|
Parents look at adolescents and
adolescents look at parents, each asking the same question, “Who is this alien living in my house?”
Behaviors and relationships that once made sense are suddenly
beyond comprehension. So, what’s changing? The adolescent brain.
Scientists have discovered
that the outward physiological changes taking place in that young student are also occurring
in his or her brain. Understanding and learning to cope with these changes are keys to maintaining
a healthy parent-child relationship.
Let’s begin by looking at three
“brain factors” that impact how adolescents act—which portions of the brain an adolescent
uses, how the adolescent brain is changing, and how sleep impacts the way the adolescent brain
processes information.
It really is the brain
Scientists have long accepted that the majority of brain growth and development occurs in the
womb and during the first 18 months of life. In the last 10 years, however, researchers at
the National Institute of Health (NIH) discovered that the human brain undergoes a second wave
of development roughly between ages 10 and 13.
Using MRI (multi resonance
imagery), researchers have literally mapped brain development from childhood through early
adulthood. They found that frontal portion of the early teen’s brain, the part that governs
planning, organization, judgment, impulse control and reasoning, does not fully function until
early adult years. Meanwhile, the emotional portion of the brain is already fully developed. The
result is a teenage tendency to seemingly ignore common sense and to respond emotionally and
impulsively to many situations.
Hardwiring an adolescent
Brain development in the adolescent years is a two-stage process. In the first stage, the
brain “grows” by producing neurons (brain cells) and synapses (connectors). In the second stage,
the body prunes away weaker and unused neurons and synapses and reinforces those that
remain. Simply put, we either use it or lose it.
The NIH research suggests
that adolescents’ activities during this period have a lasting impact on which cells and connections
survive. If preteens are active in music or academics or athletics, those portions become
“hardwired.” If, however, activities are limited to video games or television, it is those portions of
the brain that survive.
Missing sleep
Brown University researchers discovered that the average teen gets about 7 1/2 hours of sleep
each night, yet they need more than nine hours. This lack of sleep can bode disaster.
During sleep, the brain actually
processes information that it learns during the day. It consolidates and practices both intellectual
and physical information. For example, a basketball player who works in the day to improve
his or her shooting replays that lesson during portions of that evening’s sleep. The brain files
the instruction and the muscle memory information for future retrieval. Without sufficient
sleep, the athlete’s lesson is essentially lost.
While adequate sleep is
important for all learning, it is especially critical for more complex and abstract
concepts that stretch our minds such as physics and calculus.
All is not lost
Given the evidence that adolescent behavior is influenced by physiological change,
parents may feel powerless to help. Nothing can be further from the truth. If anything, children
in these formative years need their parents more than ever. Recognize that children are not
necessarily able to make sound decisions without your guidance. It is not always easy, but here
are a few suggestions to help you balance their growing need for independence with your responsibility
to guide and protect them:
-
Gently (but firmly) offer
advice—Let your children know that you understand that it is difficult to resist impulses, but
that impulsive behavior can have disastrous consequences. Remember, however, that simply instructing
your children is no guarantee that they will make wise choices. You still need to monitor their
decisions and intervene when you know a particular decision is potentially harmful.
-
Model good
behavior—Demonstrate through your behavior how you want your children to behave.
A visual lesson can often be more effective than simply handing out orders. Join them in routine
tasks (such as dishes or folding the laundry) and have them join you in a civic or social activity.
-
Help keep them
organized—Your children aren’t always making sensible choices, so you need to
help keep them on track. Use calendars and planners to minimize the need for impulsive decisions
and to reinforce their sense of responsibility. Be certain to include time for sleep amid their many
academic and extracurricular activities.
-
Monitor
activities—Encourage your children to engage in activities that “exercise” the brain
such as reading, conversation, or athletics. Although everyone needs a little downtime, limit
activities like television and video games.
-
Smile—Maintain a sense of humor
and patience throughout the process. Your attitude can lighten a difficult situation.
-
Look for
help—Don’t hesitate to seek a little help if things begin to get out of hand. Your school
guidance department is a good place to start.
Looking for more information?
The task of raising an adolescent may seem daunting, but remember that parents have successfully survived these tumultuous
years. If you are looking for more information or additional resources, consider the following online resources:
>
Back
For permission to reprint this article, please
contact the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service
at (518) 464-3960.
|
