The document discusses the teenage brain and how it differs from an adult brain. It notes that the teenage brain is still developing and undergoing changes like synaptic refinement and pruning. As a result, teenage brains are less developed in areas related to planning, judgment, risk assessment, and impulse control. It provides examples showing teenagers have greater difficulty with delayed gratification, procrastination, and resisting temptations like food rewards. The document advises parents to have realistic expectations about teenage behaviors but not tolerate serious issues like substance use or defiance. It recommends staying calm when interacting with teenagers.

1. The Teenage Brain Neil McNerney, LPC Parent Consultant, Speaker Licensed Professional Counselor www.neilmcnerney.com

2. What We Used To Think

4. Brain Under Construction

5. “Synaptic Refinement”

6. Branching & Pruning

7. Brain Matures Back-To-Front

8. Instant Gratification

9. Poor Planning - Procrastination

10. Poor Planning – Cause and Effect

11. Risk Taking Behaviors

13. Adult Brain Is Active Here 100% Correct Teenage Brain Is Active Here 50% Correct

14. What Does This Mean?Your teen might misinterpret you…a lot!

15. Will Power

16. Radishes vs. Fresh Baked Cookies Walk down the hallway Attempt an unsolvable problem Cookie eaters spent 3x more time on trying to answer the problem. 2 digit number (24) or 7 digit number (352-9002) Walk down the hallway Chocolate cake or fruit salad 2x as many seven digit subjects chose chocolate cake!

17. What To Do

18. Expecting Behaviors vs. Tolerating Behaviors

20. Minimal consideration of negative consequences

22. What To NOT Tolerate Alcohol Drugs Illegal Behavior Significant Defiance

23. What To Do Stay Calm Stay Calm Decide: Do I Tolerate or Act? Am I acting from my anxiety or from my principles?

24. Recommended Reading HomeWork A Parent’s Guide To Helping Out - - Without - - Freaking Out! A Simple Step-by-Step Parenting Process to Increase Achievement and Decrease Conflict Neil McNerney, M.Ed., LPC

25. February 16, 2011“Homework”A Parents Guide to Helping Out Without Freaking Out!