Page 44 - Silver Lakes_Issue 9_2022

TODAY’S CHILD

their melatonin (a hormone made in the body
that regulates sleep cycles) rises and falls
later in the day than in adults. This explains
teens being able to party till the early hours
of the morning.

Brain development
From the day we are born and throughout
our childhood, the brain builds connections
between neurons. It then starts to prune
back (remove) redundant neural pathways,
allowing for more efficient networks. This
process makes a child’s brain particularly
malleable and enables a baby to grow into a
toddler. advancement, their access to the wider Grounding a teenager also serves no real
world is immediate and communication purpose, she adds. Rather, teach your
Certain perceptual and motor skills such takes place at the touch of a button. It’s teenager to be responsible and accountable
as language are stabilised long before also a time of invention, flux and creativity, for the choices they make by getting them
adolescence, making these skills harder to where new ways of interacting and learning to work on solving the problems that arise
learn after this childhood phase. are occurring at breakneck speed. This in their daily lives.
poses questions about how best we can
Still, the frontal cortex continues to build parent and guide our children. It also Reward considerations
and prune networks throughout puberty and means that studying in the traditional ways Increased dopamine activity in teenagers
into early adulthood. Frontal and parietal may not apply in the near future. means that praise and positive feedback are
lobe development continues and appears as important. The sooner your child receives
increasing amounts of white matter on MRI In addition, research shows that teenagers feedback, the more of an impact it makes.
scans. These developing areas are important experience increased activity in the medial This is evident when it comes to schoolwork.
for enabling a person to regulate emotions, prefrontal cortex. This area of the brain is Praising the child for the hard work they’ve
problem-solve, maintain attention and related to self-evaluation and has to do with put in will encourage them to engage
engage in abstract reasoning. Intellectual how we interact with and respond to others. meaningfully with their work. The positive
stimulation is vital at this age, when there is While it’s important for teenagers to form spinoff is that you’re helping your teenager
huge capacity for learning. friendships, interacting with others can be to make the most of their brain’s ability to
difficult, especially for teens subjected to absorb and process information rather than
Brain imaging shows that the areas of the peer pressure and those who suffer from to simply engage in rote learning. Today’s
brain associated with reward generally social anxiety. demands on teens mean that academic
develop more quickly than those associated study has to be about actively engaging with
with inhibitions and self-control – which Based on their brain development, teens will the work.
explains a lot! The scans show greater be less able to think before they act, consider
dopamine activity in teenagers compared to consequences of actions and to change Ultimately, the tried and tested ways of
adults and younger children. Dopamine is dangerous or inappropriate behaviours. In parenting will always apply: maintaining
associated with pleasure and curiosity. This turn, they are more likely to be impulsive, open communication channels; showing
explains why teens are more likely to try new engage in risky behaviour, misread social genuine interest in what your teen is feeling
experiences. cues and emotions, and get into fights. or going through; and taking the time to help
them process their challenges.
The willingness to try out new things can be What to focus on
positive as it enables the teenager to focus When it comes to disciplining your We now know that changes in the brain can
on their personal development, assess their teenager, proceed with care, advises be shaped by action. This implies that the
boundaries and acquire decision-making psychologist Terri Apter. Teens won’t more we practise skills such as self-control,
skills. For example, embarking on a romantic respond well to anger because of their emotional regulation and establishing a
relationship will help a teen understand what heightened emotional and social sensitivity. good work ethic, the better the outcome will
kind of partner they want in life. “Even though it’s tempting to shout, this be. The teen years can, therefore, set a solid
will be counter-productive. Your child is so foundation for adulthood.
Adolescents today are growing up in a alert to the emotional message that they
more open society, aided and abetted in won’t hear any of the logic you’re trying to www.lifetalk.co.za
large part by technology. Thanks to digital impart.” www.lifetalkwithgod.com

42 | INTRAMUROS OCTOBER 2022