Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 2_2023

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Today's Child

breakneck speed. This poses questions
about how best we can parent and guide
our children. It also means that studying
in the traditional ways may not apply in
the near future.

In addition, research shows that
teenagers experience increased activity
in the medial prefrontal cortex. This area
of the brain is related to self-evaluation
and has to do with how one interacts
with and responds to others. While
it’s important for teenagers to form
friendships, interacting with others
can be difficult, especially for teens
subjected to peer pressure and those
who suffer from social anxiety.

Based on their brain development, teens
will be less able to think before they
act, consider consequences of actions
and change dangerous or inappropriate
behaviours. In turn, they are more
likely to be impulsive, engage in risky
behaviour, misread social cues and
emotions, and get into fights.
WHAT TO FOCUS ON
When it comes to disciplining your
teenager, proceed with care, advises
psychologist Terri Apter. Teens won’t
respond well to anger because of
their heightened emotional and social
sensitivity. “Even though it’s tempting to
shout, this will be counter-productive.
Your child is so alert to the emotional
message that they won’t hear any of the
logic you’re trying to impart.”

"Grounding or taking away privileges
from a teenager also serves no real REWARD CONSIDERATIONS Praising the child for the hard work
purpose", she adds. "Rather, teach Increased dopamine activity in they’ve put in will encourage them to
your teenager to be responsible and teenagers means that praise and engage meaningfully with their work.
accountable for the choices they make positive feedback are important. The The positive spinoff is that you’re
by getting them to work on solving sooner your child receives feedback, helping your teenager to make the
the problems that arise in their daily the greater the impact it makes. This is most of their brain’s ability to absorb
lives". evident when it comes to schoolwork. and process information rather than to
simply engage in rote learning. Today’s
demands on teens mean that academic
study has to be about actively engaging
with the work.

Ultimately, the tried and tested ways of
parenting will always apply: maintaining
open communication channels; showing
genuine interest in what your teen is
feeling or going through; and taking
the time to help them process their
challenges.

We now know that changes in the
brain can be shaped by action. This
Photo by Mert Kahveci skills such as self-control, emotional
implies that the more they practise
regulation and establishing a good
work ethic, the better the outcome will
be. The teen years can, therefore, set a
solid foundation for adulthood.

14 DPL issue 2 2022
8 DPL issue 5 2022 DPL issue 2 2022 15