1. The Adolescent Brain Dave and Gail Vawter

3. 1. Adolescent Brains are different from adult and children brains.
Ages 2-3 and are similar. The brain experiences massive pruning
Teenagers are more like toddlers than adults in brain growth. Girls begin maturity while boys are

4. 2. During adolescence… use it or lose it
Used connections will flourish, unused will be pruned and die.
Fewer but faster connections

6. 3. Frontal Lobe is not developed.
Problem solving
Judgment
Planning
Self-monitoring
Personality
Emotions
Organization
Attention
Concentration
Awareness of abilities
Self-control
“do the right thing”

7. The CEO of the Brain
The frontal lobes: executive decisions and moral/ethical control
Development continues from back to front through early 20’s
“It’s sort of unfair to expect teens to have adult levels of organizational skills or decision-making before their brains are finished being built.”- Dr. Giedd

8. 4. Adolescent Brain or ADHD/ADD?
Is a chemical imbalance
Cannot grow out of it…stay on medicine
Can be diagnosed in middle/high school
Hyperfocusing is common
Are grades dropping?
Get your pediatrician involved
Inform teachers
Help with organization, planning

9. 5. Sleep patterns change. They need 9 ¼ hrs… They get…6-7….!
The biological clock shifts in the teen years by up to 2 hours
Sleep deprivation can have a major negative effect on learning and memory!
TV’s, computer monitors, and cell phones can keep adolescents from getting enough deep sleep; remove them from their rooms!

10. 6. During adolescence… period of high risk
Drugs and alcohol can alter normal development of the brain
Teens expose their brains to the toxic effects of alcohol at a critical time of brain development, approx. 10% memory loss
Image from Susan Tapert, PhD, University of California, San Diego.

11. 7. Don’t believe everything they tell you…..
Teens rely on the amygdala, associated with emotion and gut reactions
MRI tests: Teens see anger when it was not intended
Teens can misinterpret what others say
Contact the teacher for clarification before believing your child

13. 8. Adolescents need parents to set limits.
Set rules
Limit cell phone and video game
usage
Be firm but fair; don’t give in to their manipulation
Be the parent…they have friends.

14. 9. Don’t give up on them!
Don’t expect them to think or reason like you.
Fail an assignments, yes. But don’t “allow them to fail” classes! Help them get organized, keep up with homework, and study for tests
Allow them to make mistakes…that is one way we learn best.

15. First
Attempt In
Learning

16. 10. This too will pass…. Hang on!!