who’s who
Meet the crew: 26 characters inside your kid’s brain
Every character is a cartoon for something real. They are metaphors for what a body does, never a measurement of your kid.
Brain chemicals
Messengers and hormones. Cartoons for what a body does, never a measurement of your kid.
- DopaDopamineGives out gold stars when you finish something.
- SeroSerotoninOpens the curtains and keeps the mood steady.
- EndoEndorphinsTurns jumping and laughing into good feelings.
- NoraNorepinephrineSwitches on the spotlight when something matters.
- GabiGABAPresses the brain’s brake and turns the volume down.
- TociOxytocinBuilds the feeling “I’m safe, I belong”.
- CortiCortisolRings the alarm when there’s danger.
- MelaMelatoninWhispers “night is coming” so the body gets sleepy.
- GreliGhrelinRings the hunger bell from the stomach.
- TeoTestosteroneBuilds strength, energy and confidence in the teen years.Teens 13–17
Brain parts
Where the big feelings start and where the brakes live.
The two rules
The two ideas behind every habit.
The villains
Always a habit or a thing. Never a person, a food or a body.
- BediPhone in bedA phone in the bedroom is linked with worse sleep, even when nobody’s using it.
- GloBright light late at nightBright evening light turns Mela down and pushes sleep later.
- LupiAutoplay and the endless feedThe next video starts by itself, so the ending never comes.
- PingiNotificationsEvery ping pulls the spotlight off homework and back to the screen.
- LatiLate bedtimes that change every nightIrregular bedtimes are linked with more behavior struggles in kids.
- KafiCaffeineCaffeine can keep a body awake for hours.
Ages and stages
One character for each stage, 3 to 17. Ranges overlap and every kid has their own pace.
- WhyziAges 3–6The “why?” years: huge imagination and “I do it myself!”.
- SkuliAges 6–8School, rules and friends.
- RuliAges 8–10Fairness, skills and hobbies.
- TweeniAges 10–12Puberty starts for many, and friends start to matter more.
- SproutiAges 12–14Fast growth, a body clock that shifts later, and rewards that feel bigger.
- SekiAges 14–17Friends’ opinions peak while the brakes are still being built.
Educational content only, not medical advice. See all guides or the glossary.