1. The Teenage Brain Dr. Suzy Cox, Utah Valley University

2. How does the brain learn?

3. It’s all in the neurons

4. How does it work? (aka, stick ‘em up!)

5. Make a chain (but don’t touch!). Make another!

6. Isn’t That Cool?

7. Puberty = New neurons!

9. Every brain is unique

10. “It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

11. Pathways in different areas do different things

12. How do these pathways develop as a child grows?

13. Stop and think: Lack of frontal lobe development Lots of new neurons Hormones Physical changes

14. Imaginary Audience Personal Fable

15. At what age? Average age of frontal lobe development is now….. 25-35 Evolution of the brain in a single generation!

16. WHY???? And what can you do about it?

17. TV

18. Immediacy of information

19. Multitasking

20. Facebook?

21. Nutrition

22. Drugs and alcohol

23. Sleep!

24. Lack of exercise

25. Lack of Challenge

26. But be careful of overscheduling

27. Self-esteem movement Fear of failure

28. Negative Messages I’m not good at math College is not for me. Why would I care about politics? I just want to be a mom. Nobody cares what I think I’m never going to need to write an essay

29. Nature Deprivation

30. There is a positive message here!

31. Think brand new neurons!

32. Think forming neural pathways!

33. The teen is “an exquisitely sensitive, highly adaptable creature wired almost perfectly for the job of moving from the safety of home into the complicated world outside.”

34. Now is the perfect time to help your child

35. Thank you! http://www.drsuzycox.com