects of joy.

Play: Play has the potential to bring all of the above together. Dr. Stuart Brown of describes it as 鈥渁 state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time.” Play is built into humans’ neurobiology, . It is essential to make sure kids have time and space to play every day.  

Embedding activities in the school day that elicit joy, such as those that incorporate discovery, identity, connection, movement and play, is invaluable. But great value also lies in asking children and adolescents directly what makes them feel joyful. This helps students recognize joy in themselves so they can cultivate and integrate it more fully into their lives. As educators, we need to answer the call to find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing.

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