How to handle Your Teens Undeveloped Brain

Did you know that although your teen looks physically older, he or she actually won’t complete brain development until their early or mid twenties? This is true. The frontal lobes are the last parts of the brain to be finalized in their development. This area is responsible for judgment, decision making and planning among other things, which explains why teens have a difficult time realizing consequences of their actions, and understanding how their decisions may impact their life in 5-10-20 years. So how do you help your teen get through these years without making a “huge” mistake?

Here are some suggestions:
1. Be open, interested and understanding in their point of view and their experience.
2. Don’t be critical or judgmental.
3. Ask questions to help them think through things.
4. Allow them to make mistakes. This is the only way they will learn. And then talk with them
about other ways they could have handled the situation.