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"A
key role of education and of life at home consists of
helping children and teenagers see the coming
attractions of adulthood, so that they discover what
life is likely to be like some day. We must then prepare
them to be up to it and up for it, ready and waiting for
that which lies ahead!"
Dr. Mel Levine, author of All Kinds of Minds
(from Helping Their Heads to Look Ahead, available at www.allkindsofminds.org)
One
day your teenage daughter is elated about a new friend,
but the next that friendship is SO over. Though
your son can spend hours absorbed with an Internet chat
room, getting him to "chat" with you for more
than a few minutes can be like pulling teeth.
Just
when you are questioning who these kids are and why
they’re acting so erratically, comes comforting news
from science: you can attribute the teenage ups and
downs to their brains. No, their brains are not
malfunctioning. They are developing as nature intended.
For
years we have heard about the vital importance of the
first three years of children’s lives – this is
supposedly when all brain function develops and is set
in permanence. However, dramatic discoveries indicate
that the pre-teen and teenage years are just as
important when it comes to brain development.
At
the beginning of the decade, scientists at the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announced exciting
research showing there is a significant surge in growth
of the pre-adolescent brain. Prior to this study,
research had shown that the brain produced large amounts
of "gray matter" in the womb and for about the
first 18 months of life. After that, the brain
supposedly underwent a process of pruning (eliminating
unnecessary brain connections known as synapses).
However,
researchers now understand that significant brain
development happens on into adolescence. Here is what
the research means for teens:
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Though
brain size may stabilize by age five, brain growth
and change continues through the teen years in
differing ways.
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The
surge of hormones at puberty seems to stimulate
brain growth in pre-adolescents. The brain’s
frontal lobes (the areas that aid self-control,
judgment, emotional maturity, organizing and
planning) begin to grow again, starting at about
age 10 for girls and age 12 for boys.
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Nerve
cells that aid intelligence, consciousness and
self-awareness keep growing even into a person’s
20s.
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Brain
growth is basically a
"use-it-or-lose-it" process. The
brain’s ability to acquire and retain new
information will expand if stimulated or shrink if
neglected. Those skills that are regularly
exercised or experiences that are traumatic or
particularly positive become part of the brain’s
long-term memory. Those that are not tend to be
lost after a short time.
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During
the teen years, other parts of the brain that
control sight, sound, speech, language, emotions
like fear and anger and the area that creates
memories are also under construction.
Using
this research to promote learning
The
quality of a teen’s experiences actually directs how
their brains are eventually hard-wired or finished.
According to Dr. Jay Giedd, the lead scientist who
conducted the NIMH research, "Teens have the power
to determine (the direction of) their own brain
development. Whether they do art, music or sports, video
games or books, those brain structures are adapted
accordingly." And those areas that are not
stimulated may be pruned away to make room for the areas
that are growing.
Here
are some ways to influence your child’s brain growth
and promote learning:
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For
brains to grow, they need proper stimulation.
Teens who spend much of their time overdosing on
nonverbal, sedentary activities like watching
television or surfing the Internet risk losing
their brain’s capacity to process and strengthen
other more challenging and useful skills.
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Brain
burn-out can be as big a problem. Teens with
jam-packed schedules may have too little time to
let their minds rejuvenate. Teens need a range of
active and passive experiences for their brains to
grow and stay healthy. They also need your help to
find the right balance.
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The
areas of a teen’s brain that regulate
self-control are not fully developed. That’s
why they often seem so impetuous. Again, teens
need your help to understand the limits of
acceptable behavior and the consequences of going
too far.
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The
areas of their brains that influence organization
are also still developing. Therefore, they may
need your help to develop organizational
strategies. For ideas, talk to the school’s
guidance staff or link to www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-3676.html
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Emotions
have a strong impact on brain development.
Teens need to feel safe in order to grow mentally
strong. In fact, brain research shows there is a
chemical released that blocks learning when
students feel threatened. Parents can help by
maintaining a positive home environment, as free
as possible from strife. Keep the lines of
communication open. Talk with your teens about
what bothers them. Realize that your efforts to
work through disagreements and find common ground
can make a difference in how well they learn.
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Sharpening
the brain is an ongoing process. One of the
best ways to help your teen develop the lifestyle
of a learner is to be a good role model: Make sure
your son or daughter sees you doing what you love
and what keeps you sharp
>
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For
permission to reprint this article, please contact the
Capital Region BOCES Communications Service at (518)
464-3960.
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