Kristy Braun, Nurse Practitioner from OSF Pediatrics, spoke to a group of parents and teachers this month at the first BN Parents’ Speaker Series Event hosted by OSF Center for Healthy Lifestyles. The conversation was two-way and, the information shared, valuable.
For those not able to attend, here are the basics on Adolescence as shared by Kristy Braun:
Adolescents
Physiologically: Prefrontal cortex is not developed (not fully until 20’s); therefore, they do not think of future consequences and the pleasure/reward center of the brain takes over.
Early Adolescents (10-13)
- Beginning to search for independence
- Conformity (need to fit in)
- Physical Changes
- Decrease in self-confidence and self-esteem
- Moodiness and impulsive
- Awkwardness
- Feel as though they are on stage(occupied by self, body image and self-centered)
- Need for increase of privacy
- Day dreamers
- Sexual autonomy (have many questions – where do they get answers)
- Peers: usually same sex and cliques of conformity
Middle Adolescents (14-17)
- Finding identity is important
- Need to feel unique but still fit in
- Try different roles (may change looks)
- Experiment and risk taking
- Strong sense of immortality
- Increasing importance of peer values over parental values
- Increase of intensity of feelings
- Body image important and will spend time and $$ to look good
- Increase involvement in relationships
Late Adolescents (17-?)
- Struggle with identity and separation
- Peers less important
- Relationship over groups
- Developing rational conscience
- Develop values and do recognize parental values
- Able to set limits
Parenting Tips
- Provide a safe consistent home
- Communication is key:
- “I” messages, not “you..”
- LISTEN to them
- Rephrase
- If talking is hard, write notes
- Spend time with them
- Provide clear rules and consequences (limit-setting)
- Do not over control, especially as they are maturing
- Decide what is annoying and what needs intervention
- Things that do not work (at any age)
- Spontaneous discussions when only one side is engaged
- Nagging
- Lecturing
- Arguing
Red Flags
- Withdrawn behavior
- Decrease in grades
- Change in appetite or weight
- Change in sleep
- Decreased enjoyment in activities they liked before
- Change or decrease in social relationships
Changes to Consider
Technology and Social Media
- Everything is at their fingertips
- Social Media not recommended until 13
- Recommend no more than two hours of screen time outside of school
- Use is causing an increase in anxiety and Depression and decrease in happiness
- Drop your device around your children! Set an example
Marijuana
- Shift from alcohol to marijuana
- Many teens (and parents) think it is harmless. It is not.
- Use during can lead to
- Decrease in IQ
- Mental health issues including schizophrenia
- Brain damage
- Poor decision making (It is a drug)