TEEN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

WELCOME!! Introduction Agenda for the evening Julianne Haddad, Hamilton High School Social worker Brooke Barr (Speaker) Agenda for the evening Go over the brain & how social media impacts the brain Brooke’s Story Forms Have a good night 

What do you know about the Teenage brain?!

All about the brain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGdlpaWi3rc

Why do teens act the way they do? Brains are not fully developed Won’t be fully developed until age 25 or so Difficult for to think “Is this a good idea?” or “What is the consequence of my actions?” Teens act mostly on their emotional impulses Areas of the brain in charge of impulse responses are not mature Compared to adult brain, adolescent brain perceives emotions at 2-4x the intensity Due to neurodevelopment of the brain teenagers tend to: Prefer sensation seeking Show less planning Engage in risky and impulsive behaviors Less likely to consider negative consequences Come off as rude/self centered

Sleep & your brain Without adequate sleep, adolescents.. Sleep is one of the best things you can do for your brain. Sleep is food for your brain! Fast Facts: Sleep is vital to your well-being, as important as the air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat. It can even help you to eat better and manage the stress of being a teen. Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best. Teens tend to have irregular sleep patterns across the week — they typically stay up late and sleep in late on the weekends, which can affect their biological clocks and hurt the quality of their sleep. Without adequate sleep, adolescents.. Have a more difficult time holding a focus on the task at hand (class activities & lessons) Have more difficulty in thinking creatively and solving problems Are more prone to errors Are more irritable; less patient May be more impulsive How much sleep are YOU getting a night?

Social Media and your brain Researchers found that the reward center of the brain would become activated by receiving “likes” on their social media. This is the same brain circuits that get activated when eating chocolate or seeing a loved one. Can cause internet addiction and sleep deprivation

How is your phone changing you & your brain? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6CBb3yX9Zs

Behavioral Effects OF SOCIAL MEDIA May lose interest in meeting friends and spending time with them Can start to become cranky, irritable or angry when not able to check social media Lying about what you are doing to spend more time on social media or what you are doing on social media Can cause depression and anxiety

QUESTIONS?

Brooke’s story

Come up to get a volunteer & extra credit form!!!      Remember!!!! Adolescence is incredibly exciting time in brain development…therefore, also crucial that we NURTURE adolescent brains Come up to get a volunteer & extra credit form!!! Have a wonderful night! 