The Teenage Brain

What We Used To Think

Brain Under Construction

“Synaptic Refinement”

Branching & Pruning

Brain Matures Back-To-Front

Instant Gratification

Poor Planning - Procrastination

Poor Planning – Cause and Effect

Adult Brain Is Active Here

Teenage Brain Is Active Here

100% Correct

50% Correct

What Does This Mean?

Your teen might misinterpret you…a lot!

Will Power

• 2 digit number (24) or 7 digit number (352-9002)

• Walk down the hallway

• Chocolate cake or fruit salad

• 2x as many seven digit subjects chose chocolate cake!

• Radishes vs. Fresh Baked Cookies

• Walk down the hallway

• Attempt an unsolvable problem

• Cookie eaters spent 3x more time on trying to answer the problem.

What To Do

Expecting Behaviors vs.

Tolerating Behaviors

What To Expect

• Disrespect

• Mood Shifts

• Risky Behaviors

• Less than optimal planning and judgment

• Minimal consideration of negative consequences

• Trouble with Delayed Gratification

What To Tolerate

• Disrespect

• Difficulty with mood tracking

• Mood Changes

• Small Academic Ups and Downs

• Friendship Changes

What To NOT Tolerate

• Alcohol

• Drugs

• Illegal Behavior

• Significant Defiance

What To Do

• Stay Calm

• Stay Calm

• Decide: Do I Tolerate or Act?

– Am I acting from my anxiety or from my principles?

Recommended Reading

HomeWork

A Parent’s Guide To

Helping Out

- - Without - -

Freaking Out!

A Simple Step-by-Step Parenting Process to Increase Achievement and Decrease Conflict

Neil McNerney, M.Ed., LPC

February 16, 2011

“Homework”

A Parents Guide to Helping Out

Without Freaking Out!