What’s Going on in There; Understanding Adolescent Brain Development

Presented by: Lori A. Hoffner

Speaker~Trainer~Consultant Supporting CommUnity, Inc.

www.SupportingCommUnity.comLori@SupportingCommUnity.com

720-353-2863

The Approach

The Key Is…Focus on StrengthFocus on BuildingCultural competence is criticalRelationships are keyCelebrate this time

Hardwired to Connect

Young brains are WIRED for deep connections

The science of nurturingThrough relationships they start to define

moral and spiritual concepts.

“The fundamental law of human beings is interdependence. A person is a person through other persons.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Research Shows…

Birth to __________

Puberty begins earlier

Adolescence last longerBrain is fully grown by age 12, however there

are still thousands of neuro-transmissions that still need to develop/connect.

Research Shows

Jean Piaget had part of the story10-12 year old do have the capability of

manipulation.

Formal Operational Thinking

Complex reasoning is only one brain function.

Parenting…

Keeping it all in perspective “What did I do wrong” It’s just as confusing to them as it is to you.

You cannot afford to stop parenting; don’t give up.

Your adolescence still need your CONNECTION – GUIDANCE and LOVE

PERSISTANCE and CONSITANCY in your MESSAGE and BEHAVIOR

How it works…

Electrical

Neuron, axons, dendrites

When a baby is born, only about 17% of

his neurons are connected out of the possibility of a quadrillion.

How it works continued…

The wiring of the brain; genetics and experience.

Genetics – the hard wiring Life experience – the soft wiring

“Neurons that fire together – wire together”

Creating the Paths

Creating the Paths

Walking through the snowRepetition = support

Making a way, blazing a trail “How many times do I have to tell you?”

Thousands of pathways

Using the Paths

A trip to the grocery store

It takes practice

BRAIN BLAST!

Adolescents are…

Working hard to make the shift from concrete to abstract thinking.

Growing at warp speed

Adolescents are…

They are growing faster than any other time of their life.

How realistic is it for us to expect them to try out for things when they are at their most awkward. It only works when we help them make connections.

Adolescents are…

Working hard to make the shift from concrete to abstract thinking.

Growing at warp speed.

Thinking about a lot!

Connection – Guidance – Love

Brain Development

Use it or lose it.

Blossoming and pruning

Brain begins to learn what use and not useVariety of experiences allow more pathways

to develop

“Neurons that fire together – wire together”

BRAIN BLAST!

Brain Development

Windows of opportunitySome emotional skills are only developed

during adolescenceThree that are:

Impulse Control Relationships Communication

Give them opportunities to develop (or practice) these skills.

Brain Development

Windows of opportunityPositive experiences

Adverse experiences can have an even greater negative impact.

Window was “opened” so more adverse things stick.

Brain Development

Window of SensitivityAdversely affects neurotransmitters

Teens and AlcoholDopamineGlutamate

Teens and NicotineReceptorsDopamine

Why Do They Act That Way?A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for you and Your Teen.David Walsh, Ph.D.

Brain Development

Myelination Increases in certain parts of the brain100%

during adolescence.Sheath around all the main cables of the

neurons; axons - makes the “firings” more accurate.

Brain Development

Five phases all occurring during adolescence:

1. Use it or lose it

2. Blossoming and pruning

3. Window of opportunity

4. Window of sensitivity

5. Myelination (insulation of nerve cells)

The Brain’s CEOPre Frontal Cortex

Planning and decision making Impulse controlEmotional cuesRisk taking

“The problem is;

My lips move when

I think.”

The Brain’s CEOPre Frontal Cortex

Planning and decision making Impulse controlEmotional cuesRisk taking

Phineas Cage syndromePhineas Cage syndrome

Hormones

More than 50 being produced in the body and the brain

Not just about sex

Surges

Neuroendocrine System

Hypothalamus serves as the master controlTestosterone ProgesteroneEstrogen

Neuroendocrine System

NeurotransmittersNorepinephrine – energyDopamine – feel goodSerotonin – mood stabelizer

Hormone Surges

Mood swings

Energy swings

Teenage “laziness”

Sleep rhythms

Construction Zone

There is rapid development in other areas of the brain, the PFC is dark/dormant… basically under construction.

Sometimes it’s necessary for the adults to be the PFC.

BRAIN BLAST!

The Approach

The Key Is…Focus on StrengthFocus on BuildingRelationships are keyCultural competence is criticalCelebrate this time

Non-Productive Things to Say to an Adolescent

“What were you thinking”

“Act your age”

“Grow up”

It is normal for an adolescent to…

Argue for the sake of arguingJump to conclusionsBe self-centeredConstantly find fault in the adult’s

positionBe overly dramatic

Creating the Paths

Creating Pathways Every Day

“Dinner Table” conversationsHomeworkGroup ActivitiesIn the ClassroomOn the Playing FieldIn the WorkplaceIn the Community

Resource

This training is based largely on:

Why Do They Act That Way?A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain

for you and Your Teen.

David Walsh, Ph.D.