C O F F E E W I T H T H E C O U N S E LO R S

WHY DO THEY ACT THAT WAY?

APPETITE FOR DANGER

LACK OF COMMON SENSE

SOCIAL AGGRESSION

IDENTIFY FORMATION

DID YOU KNOW?

• The brain is fully developed by age…• 25

• Kids experience a second surge in brain growth during…• Puberty (ages 12-18 is a vulnerable period in the brain)

FACTORS INFLUENCING TEENS

• Volatile emotions• Complex social networks• Who to respond to drugs and alcohol• Figure out their own values• Renegotiate relationships with peers• Get good grades in school • They have to figure out how to get enough sleep• Plan for their future

SCENARIO

Consider this: Sarah is a 7th grade student at Raney Intermediate School. She stayed up late last evening snacking in her room while reading and sending text messages to her friends. In school the next day one of her friends, Emily, told her to “mind her own business” and she couldn’t believe what she had heard. She quickly lashed out and told her to “shut her trap.” She then went to her next class and told 3 other girls that she couldn’t stand Emily and shared a personal secret that Emily had shared the night before. Her teacher reprimanded her for disrupting the class and by the end of the day all of her friends were mad at her. She forgot her books at school and couldn’t remember what homework she had. When she got home from school her mom asked how her day was she told her it was terrible and she hated school because all of the girls were so mean.

ADOLESCENCE BEGINS AT PUBERTY AND ENDS….SOMETIME

• Adolescence is not childhood, and it is not adulthood. It is the period in between these two stages of life• The brain goes through its final stage of development during

adolescence • It begins around 11 or 12 and lasts about 15 years• Adolescent behavior is directly linked to the changes happening in

the brain

BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Challenge #1 Girls Boys

Growth spurt 10-12 12-14Onset of puberty 10-12 11-13Early maturation 7

4 KEY PROCESSES OR FACTORS IMPACT THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN

Use it or lose it * Soft Wiring and hard wiring * ExperienceBlossoming and Pruning

Happens twice in ones lifetime (once at age 2 during language acquisition, 2nd time during adolescence)

Overproduction of neuronsEventually creates understanding of abstract concepts

Windows of SensitivityWindows of Opportunity

SHARE “BRAIN BASED” CONNECTIONS: TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR

• How does this brain based learning apply to Sarah’s scenario?

• Have you ever witnessed your adolescent trying to navigate their own “million way map?”

BOTTOM-LINE

• Adolescents do not have the ability to control impulses and understand cause and effect in the same way that is possible for a mature adult• Puberty gives adolescents a body that looks like an adult and a

brain that goes through wild emotional swings and powerful surges• Parents must be the mature, “substitute,” pre-frontal cortex for

their developing adolescent• Clearly stated rules and parental discipline will help keep an

adolescent’s behavior from becoming destructive to the family, themselves, and other

PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX VS. AMYGDALA

• The pre-frontal cortex is the “executive center” of the brain• Its job is to think ahead about

consequences and to plan• In an adult brain, it controls

impulse control• Studies show that the pre-

frontal cortex is not fully developed until the mid-twenties

• The amygdala is the seat of fear and anger, or the fight-flight response• Adolescents use the amygdala

to interpret facial expressions and read emotions• Adolescents read emotions

with a gut reaction

AMYGDALA AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

• For example, brain research shows that adolescents see anger when shown a picture of a face showing an expression of fear or surprise or sadness or worry• Misreading emotional cues can lead to real communication

problems• Adolescents overreact because their brain misinterprets a comment

as a threat or insult• These emotional responses can push the adult’s button (parent,

teacher, etc.) who also becomes upset • This can very quickly turn a comment into a situation that spirals

out of control and leads to hurt feelings

COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WORLD

• Rapid physical changes such as growth spurts, voice changes, hair growth, skin problems, body development• Changes in intensity, stability, and explosiveness of their emotions• The shift of influence from parents to peers• The search for identity

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS

WHAT CAN I DO TODAY, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH

• Have clearly stated rules and expectations• Keep “cool” because it’s a lot harder for the adolescent brain to “be

reasonable”• Remain calm and rational during communication situations• Clearly spell out feelings to help adolescent understand correct

interpretation• Help adolescent understand the importance of getting enough

sleep• After 9pm: no high sugar beverages, limit time watching TV, limit time playing

video games

WHAT CAN I DO TODAY, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH

• Provide constant support and guidance• Remain involved in your adolescent’s lives, it’s not butting in, but

pouring in love and guidance to protect their future hopes, health, and happiness• Talk with your adolescent about peer pressure and how to manage

it• Encourage them to make independent decisions