Understanding and Teaching to the Adolescent Brain.”

“Adolescent Development: Brain, Body and Behavior.”

“Understanding and Teaching to the Adolescent Brain.”

“The Developing Adolescent Brain: Implications for Educators.”

“Teaching to the Adolescent Brain.”

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2/5/2020

Timely Tips for Some initial thoughts Parenting Your T(w)een: “It’s All in Their Heads!”

There’s no such thing as the perfect parent

Discomfort doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be happening

Children are Resilient Terence J. Houlihan ConsultED Training & Development You Need a Sense of Humor! Adjunct Faculty, CUNY Lehman College

Adolescence Tip #1

• Their lives are changing…rapidly! “the messy transition between adorable and insubordination” ‐ Eric Jensen

◊ G. Stanley Hall, 1904

◊ Age Range?

True or False? “The Phone” SmartPhones and SNS The Library of Congress archives each Tweet sent by Americans

• 99% of teens own a smart phone.

• 1 in 4 communicate with parents while in school.

• Key to their social life.

• Most say they can text blindfolded

• Form of entertainment

• Average teen sends about 150 texts per day.

• Surpassed talking time.

• Hal of US teens are worried about their SmartPhone use

• They can survive without it for a while.

Kisspeptin Transitions in Environment

Puberty Middle School > High School High School > College • Precursor to puberty Disconnecting from parents • Body mass where fat percentage is 22‐24 Dating/Romantic Relationships

• Average female model in US has 10‐12% body fat Chemical substances Demands from school/activities • Cheryl Tiegs, Cindy Crawford, and Elle MacPherson Driving would all be plus‐size models

Cognitive Distortions in Tip #2 Adolescence • Their brains just aren’t there…yet Egocentrism & Elkind

Imaginary audience

Personal fable

910

Reading Faces What emotion is this?

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Limbic System Pre‐Frontal Cortex

Hypothalamus CEO of the brain Releases hormones . Planning . Time Management . Organization Amygdala . Working memory Emotions . Metacognition . Mood awareness Hippocampus Memory  PFC is among the last parts of the brain to fully develop (Ramowski & Nystrom, 2007).

13 14

Gray Matter and Myelination During the middle school years, most children experience a Sleep surge in gray matter.

The majority of myelination occurs during the high school years. National Sleep Foundation… “Sleep in America” As a teen develops, her ability to execute tasks increases. • What is optimal sleep time for 13‐18 year olds?

• 20% get nine or more while 60% get less than 8 hours

• So, 53% nap on weekdays and 50% drink 3 or more caffeinated beverages per day.

• ADHD PET Scans, Judith Owens, MD

• Minnesota Schools

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Risk Tip #3

• It’s not about you…so don’t take • Teens gauge the immediate emotional reward of risk it personally

• Their brains are primed for social approval

• At 12‐13, most teens begin to believe they can arrive to conclusions without adult input

• Open conflict with parents increases at this time

• Talk through the conflict

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Tip #4 –Set Limits Allopregnanolone ‐ HTP

• 50% of 12‐18 year‐olds self‐report being addicted to their devices

• 60% of parents believe their middle schoolers are addicted

• Research show that cortisol levels decrease after 5 days of not using social media

• Be honest

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Tip #6 Tip #5‐ Don’t respond to • Have a dialogue every argument

• You probably need your own time‐out

• The louder their voice is, the softer your voice should be

• Invite them back to discuss when they’re calm

• Remember, open conflict is good

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Final Notes Contact Info

• If their behavior is really concerning, reach out to the school counselor or a mental health professional

• Be a wall [email protected] www.surviveyourteens.com • Family time (like dinner) is crucial

• Do fun things (on their terms) with them on ocassion

• Your job is to get them to become to be independent

• Be friendly, but not their friend.

• You got through it, too.

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Texts

Blakemore, S. J. Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain. PublicAffairs, NY: 2018.

Brizendine, Louann, MD. The Male Brain. Three Rivers Press, NY: 2011.

Brizendine, Louann, MD. The Female Brain. Morgan Road Books, NY: 2006.

Bronson, P.O., and Merryman, Ashley. Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children. Twelve, New York, NY: 2009.

Brown P., Roediger H. and McDaniel A. Make it Stick; The Science of Successful Learning. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2014.

Carskadon, M.A. (Editor). Adolescent Sleep Patterns: Biological, Social, and Psychological Influences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002.

Gurian, Michael. Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco: 2001.

Howard, Pierce J. The Owner’s Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research. Bard Press, Atlanta, GA: 2000.

Jensen, F. E., and Nutt, A. E. The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults. HarperCollins, New York, NY: 2015.

Richardson, J. & Schuster, M. Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask): The Secrets to Surviving Your Child's Sexual Development from Birth to the Teens. Crown Publishers, New York, NY: 2003.

Simmons, Rachael. Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls. Harcourt Inc., New York, NY: 2002.

Steinberg, Laurence. Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence. Mariner Books, NY: 2015.

Walsh, David. Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen. Free Press, New York, NY: 2004.

Wang, Sam. Welcome to Your Child's Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College. Bloomsbury, New York, NY: 2011.

White, Adam & Swartzwekder, Scott. What Are They Thinking?: The Straight Facts about the Risk-Taking, Social-Networking, Still-Developing Teen Brain. W.W. Norton, New York, NY: 2013.

Web sites http://www.aacap.org/ American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry https://www.centerforloss.com/2016/12/helping-teenagers-cope-grief/ Center for Loos and Life Transition: Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief http://site.educ.indiana.edu/Default.aspx?alias=site.educ.indiana.edu/cafs Center for Adolescent and Family Studies, Indiana University http://www.pacer.org/bullying/ PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center http://www.sundancecanyonacademy.com/teen-prescription-drug-use-problems-infographic/ Infographic on prescription drugs and teenagers www.nida.nih.gov National Institute on Drug Abuse www.quizlet.com Excellent resource on study skills www.sleepfoundation.org National Sleep Foundation http://www.nimh.nih.gov National Institute on Mental Health http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/ PBS’ in-depth look at the latest in neuroscience and adolescent development http://www.cyfernet.org/index.php?c=2 Information on the enhancement of social competency and the reduction of risk behaviors among youth. www.dana.org Organization that supports brain research through grants, publications, and educational programs.

Tips for Parents 1. Their lives are changing…rapidly 2. Their brains just aren’t there yet 3. It’s not about you – Don’t take it personally 4. Set limits 5. We don’t have to respond to every argument 6. Dialogue

Speaker Contact:

Terence Houlihan, M.S.Ed., C.R.S. 15 Alden Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 917-841-7537 www.surviveyourteens.com [email protected]