The Teen's Brain from Cornell Cooperative Extension

As any parent of a teenager will attest, there are times when you say “What in the world was he thinking,” or “How could she do such a stupid thing?” After all, by age 16 or so our teens certainly look mature. How, we wonder, can they act so immaturely? Some recent research* may offer a rationale to that most irrational period of human development—adolescence.

There has been a lot of research devoted to the first three years of life—the physical development, emotional growth, and brain development. We now know for example, how important stimulation is for the growing brain, and the best types of stimulation to provide for newborns and babies. Similarly, new research reveals the differences between the adolescent brain and the mature brain. Understanding the differences can help parents deal with exasperating behavior often exhibited by teens, and may help them cope with their own frustrations.

View more online at: http://ccesuffolk.org/the-teen-s-brain/