Question

  Discuss changes in the teenage brain. How do these brain changes impact thinking and behavior?       

What could parents do to better understand and support teenagers in their development?

Answer 1

• The rational part of the teenage brain is not fully developed till the age of 25 years.Teenage brains work differently from adult brains.Adults tend to think from their prefrontal cortex,which is the rational part of the brain,which makes a person use good judgment to understand situations.
• Teens process information through amygdala,which is the emotional part of the brain and a part which is fully matured compared to others.The connections between emotional part of the brain and decision making center are still developing in a teenage brain,which is why sometimes they cannot explain their reactions later as they are not thinking much but feeling more.
• Because of the mismatch in brain maturity,as different parts mature at different rates,explains the impulsive teenage behaviour.
• Parents need to understand these changes and for a healthy development they need to make teenagers aware of the consequences of their emotional and impulsive behvaiours,which would help the brain to make such connections and understand it better.
• Parents need to be good listeners to their teenagers,and be there friend who they can share anything with,without being judged.Understanding their development,can help the parents in supporting and making their teenage children more independent and sensible.
• Parents should not immediately jump in to advise or try to fix the problem or blame the teenager.They need to make an emotionally safe place for them,where they could come and share their feelings with their parents,and become clearer about their reactions and behaviours leading to better understanding and becoming more rational.