Dopaminové děti - Jak digitální svět a ultrazpracované potraviny mění dětský mozek (2026)

This Czech-language book offers parents a practical plan for breaking the cycle of dependence on screens and unhealthy addictive food. Michaeleen Doucleff, a journalist and scientist, clearly explains what happens in children’s brains as smartphones, computer games, social media and ultraprocessed foods reshape their habits, attention and experience of pleasure. The problem is not simply how much time children spend in front of screens or a lack of willpower. Modern technologies and highly processed foods are designed to activate the dopamine-driven “wanting” system repeatedly, keeping the brain in a state that demands more and more and creating behavioural patterns that are difficult to resist. The author also challenges the widespread belief that dopamine is the “happiness hormone”; instead, it is a motivating force that drives us to explore, seek novelty and return to things that attract us. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience and her own experience, she presents a realistic practical plan to help parents weaken the influence of addictive “magnets”, restore children’s natural desire to explore, connect with others and experience the real world, and create a home environment that works without unnecessary bans, pressure or exhausting conflicts. Rather than focusing on prohibition or struggle, the book explains how the child’s brain works and how to create an environment in which children begin to want what truly benefits them. Limiting screen time or junk food is not enough without offering more engaging alternatives; the aim is not simply to take something away, but to replace it with something that naturally attracts both the child’s brain and spirit.