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

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