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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!