- Create a positive classroom atmosphere by using smiles to make students feel comfortable and engaged.
- Sprinkle in humour with jokes or fun accessories like a silly hat, and maybe start a “Silly Hat Friday” tradition to keep the excitement going.
- Incorporate music to boost energy and happiness, and don’t forget quick brain breaks after lessons. Just five minutes can help students refocus and make the classroom a happier place.
Ace of Diamonds
Smiling Uses Less Muscles Than Frowning
Hard Level
It takes nearly four times as many muscles to frown than it does to smile!
Smiling is easy!
Just think of something that makes you happy or grateful, and let that feeling show on your face by gently curving your lips upward. You can smile when you greet someone when you say thank you, or even when you’re just walking around. It doesn’t have to be a big grin—a small, genuine smile can make a big difference.
Smiling uses fewer muscles than frowning, so it’s easier on your face and can help you feel more relaxed. Plus, smiling can make you and the people around you feel happier, making it a simple way to spread joy and improve your mood!
Research shows that smiling can be really good for you! Smiling can help your body handle stress better and even help you stay healthier over time.1
When you smile, a few muscles in your face help make it happen. The main ones are the zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor (Big Z and Small Z for short). These muscles pull the corners of your mouth up to make you smile.2
Small changes CAN make a big difference – that’s what The 1% Kids’ Club is all about.
No one knows exactly how many muscles it takes to smile or frown because everyone’s smile can look a little different. Plus, not everyone has the same number of muscles in their face, so it can vary from person to person.
- Use your own smile to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere at home. When you smile, it helps set a positive tone and makes your child feel loved and secure.
- Encourage your child to smile and show them how it can lift their mood and help them feel better. Share with them how smiling can make others feel happy, too.
- HowStuffWorks. (2009, June 2). How many muscles does it take to smile?
Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/muscles-smile.htm - Cross, M. P., Acevedo, A. M., Leger, K. A., & Pressman, S. D. (2022b). How and Why Could Smiling Influence Physical Health? A Conceptual Review. Health Psychology Review, 17(2), 1–53.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2022.2052740