The Teen Brain is Under Construction

“If your friend jumped off a bridge would you too?”

Parents ask this question of kids who have made bad decisions. Of course, the response is usually, “No.”

Unfortunately, teenagers do make bad decisions that adults usually blame on peer pressure or lack of maturity. Both reasons may be true, but did you know teenagers’ brains are still developing?

The first step to empowering youth to make positive choices is to share the research with them. Kids can be logical thinkers when presented with information. However, as parents know, they can be rebellious when backed into a corner.

“Not long ago, scientists thought the human brain was fully mature long before the teen years. While research shows that one’s brain reaches its maximum size between ages 12 and 14 (depending on whether you are a girl or a boy), it also shows that brain development is far from complete. Regions of the brain continue to mature all the way through a person’s early 20s.” — Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals.

This article goes on to explain the functions of two regions of the brain.

A key brain region that matures late is the prefrontal cortex, located directly behind your forehead. The prefrontal cortex is very important as a control center for thinking ahead and sizing up risks and rewards.

Meanwhile, another part of the brain that matures earlier is the limbic system, which plays a central role in emotional responses.

Because the limbic system develops earlier and controls emotions, teens tend to make rush decisions without recognizing risks and consequences. Reading this article with your son/daughter allows them to understand their actions. Kids often respond better when presented with facts rather than being preached at by a parent. I found I can say something repeatedly over a long period of time and the information is not heard until it comes from a different source.

As a parent more than once I asked my daughter why she made a poor decision and she said, “I don’t know.” Based on this research I learned she probably didn’t know. She knew better, didn’t wish to defy the rules, but still charged forward to do wrong. Her behavior was in response to an impulse from the more active part of her brain, the limbic, which controls emotions.

All PRO DAD published an insightful article, “5 Things Teenagers Secretly Want You to Know but Won’t Tell You.” The key points are shared below because I believe them to be true. When adults understand some of the core feelings of youth, we have the opportunity to help them mature.

1. Teens want boundaries. Sure, they will push against them, but youth appreciate consistency and feel safe, nurtured and loved when their behavior is guided.
2. Teens desire approval. Don’t we all like to be praised and patted on the back for positive behavior?
3. Teens appreciate guidance more than expectations. A guide looks to future goals and presents a path for achievement. Expectations are simply rules and don’t teach or present a system for success.
4. Teens are afraid of failure because their identity is developing. They are still learning who they are and who they want to be.
5. Teens are often stereotyped negatively and resent it. They need to feel respected.

As a teacher, when the class read Romeo and Juliet, the students always groaned that the characters made the bad choices that ultimately ended in their death. After we read the research in the article above, students agreed that just like them, Romeo and Juliet’s actions were prompted by the 5 desires listed, but they also were able to identify which part of the brain governed the actions of the characters. Through discussion, the class became able to apply research to the characters.

They understood the research to this point and aligned it to the behavior of the star-crossed lovers. Once enlightened, the next step was to present to students a system of how to form decisions based on logical thinking.

Teaching teens to make healthy decisions is a process. In fact, it is a skill many adults can benefit from practicing. The article, 8 Simple Steps to Good Decision-Making for Teens provides a procedure for success.

1. Name the problem.
2. Gather information, get input and suggestions from valued sources.
3. Determine what is important.
4. Brainstorm all options.
5. List consequences of each choice.
6. Decide on the best choice for the situation.
7. Create a plan and enact it.
8. Measure the results.

In the classroom, we followed this process for Romeo and Juliet. Students were able to identify where the characters’ plans went awry. Then in groups, they developed healthier plans. With their new strategies in place, the possibility of a happy ending emerged. Everyone agreed suicide is not an option.

Activity to promote positive youth decision making

This last assignment of this lesson challenged students to create a plan to address a personal problem. They were able to explore options and learned that they are not trapped by obvious choices. It was an empowering life lesson.

You can follow this same process with your teenager at home. Teach them the process of decision making. Be an advocate that shows them how to manage their conduct instead of telling them what to do or not to do. This allows adults to gift children the ability to rationalize and logically act out each scene of their life with control and wisdom.

Brenda Mahler is a mother, teacher and writer who enjoys sharing what she learns with others. Her most recent book shares teens thoughts about life. Lockers Speak is available on Amazon.