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Understanding teenagersand wellbeing
with Nicola Morgan
Up-to-date science, classroom materials, books and more: www.nicolamorgan.com
www.nicolamorgan.com•Today’s blogpost on my website:•Handouts, free downloads, links
•Books:
Ten Things I’d Like Parents to Know
About Adolescence
1. It is not a modern phenomenon
It’s a natural, biologically driven, universal, necessary and positive
developmental stage
2. The aim is separation
Explains conflict, change and the power of peer pressure
3. The prefrontal cortex develops last
And isn’t fully developed until the mid-twenties – sorry!
Prefrontal cortex vs limbic systemPrefrontal cortex (pfc):• Control: reason, logic, prediction, analysis, impulse control,
moral values, decisions
Limbic system (including amygdala): • Emotions + instinct:Reactive, impulsive, motivating
Amygdala
PFC
4. Sleep patterns change
5. Teenage stress has significant differences
They have some different stressors
•Perfect storm of change
•A regular schoolday is a catalogue of stress: pressure to concentrate/perform + friendship/peer group issues + self-consciousness
And “new” stresses1. Exams: higher pressure, frequency + stakes
2. The internet and social media: • Highly appealing/addictive• Pressure to conform with tribe – “FOMO”• Biological drive to share personal info risk• Distraction: “Continual partial attention” (more later)
The downsides of stress are the same
1. Cortisol build-up: sleep, mood, immune system, control (words+actions), focus, performance
2. “Preoccupation”• Think about brain “bandwidth”: every thought/action
requires bandwidth• Teenagers very vulnerable: intrusive, negative thoughts
6. Teenagers are no better at multi-tasking than we are
• If part of focus is elsewhere, cannot perform 100%• (But certain non-cognitive tasks can be done together)•We do not improve at multi-tasking• Those who practise distraction most are worse at
ignoring distractions • Attempting to multi-task causes cognitive stress/cost
The Organized Mind by Daniel Levitin
7. So social media a two-fold problem for teenagers
• Biologically drawn to social media through legitimate peer pressure• Yet prevented from doing best work as continually distracted
• Educate; strategies; modelling; motivation – “Pomodoro”
8. Resilience is threatened by over-protection•Resilience: ability to bounce back •Must face and discuss scary and difficult things•Must learn that we can control our own growth –
praise effort more than “lucky talent”•We have to learn to bounce back after failure –
make failures seem small and temporary•Be a safety-net parent, not a helicopter parent
9. They know a lot about a lot but…
Very little about a lot of other things!
Daily relaxation is not luxury: it helps performance
1. Instant breathing/relaxation technique – my website
2. Daily “downtime” – different, varied and deliberate
3. Perspective – “This too shall pass”; “You are not alone”; “Talk”
10. Teenagers who read daily for pleasure…•Do better at school and afterwards•Have higher self-esteem•Understand themselves and others better•Have greater knowledge and vocabulary•Have a perfect strategy for managing stress• Engagement; escape; reduce stress chemicals
• See my website: “Readaxation”
Understanding teenagersand wellbeing
with Nicola Morgan
Up-to-date science, classroom materials, books and more: www.nicolamorgan.com
30% off Study Skills - £5 - £3.491. Offer for you – Study Skills at £3.492. Go to www.leckieandleckie.co.uk3. Put “study skills” in search window4. Use code NICOLA2016 at checkout5. Offer ends April 15th